In 1848, construction was completed on the Cockspur Island Lighthouse otherwise known as the South Channel Light. The lighthouse, used in conjunction with the North Channel Light, was constructed to help guide shipping along the Savannah River. Built on islands made of oyster bed material, the lighthouses adequately conducted their nightly duty until they were darkened during the Civil War.
When fighting broke out between Confederate Troops stationed at nearby Ft. Pulaski and Union troops on Tybee Island, the North Channel light was destroyed. The Cockspur Island Light faired much better during the fighting and was still standing after it ended, thanks to a new design in cannon artillery. This new design called “rifled” cannons, consisted of cannon balls shaped like a bullet and cannon barrels etched with a spiral grove, helped increased the accuracy and distance of the cannons which spared the lighthouse.
After the war, the lighthouse was relit and later fitted with a sixth-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse remained in service until 1949. In 1978, the lighthouse was restored to like new condition. Since that time, the sea has taken back most of the island. All that remains of the island is the area immediately around the lighthouse.
Today, the lighthouse is not open to the public, however, if you own or rent a boat, you can visit the lighthouse “grounds” during low tide. Otherwise, the lighthouse can be seen from Ft. Pulaski or from the US-80 Bridge.
