tybee island ~ lighthouse

One of the must-see sights on Tybee Island is the Historic Lighthouse ~ a lovely icon of the Savannah Lowcountry.

I visited on a brilliant fall day, and enjoyed a peaceful afternoon wander through the entire station and museum.

This was one of my first adventures during my Tybee Island week. I went on Monday, as the station and museum are closed on Tuesday. It’s a self-guided tour, with an informational video screening, a walk-through of the restored Lightkeeper’s house and out buildings, and a museum ~ oh, and of course the Lighthouse!

Ordered by General Oglethorpe in 1732 as part of the original 13th colony, the lighthouse has been rebuilt several times from the original foundation. The current version was rebuilt after the Civil War and then electrified in 1933. The lighthouse has guided safe entrance into the Savannah River for over 270 years, and the US Coast Guard still maintains it as a navigational aid.

This is the view from the top of the battery, and after I finished the museum tour, I headed down to the beach. I walked the beach down to the jetty and then headed back to the boardwalk. Along the way I met a friendly local couple and enjoyed a nice sit-down chat with them about living on Tybee. They became permanent residence this year, after many years of vacationing on the island from colder, northern states. We talked about the changes in lifestyle and climate ~ all good! It was so nice just to talk with friendly folks and enjoy the sunshine! 🙂

As I started back towards the parking area, this was the view from the boardwalk. I’m still learning about my camera settings, but I managed to capture enough of the moment to take it away with me ~~~

I so enjoyed my Tybee time, and love sharing it here in this blog series – the wonderful Mermaid Cottage, the Tybee Pier and beaches, local shopping and restaurants, and a fun Savannah afternoon. You’ll also see more of the Tybee coastal vibe in a great holiday series I’m doing with some of my blogging friends next week!

Tomorrow is my favorite holiday of the year ~ Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for the opportunities I’ve enjoyed this year. It certainly has been different from how the year started out. You never know where things will take you, and this year is winding down. I hope you enjoy this series, the holiday posts, and the rest of 2014 on the blog with me.

Maybe the lighthouse should be my personal icon to help navigate the next stretch. I think I’ll keep that in mind! Hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends. I’m certainly looking forward to mine. 🙂