November 30th, 2008
What to Expect From the New Charleston Lighthouse in Charleston
The New Charleston Lighthouse in Charleston stands at 163 feet tall. It will take you about 74 seconds to reach the top of the elevator and then require about 25-feet to reach the highest peak. Interestingly, this is actually the second Charleston Lighthouse, as the first Charleston Lighthouse was originally built in 1767. Nevertheless, time aged it and the “new” replacement on Sullivan’s Island flashed on for the first time in 1962. People certainly noticed! In fact, the light was so bright at 28 million candlepower that neighboring residents started to complain. The lighthouse had to be downgraded to just over one million candlepower and could still be seen from miles away. Tourists will notice that the New Charleston Lighthouse is shaped as a triangle, which has some structural advantages. It is also painted black on top and white on the bottom of its tower. It can withstand strong winds over 100 mph thanks to its shaping and its construction material of steel and aluminum. Once visitors climb the lighthouse they are treated to quite a wonderful view of the Charleston area (and air-conditioning, thankfully!) The New Charleston Lighthouse is also well known by its unique pattern of flashing and eclipse. Come see this amazing South Carolina attraction!