Cockspur Island Lighthouse

The Cockspur Island Lighthouse at Golden Hour.

NPS

Quick Facts

Location:

Southeastern tip of Cockspur Island

Significance:

Historic Marker

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

The Cockspur Lighthouse stands on a small islet off the southeastern tip of Cockspur Island, overlooking the South Channel of the Savannah River. The islet, often covered by high tide, is comprised of oyster shells, and marsh grass.

Documented references suggest the first brick tower, used as a daymark, was built on Cockspur Island between March 1837 and November 1839. In 1848, John Norris, a New York architect, was contracted to supervise construction of an illuminated station. The noted architect designed many of Savannah's grand structures including the U.S. Custom House in downtown Savannah, the Mercer-Wilder House, and the Green-Meldrim House, where General Sherman stayed during the Civil War. Norris's duties were to "repair, alter, and put up lanterns and lights on Cockspur Island...and to erect a suitable keeper's house." This first tower stood 25 feet above sea level. The beacon housed a fixed white light emanating from five lamps, with 14 inch reflectors visible for nine miles.

Tragedy struck in 1854 when a hurricane destroyed the structure. The tower was rebuilt and enlarged on the same foundation the following year. At the start of the American Civil War, the light was temporarily extinguished. On April 10, 1862, Union forces in eleven batteries stretching along the beach at Tybee Island, started a long range bombardment of Fort Pulaski. Thirty-six guns participated in a thirty-hour siege of the fort with the Cockspur Lighthouse in direct line of fire.

Following the surrender of Fort Pulaski on April 11, 1862, the little beacon only suffered minor damage. Theories abound as to how the tower escaped destruction. One theory suggests to effectively hit the Fort walls approximately 1,500 yards distant, Union artillerists had to fire shots at a high angle, thus passing over the tower. This strategy, coupled with the short duration of battle could explain why the tower survived. Soon after war's end, April 25, 1866, the beacon was relit and painted white for use as a daymark.

Throughout its life, hurricanes plagued the Cockspur Light. August 27, 1881, a massive storm struck Cockspur Island causing water to rise 23' above sea level. The storm surge filled the lighthouse interior and destroyed the Keeper's house.

Jeremiah Keane, the Assistant Keeper Charles Sisson, and two Fort Pulaski caretakers took refuge inside the Northwest stair tower of the brick fort when the great hurricane of 1893 struck. A two story cottage originally built atop the Fort Pulaski for an Ordnance Sergeant would be used by the light keeper in 1906.

To accommodate large freighters, the increasingly busy Savannah port routed vessels to the deep, more navigable North Channel. The Cockspur Lighthouse was decommissioned on June 1, 1909, due to low usage of the South Channel for navigation.

As the threat to the beacon by salvage crews and other private interests grew, the National Park Service looked into the acquisition of the light. On August 14, 1958, by presidential proclamation, the Cockspur Lighthouse was transferred from the United States Coast Guard to the National Park Service. The National Park Service is dedicated to the preservation of this historic marker.

The National Park Service is dedicated to the preservation of this historic marker. Due to ongoing preservation efforts, the lighthouse and lighthouse island are closed to the public. However, an overlook trail offers visitors the best chance to get a closer look at the lighthouse today.

• Cockspur Island Lighthouse Ranger Talk

  
  

  Listen to a park ranger talk about this tour stop.

  Credit / Author:

  NPS/Blewett

  Date created:

  07/01/2020

  Audio Transcript

  Built in 1856, the Cockspur Island Lighthouse stands in the South channel of the Savannah River as a silent, yet resilient, witness to our nation's turbulent history. The lighthouse sits on an islet merely made up of oyster shells with sporadic clumps of Marsh grass. It is the 2nd lighthouse built in its location. The first succumbed to the rage of a hurricane in 1854. The shape of the Cockspur Island Lighthouse is somewhat unusual in that it is shaped like the prow of a ship in order to better withstand wind and wave action. It is constructed of brick, specifically Savannah Grays. Savannah Gray Bricks were painstakingly handmade out of Savannah River mud at the Hermitage plantation in Savannah by enslaved people- men, women, and children. Projects like the construction of this lighthouse supported the institution of slavery in America.

  The very institution that enabled the construction of the lighthouse caused our own country to split and go to war with itself in 1861 as the American Civil War began. The lighthouse would become a beacon of hope, as it shown outside the United States fortification.

  In 1861, Confederate troops took occupation of Fort Pulaski and extinguished the Cockspur Island light in order to make it difficult for Union forces to blockade the Savannah River. Despite these efforts, the Union successfully blockaded the Savannah River, cutting the city off from much needed supplies.

  Towards the end of 1861, Union troops moved in to occupy Tybee Island, just over a mile from the Confederate- held fort with the lighthouse standing boldly in the middle of opposing forces - northern Americans on one side and southern Americans on the other.

  In April of 1862, battle between these foes erupted. Over the course of 30 hours, thousands of artillery projectiles exploded across the very islet where the Cockspur Island Lighthouse stood as witness to the turbulence of what America had become. She emerged once again unscathed, as that beacon of hope as the Union regained control of Fort Pulaski, advancing our nation to the end of slavery.

  Once the Union had control of the fort, Cockspur Island became a haven for enslaved people. On April 13, 1862, General David Hunter issued General Orders No. 7 freeing those enslaved at the fort and on Cockspur Island. He soon expanded this order, issuing General Order No. 11, emancipating slaves in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. Any enslaved people in this area that made their way to Cockspur Island were deemed to be free men, women, and children. A local enslaved person, March Haynes, navigated the intricate waterways of Savannah at night with not even a Lantern to aid the course, for fear of becoming detected. He navigated his way around the silence of the lighthouse to safely land himself and a boat filled with smuggled enslaved people to their newfound freedom on cockspur island.

  Acting out of his chain of command, General Hunter’s proclamation was quickly rescinded. However, it greatly influenced and foreshadowed President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

  The lighthouse was relit in April of 1866 and painted white to function as a daymark. Its light was officially snuffed on June 1st 1909. By presidential proclamation, the lighthouse was transferred from the Coast Guard to the National Park Service in 1958 and remains in the hands of the National Park Service today.

  This little beacon has also witnessed firsthand the fury of Mother Nature. Although it has withstood many hurricanes, tropical storms, extreme tides, sea level rise, and all the harsh elements coastal life has to offer, the lighthouse has undergone constant preservation efforts to keep her here. Fighting the elements is a continuous battle for the National Park Service. Efforts have been made to build the islet up where she sits. The lighthouse is subjected to two tides each day which submerses the base in the saltwater. The saltwater elements have taken their toll on the brittle Savannah Gray Bricks and the soft Lyme- based mortar. Also, the iron works around the beacon were replaced in 2007. The old iron cap is currently on display in the park and preserved by the parks talented team of preservationists.

  Just like our nation, the cockspur island lighthouse has been through the toils of history and the batter of Mother Nature, and requires intentional efforts to keep her standing so she may continue to serve as a silent witness and beacon of hope to further significant events. I wonder what her story will be in another 160 years.