The Morris Island Lighthouse: Charleston's Maritime Beacon

The Morris Island Lighthouse, nicknamed the Old Charleston Light, has served the citizens of South Carolina for three centuries. After the settlement of Charles Towne, navigation aid was critical for the safe passage of ships entering the harbor channel. Over time, three lighthouse towers have been constructed on Morris Island. The current lighthouse, built 1,200 feet onshore and first illuminated in 1876, now stands precariously in the rough seas of the harbor.

Douglas Bostick, historian and former director of Save the Light, Inc., recounts the stories of the many lightkeepers and their families who braved meager provisions, low pay and grueling conditions living on a small island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. Full of personal family photos and covering three centuries of war and rebirth, The Morris Island Lighthouse preserves Charleston's maritime history as much as it celebrates its own.