Morris Island Lighthouse

Description:

Photograph of the Morris Island lighthouse, keeper's house, equipment shed and the retaining wall. A simple pier can be seen connecting land to water. Paine presumably shot the image from a boat to capture as much of the lighthouse and buildings as possible.

In 1876, the 161 foot lighthouse tower along with a three-story house was completed for just under $150,000. After the jetties were constructed at the entrance to the Charleston harbor, a gradual erosion begun to take place displacing much of the sand on Morris Island. The lighthouse stood approximately 2,700 feet from the water in 1880 but by 1938 it was at the water?s edge and today, is its own little island, nearly 1,600 feet offshore.

• Title: Morris Island Lighthouse
• Photographer: Paine, Morton Brailsford, 1883-1940
• Date: 1905

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• Collection: Photograph Collection
• Object Name: Morton Brailsford Paine Photographs
• Object Id: MK 1324a

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• Search Terms
  • Lighthouse keepers
  • Lighthouses
  • Retaining walls