Morris Island lighthouse stands all alone about 300 yards off shore from the island of Folly Beach. It can be viewed from the northeast end of Folly Island and from the bridge coming on to Folly Beach.
The Morris Island lighthouse is now completely surrounded by water but was once sitting on a good sized island with numerous buildings around it. The lighthouse was completed in 1876 and was the second lighthouse to be built on the island.
In the 1700s there were three islands that stretched for four miles between Folly Island and Sullivan’s Island. They were named Middle Bay Island, Morrison Island, and Cummings Point. The first Charleston lighthouse was built on Middle Bay Island in 1767. The lighthouse was designed by Samuel Cardy and built by Adam Miller and Thomas Young. The tower was cylindrical and stood 102 feet tall. The lantern room had a revolving lamp that had a range of about 12 miles. In 1858 a Fresnel lens was installed.
In the early 1800s the channel leading to Charleston began to shift causing a change in the tidal currents. Sand began to build up between the islands and this resulted in the three islands merging into a single island. Since Morrison Island was the central of the three earlier islands, the now single island was called Morrison Island. Later the name was shortened to Morris Island.
The first Charleston lighthouse continued to provide service up to the Civil War. In 1861 the fleeing Confederate soldiers blew up the lighthouse so northern troops could not use it.
Morris Island Lighthouse is not affiliated with AmericanTowns Media
Nothing pleases a crowd in South Carolina like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Everybody gets what they want, and as much as they want, for a single price. From seafood to Chinese to all-American cuisine… Read More
Food doesn’t get any fresher than straight from the farm, but rest assured you don’t have to walk the fields yourself to get some fresh eats. South Carolina farmers have done all the hard… Read More
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the state of South Carolina, it’s pretty obvious that they take barbecue seriously. But oddly enough, each area has a different idea of what this… Read More
No longer just an in-between meal, brunch has evolved into a trendy lifestyle activity for its biggest fans. And for good reason: brunch means you get the best of breakfast and lunch foods,… Read More
There are so many tasty Italian restaurants in South Carolina that it can be difficult to choose, so we’ve done the hark work for you. From Mt. Pleasant to Hilton Head Island, here are the 9 Italian… Read More