National Register of Historic Places

Morris Island Lighthouse

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
Listed
June 27, 1982
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82003837

About this property

The Morris Island Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Morris Island in South Carolina. The light stands on the southern side of the entrance to Charleston Harbor, north of the City of Folly Beach. At 161 ft (49 m), it is the tallest lighthouse in South Carolina. The lighthouse was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Although the lighthouse now stands several hundred feet offshore, it was originally inside a much larger island. When constructed in 1876, the light was approximately 1,200 feet (370 m) from the water's edge. However, the construction in 1889 of the jetties which protect the shipping lanes leading to Charleston Harbor altered ocean currents, resulting in the rapid erosion of Morris Island and the destruction of many structures and historical sites (such as Fort Wagner). By 1938 the shoreline had reached the lighthouse, forcing its automation as it was no longer safe or practical to keep it staffed. In 1962 the Morris Island Light was decommissioned and replaced by the new Charleston Light, located on Sullivan's Island at the north end of the harbor.

Location

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
32.69540, -79.88360

Categories

ENGINEERINGARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Morris Island Lighthouse

This page lists Morris Island Lighthouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Battery Cheves
Civil War
3.2 mi
Secessionville Historic District
Listed
3.4 mi
Unnamed Battery No. 1
Civil War
3.5 mi
Marshlands Plantation House
Industrial
3.9 mi
Fort Johnson/Powder Magazine
Early Republic
3.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Battery Wagner — July–September 1863
1863Civil War
1.5 mi
"Swamp Angel" Battery — Morris Island Bombardment of Charleston 1863
1863Civil War
1.5 mi
First Assault on Battery Wagner — July 11 1863
1863Civil War
1.5 mi
Confederate Evacuation of Morris Island — September 6 1863
1863Civil War
1.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Morris Island Lighthouse listed on the National Register?

Morris Island Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 27, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Morris Island Lighthouse?

Morris Island Lighthouse is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Morris Island Lighthouse?

The period of significance for Morris Island Lighthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Morris Island Lighthouse?

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