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Tybee Island Light Station and Grounds

While in Savannah, GA, we did some exploring and visited the sight of the Tybee Island Lighthouse and surrounding grounds.  It was very nicely restored lighthouse.

Tybee Island Light Station

This lighthouse, or light station, as it’s referred to, was built in 1773, and was the third lighthouse to be built on Tybee.  It was burned in 1861 after the Civil War.  The bottom 60 feet are the original 1773 lighthouse and the top 85 feet were reconstructed in 1867.

Light Station and Second Assistant’s Quarters

Before the lighthouse was converted to electricity in 1933, 3 light keepers were required to man the lighthouse.  The keepers would make frequent trips to the top of the lighthouse carrying fuel in large pails.  Each keeper had his own house, and the one shown in the above photo is the back of the Second Assistant’s quarters.

Second Assistant’s Quarters

The Second Assistant’s Quarters (also known as Keeper’s Cottage) is believed to be built from the remains of the old Confederate Barracks that was built in 1861.  The First Assistant’s Quarters is not open to the public.  It’s used as office space.

Summer Kitchen

The Summer Kitchen, built in 1812, was used by all of the keepers and their families.  Cooking away from the main houses meant less chance of fire and less added heat in the houses during the hot, humid summers.  This kitchen was used until 1910.

Light Station and Keeper’s Quarters

This cottage is an example of what is called Stick Style architecture with wood lap siding.  It was built in 1881, and had an attached summer kitchen (not the one in the above photo).  The porch (back) was enclosed in 1907 to create a bathroom, and electricity was added in 1916.  The first floor of this cottage and the main floor of the First Assistant’s Quarters were identical.  We’ll take a look inside this building in my next post!

Tybee Island Light Station Compound

Across the street from the lighthouse and keepers’ quarters is the Tybee Island Museum, located in Fort Screen’s Battery Garland.  The battery upon which I was standing to take this image was built between 1898 and 1899.  Most of the lower rooms, which now hold various exhibits, were used to store smokeless gun powder and projectiles, each weighing over 700 lbs.!  The Battery served as part of America’s Coastal Defense System until it was decommissioned in 1945.  The Museum has been here since 1962.

Enjoy!