City of Tybee Island

The Tybee lighthouse is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia. In 1773, a 100-foot tall Daymark tower was erected to aid ship traffic along the eastern seaboard and Savannah River. During the Civil War, Confederate troops destroyed the upper levels of the tower to hinder Union advances. The present lighthouse was built in 1867 on top of the 1773 foundation. It is 154 feet tall and constructed of brick and metal. The light was converted from oil to electricity in 1933, using a single bulb of 1,000 watts. Light through the 10 foot Fresnel lens can be seen from 18 miles out at sea. There are a total of six historic buildings on the Tybee Island lighthouse site, the oldest being the kitchen (circa 1812). Other buildings on the sites include the oil house and the keeper’s cottage.

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