Castle Pinckney Light
Encyclopedia
Castle Pinckney Light is a former lighthouse
on Shutes' Folly Island in Charleston Harbor
, Charleston County, South Carolina
.
Castle Pinckney
was a small fort that was built in the 1790s. It was occupied by Confederate forces
during the Civil War
.
.
In 1878 Castle Pinckney was transferred to the Lighthouse Board
for use as a lighthouse depot for the Sixth District. A new lighthouse was constructed in 1880.
A third lighthouse was constructed in 1890 and it was made a lighthouse station.
In 1916 the lighthouse depot was moved to Tradd Street in Charleston. The lighthouse station was deactivated in 1917 and Castle Pinckney was transferred to the War Department
. The lighthouse was probably destroyed in 1938.
Castle Pinckney is currently owned by the South Carolina State Port Authority.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
on Shutes' Folly Island in Charleston Harbor
Charleston Harbor
The Charleston Harbor is an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean at Charleston, South Carolina. The inlet is formed by the junction of Ashley and Cooper rivers at . Morris and Sullivan's Island, shelter the entrance...
, Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
.
Castle Pinckney
Castle Pinckney
Castle Pinckney was a small masonry fortification constructed by the United States government by 1810 in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina...
was a small fort that was built in the 1790s. It was occupied by Confederate forces
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
History
In 1855 a yellow tower with a focal plane of 50 feet (15 m) was built at Castle Pinckney. It has a 5th order Fresnel lensFresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
.
In 1878 Castle Pinckney was transferred to the Lighthouse Board
United States Lighthouse Board
The United States Lighthouse Board was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States...
for use as a lighthouse depot for the Sixth District. A new lighthouse was constructed in 1880.
A third lighthouse was constructed in 1890 and it was made a lighthouse station.
In 1916 the lighthouse depot was moved to Tradd Street in Charleston. The lighthouse station was deactivated in 1917 and Castle Pinckney was transferred to the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
. The lighthouse was probably destroyed in 1938.
Castle Pinckney is currently owned by the South Carolina State Port Authority.