The Fourth Tybee Lighthouse

After the Civil War, the Lighthouse Establishment began work on rebuilding the Tybee Light. The lower sixty feet of the old lighthouse was still intact, and it was decided to add to the existing structure instead of starting from the ground up. The new lighthouse was to be a first order station, consisting of masonry and metal only and was completely fireproof. This is the lighthouse that stands today.

 

Changing the light....

The new First Order Fresnel Lens (lens type was developed in 1822 by Augustin Fresnel) was first exhibited on October 1, 1867. In 1933, the light was converted to electricity (by concentrating the light’s rays, the lens magnifies a 1000 watt bulb so that it can be seen from eighteen miles away). This change signaled the beginning of the end of the need of a Lighthouse Keeper. When Tybee Lighthouse’s last keeper, George Jackson, died in 1948, the U.S. Coast Guard took over the operation and maintenance of the lighthouse. 

Today

The U.S. Coast Guard occupied the Lighthouse site until 1987 when they formed a joint partnership lease agreement with the City of Tybee Island and The Tybee Island Historical Society, which took on responsibility for full maintenance and restoration of the site. The U.S. Coast Guard still maintains the light as a navigational aid.