The Need for a Light House

General James Edward Oglethorpe founded the English Colony of Georgia in America on February 12, 1733 when he arrived at Yamacraw Bluff, fifteen miles up the Savannah River from the Atlantic Ocean. Named for George II, Georgia was envisioned by Oglethorpe who believed the land would be a “land of liberty and plenty.”

Today we call Savannah a port city, but the new colony would not have survived without an establishment of a landfall at the mouth of the Savannah River. With this in mind, Oglethorpe surveyed and decided upon the site for such an undertaking. He selected the largest and outermost island, Tybee, on which to establish a “day mark” - a lighthouse without a light. It would serve as a guide to the navigable channels of the Savannah River. To read more about James Oglethorpe click here

 

 

The First Tybee Lighthouse Starts....

Under the direction of Noble Jones of Wormsloe Plantation, work began on the first lighthouse built on Tybee. It was constructed in 1736. It was octagonal in shape and was constructed of brickwork and cedar piles. Standing ninety feet tall, it was the tallest structure of its kind in America at that time. To learn more about Noble Jones click here

.....and Ends.

Unfortunately, storms took their toll on Tybee’s first lighthouse. Five years after its completion, a new lighthouse was commissioned. While work was progressing on a new lighthouse, a storm swept the old lighthouse away in August 1741.

 

General James Oglethorpe

Wormsloe Plantation Ruins