Take This Mini Road Trip To Climb Two Of Georgia’s Most Beautiful Lighthouses
Georgia has a handful of lighthouses that are worth taking the time to explore. There is so much more to a lighthouse than what normally meets the eye. Whether it be the history behind each lighthouse, the purpose, or even just how long it’s been standing, these beacons of light are much more valuable to our state than we realize. That’s why we recommend this mini road trip in Georgia to visit two of the most beautiful lighthouses around.
The entire trip takes about 2 hours driving time between the two lighthouses, plus driving time from where you begin your journey and stoppage time at each lighthouse. We recommend spending an entire day bouncing between the two, plus enjoying a bit of the local scene and area restaurants, too.
The Tybee Island Light, also known as the Tybee Lighthouse, is located on Tybee Island, Georgia, right at the mouth of the Savannah River.
It stands at 144-feet in height, on a 5-acre historically preserved area that guests can wander around and enjoy.
Modern marine navigation techniques eventually outgrew the need for a lighthouse of this caliber, so the lighthouse eventually stopped serving its intended purpose.
During the American Civil War, military troops employed a Naval blockade around the coast, and the Confederate soldiers were forced to abandon the area.
Retreating troops ended up destroying the lighthouse in order to prevent Union troops from being able to utilize it for navigating their own warships.
The U.S. government ended up constructing a new lighthouse in order to replace the old one, building it to the very west of the original location, this time standing at 104-feet in height.
Today, visitors can visit the new lighthouse and enjoy some of the unique history that it holds.
Just be warned, there is a rumor that this lighthouse is haunted by the ghost of light keeper Frederick Osborn who was killed in a duel with assistant light keeper John Stephens in 1880.
Visiting two of Georgia's lighthouses in one day will be the perfect way to enjoy a bit of state history that you may not have already explored.
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
