Guiding lights along Georgia’s coast.
I’ve always loved lighthouses: their salty air, the echo of sea and stone, the idea of light piercing through darkness. Recently I’ve been thinking more about the lighthouses of the American South — and Georgia, with its winding marshes, barrier islands, and ever-changing coastline, feels like a perfect place to explore next.
Georgia’s coast once hosted fifteen lighthouses along it coast — built to guide ships through shifting sandbars, narrow marsh channels, and dangerous shoals. Over centuries some were lost to storms, war, or neglect. But a handful remain. Today, these towers stand as silent witnesses to history — some still active, some preserved, some restored, all full of stories.
In this blog I walk you through the lighthouses I want to visit first, and why each one has me dreaming of ocean breeze, coastal roads, and salt-air sunsets.
1) Tybee Island Lighthouse
Georgia’s Oldest and Tallest Coastal Beacon
If I visit only one lighthouse in Georgia, I’ll go here. The Tybee Island Lighthouse has roots going back to 1736, when colonial founder James Oglethorpe ordered a day-mark to help ships entering Savannah harbor.
Over the centuries, earlier wooden towers were destroyed again and again — storms and shifting shorelines were relentless. The current tower dates to 1867, stands 144 ft tall, and remains one of the nation’s most intact historic light stations.
Inside, original keeper’s cottages and support buildings remain. Visitors can climb the 178 steps to the top for panoramic views of salt marshes, tidal creeks, and the Atlantic — a sight I can’t wait to catch at sunrise.
2) St. Simons Island Lighthouse
A Beacon Rebuilt From War and Time
St. Simons Island Lighthouse carries scars of history — and yet still stands tall. The first lighthouse on the site was built around 1810, but during the American Civil War Confederate forces destroyed it to deny it to Union ships.
In 1872, a new brick tower and keeper’s dwelling rose to replace it. That tower, visible today, still functions as a navigation aid.
Today, the site is operated as a museum by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society. Visitors can tour keeper’s quarters (complete with period furnishings), climb the tower, and imagine what life was like for the families who lived and worked here through storms and wartime. I picture a quiet visit — climbing the tower at golden hour, walking the breezy coast, then sitting under the oaks near the marsh, listening to waves and history.
3) Sapelo Island Lighthouse
Remote, Historic & Unspoiled
For a wilder, quieter kind of lighthouse visit — far from crowds — Sapelo Island Lighthouse calls to me. Built in 1820, it’s one of the oldest brick lighthouses in the South and originally served coastal shipping along Georgia’s barrier islands.
The light was extinguished in 1905, but the historic tower stood firm. After years of neglect, it was restored and re-lit in 1998.
Sapelo Island itself is a mix of marsh, untouched coastline, wildlife, and history — perfect for travelers who appreciate solitude, nature, and a step back in time. I’m imagining reaching the island by ferry, breathing in salty sea air, and climbing the lighthouse for views over spartina marshes and tidal creeks.
4) Cockspur Island Lighthouse
Georgia’s Smallest Light With a Big Story
Not every lighthouse has to be tall to matter. The Cockspur Island Lighthouse — built in 1857 — stands just 46 feet high, making it Georgia’s smallest lighthouse.
It marked the south channel entrance into the Savannah River, guiding ships for decades. During the Civil War the light was extinguished when the nearby fort (Fort Pulaski) was under attack — but the sturdy brick tower survived.
For anyone exploring Savannah and Tybee Island, this little lighthouse makes a great quick stop: pair it with a visit to Fort Pulaski, stroll the tidal marshes, or kayak nearby to see the lighthouse from the river channel.
5) Little Cumberland Island Lighthouse
Quiet Sentinel on a Wild Barrier Island
Tucked away at the northern tip of Little Cumberland Island, this modest 60-foot brick tower was first lit in 1838. For decades it helped guide ships through St. Andrew Sound and around tricky shoa
The light was deactivated in 1915, and over time the keeper’s dwellings and other station buildings vanished. What remains today is the restored tower itself — privately owned and not open to the public.
That said, the island and its lighthouse feel like a quiet secret — a reminder of how many small beacons once stood across Georgia’s coast, now gone or hidden. For someone like me who loves solitude, history, and remote coastlines — that’s part of the allure.
6) Old Harbor Light
A Rare Surviving Harbor Beacon in Historic Savannah
Old Harbor Light may not look like the classic lighthouse we picture in our minds, but it played a vital role guiding ships into Savannah’s bustling river port.
Built in 1858, this slim cast-iron range light once helped vessels safely navigate the hazardous river channel — a channel still cluttered with the remains of ships scuttled during the Revolutionary War.
It was extinguished during the Civil War, reactivated afterward, and continued helping ships until modern navigation made it unnecessary. By World War II, the light was retired.
For decades it stood rusting but unbroken, until the city restored and re-erected it in 2001. Today it stands in Emmet Park along Savannah’s riverfront — a small but meaningful reminder of the city’s maritime past.
It’s not climbable, but it’s a lighthouse you pause to appreciate.
Where to Stay on a Georgia Lighthouse Trip
If you’re dreaming of a lighthouse-themed getaway, here’s where I’d stay:
Tybee Island
Beach cottages, cozy inns, and rentals just minutes from the lighthouse.
Savannah
Historic hotels and charming B&Bs with quick access to Tybee and Cockspur, plus Old Harbor Light right downtown.
St. Simons Island / Golden Isles
A perfect stretch of coast with beautiful resorts, marsh views, and plenty of Southern charm.
Sapelo Island
Rustic lodging and nature-focused stays reachable only by ferry — peaceful, quiet, and unforgettable.
My Final Thoughts
More Than Just Towers — Lighthouses as Storytellers
There’s something deeply powerful about a lighthouse. It’s not just architecture. It’s hope. It’s history. It’s a promise that, no matter how wild the sea or how changing the shores, someone — at some point — cared enough to light a beacon.
Georgia’s remaining lighthouses may be few, but each stands for hundreds of years of coastal life: of ships, storms, trade, war, rebuilding, and quiet nights under a single beam of light.
I haven’t walked their staircases yet, but these lighthouses are calling me. When I finally go, I’ll climb the steps, feel the sea breeze on my face, listen to gulls over marsh grass — and remember that even when times are shifting, a light can guide us home.
If you love coastal history, quiet beaches, and lighthouses that feel like living stories — Georgia might just be your next lighthouse destination.
Until Next Time !
Susan