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Hilton Head Rear Range Light (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)
After the Civil War Congress appropriated
$40,000 to purchase land on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and to construct
two range lights that would be used to position ships for entering the channel.
The lights were completed in 1880 and became operational in 1881. The two beacons were separated by about 1.25
miles. The front range light was 35
feet high and sat on top of the keeper’s house. The light measured six and
one-half feet in diameter and flashed on and off.
The Rear Range Light was a 95-foot skeletal tower. It contained a
six-foot diameter light that produced a fixed white beam of light. A ship entering the channel would position the ship so
that both lights lined up, one on top of the other.
Due to the shifting channel, the front light was made to be mobile in
1884 so it could be relocated whenever the channel shifted. The Hilton Head Island Rear Range Light,
also referred to as simply Hilton Head Lighthouse, is a skeletal design. The tower is constructed of steel and cast iron and has a
112-step spiral staircase in the center section. At the top is a hexagonal watch room and lantern room that
was originally made of cypress wood. The wooden shingles were replaced with
metal sheathing in 1913.
The Front Range Beacon no longer exists and
the Rear Range Beacon was decommissioned in the 1930s.
The Rear Range Light is still in good conditioned and stands at the 8th
hole of the Arthur Hills Golf Course at
Palmetto Dunes Resort. The
Greenwood Development Corporation owns the lighthouse. Directions: The lighthouse is located
on Hilton Head Island at the Palmetto Dunes Resort.
This is a private resort and access to the lighthouse is restricted to
residents and invited guests only. Special
arrangements might be made through the Greenwood Development Corporation. From
I-95 South Carolina exit 21 take US-278 to Hilton Head Island. The entrance to
Palmetto Dunes is on US-278.
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All pictures are the original work of Rick Totton and are protected under copyright laws. Do not reproduce any images from this website without permission of the author. Copyright (c) 2000 Rick Totton.
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