Sapelo Island Lighthouse
Why it's listed
Rising 65 feet above a marshy island at the southern tip of Sapelo Island, this brick lighthouse was built around 1820 to a design by Winslow Lewis. Its tapered cylindrical tower, stuccoed exterior, arched openings and cast-iron lantern make it Georgia's oldest surviving coastal lighthouse. Nearby are a c.1877 iron range beacon with fluted columns and filigree ornament, a brick cistern, the ruins of an 1890 oil house, footings of a 1905 steel tower, and a foundation from a Spanish-American War fortification. The complex marked the coastal entrance to the port of Darien, which shipped rice, cotton, timber and naval stores. The tower was deactivated after the 1898 hurricane, but it continued as a daymark until the whole station closed in 1933. It was listed for its role in maritime transportation, its architecture, and the archaeological potential of the surrounding island, a state-owned tract with a later causeway.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest surviving coastal lighthouse in Georgia, one of five remaining, and a good example of the tall tapered cylindrical tower designed by Winslow Lewis. It guided shipping to the port of Darien and holds the state's only known surviving range beacon of its type. The grounds also hold archaeological potential.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97000335, listed August 26, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S end of Sapelo Island, S of University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island |
|---|---|
| County | McIntosh County |
| Listed | August 26, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000335 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1820-1933 |
| Architect / builder | Lewis, Winslow (architect) |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deactivated as a navigation aid in 1933; the tower stairs are in extreme disrepair and the range beacon is in poor condition. Restoration was planned, and current function is listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 205.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.43882, -81.27974 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97000335.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7420934
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.