Lighthouses have been around for hundreds of years and have been a guide for ships and boats to navigate safely at sea. Did you know that in 1789, U.S. Congress passed an Act to protect all lighthouses through necessary federal financial support by means of upkeep and maintenance?
One of my favorite things to do is to visit historic lighthouses, across the United States. Of course, I have favorites and my latest favorite is the St. Simons Lighthouse.
The lighthouse stands as a 104-foot tower and doesn’t disappoint in beauty or history. Truly, this is an unforgettable experience that only those who visit understand what I mean. Visiting the lighthouse and museum is a must, whenever in this part of Georgia. We received complimentary tickets to help facilitate this review, but all opinions are my own.
The History of the St. Simons Lighthouse
When visiting a place, like the St. Simons Lighthouse, I love to read about the history. If you were to look at the St. Simons Island Lighthouse a 150+ years ago, it would have looked very different. Back then, they used whatever materials they could find to build. Just think of items that you’d find on a beach and those were probably used to build the lighthouse. James Gould, was the first keeper of this incredible lighthouse, he was also the original architect. During the Civil War, the lighthouse was burned to the ground by the Confederates. The Lighthouse you see today was rebuilt over a hundred years ago.
What To Expect When Visiting the St. Simons Lighthouse
Walking into the upstairs of the Lighthouse Museum, you will see four rooms that are decorated. They are decorated to depict what life was like back in that time. Of course, the museum is in the keeper’s quarters. It was such a cool experience, to essentially go back in time and see what a keeper’s life was life back then. You will learn a ton of history as you tour the museum.
Great family event
My kids are older and therefore could appreciate the history of the St. Simons Island Lighthouse. My girls have seen me fall in love with historical pieces, such as lighthouses, and it’s started to rub off on them too.
I thought this was an excellent place to visit with my kids who can appreciate history. Our favorite part was climbing the stairs to the top of the lighthouse and seeing beautiful scenery in the backdrop. If you know your Georgia geography well, you can easily see Jekyll Island in the distance.
If you get a chance, go visit the St. Simons Lighthouse and Museum. Take in the natural and manmade beauty that can only be seen as you climb the stairs and breath in the delicious scent that only the ocean can provide.
St. Simons Hours and Contact
610 Beachview Dr, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
You’ll be excited to know that you can visit the St. Simons Lighthouse daily, from 10am until 5pm. If you want to purchase tickets, walk over to the A.W. Jones Heritage Center, this center is only a few feet away from the lighthouse.
Phone: 912-634-7090
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Saint Simons Island – A Gorgeous Georgia Getaway
