Charleston Light

Charleston Light stands on Sullivan’s Island at the northern entrance to Charleston Harbor, replacing the older Morris Island Light after erosion threatened that site. Built from 1960 and first lit on June 15, 1962, the modern tower designed by Thomas Sullivan is 140 feet tall, with a steel frame, aluminum-alloy skin, and triangular shape built to endure high winds. It was the last onshore manned lighthouse built by the federal government and the only lighthouse in the United States with both an elevator and air conditioning. Automated in 1975, it remains an active aid to navigation and is now part of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.

Sullivan's Island, South Carolina · United States