ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The iconic St. Simons Lighthouse has stood as a beacon for boaters and a must-see attraction for visitors to the island for more than 150 years.
Alison Dupuis, historian for the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, said the lighthouse is often the first stop for visitors arriving on the island.
“It’s a lot of people’s introduction, not only to the lighthouse, but to St. Simons Island,” Dupuis said.
The current lighthouse, built in 1872, is actually the second to stand on the site. The original was constructed in the early 1800s.
Designed by Orlando Poe, known for his work on lighthouses in Michigan and Wisconsin, the St. Simons Lighthouse was built locally by architect Charles Cluskey. Visitors can climb 129 steps to reach the top.
Dupuis emphasized the lighthouse’s ongoing importance.
“I would say it’s really important not only for that aid to navigation, which I do think is still a very important part of its function, but also just as a symbol to the community.”
News4JAX reporter Ariel Schiller and Dupuis timed their climb to the top, reaching the summit in about three minutes without breaks.
At the top, the view is expansive.
“You can see all of St. Simons Island. You can see across the Sound over here to Jekyll Island. And on a really clear day, sometimes you can see Cumberland Island too,” Dupuis said.
Descending the stairs proved more challenging.
“It just makes you dizzy going down,” Dupuis said.
The total time to get down the spiral staircase with a few breaks was about four minutes. Most visitors take about 10 to 15 minutes for the round trip, Dupuis said.
On a pleasant day, visitors are encouraged to linger at the top to enjoy the view.