"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts
to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."  ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6

:: the lighthouse nut ::

Ever since man graduated from dugout canoes to vessels big enough to carry supplies and travel great distances, some form of light has been needed to warn mariners where the ocean meets the shoreline.

In ancient times, this was accomplished with big signal fires. Later, burning coals were placed inside a metal container suspended on a pole. Much later came light towers. One of the earliest on record, and one of the most famous, was an ornate marble sculpture built by the Egyptians in 300 BC It was known that the Pharos of Alexandria and stood for over 450 years before toppling in an earthquake.

The first lighthouse in America was built in Boston in 1716. Ever since then, hundreds of lighthouses have been erected in the United States. In this site is a collection of photos and historical information on only a few of those guiding lights.

Georgia
Massachusetts
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia

Much of the information I have gathered is from several sources, most importantly the series of books by Bruce Roberts and Ray Jones. Another good source of information on lighthouses specifically in North and South Carolina is "Lighthouses of the Carolinas" by Terrance Zepke.