Tybee Island lighthouse marks National Lighthouse Day with new exhibit

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia’s oldest lighthouse is marking National Lighthouse Day with a new exhibit, as the organizations behind its preservation reflect on decades of shared stewardship.

A partnership built over generations

Lt. Edward Fisher of the U.S. Coast Guard grew up near the Tybee Island lighthouse. He said the connection between the Coast Guard and the structure runs deep.

“I never would’ve dreamed that this would come to fruition,” Fisher said.

The Coast Guard stepped in during the 1930s when there were discussions about shutting the lighthouse down entirely.

“The lighthouse service that then transferred to the Coast Guard decided that this was a light they definitely wanted to keep,” said Sarah Jones, executive director of the Tybee Island Historical Society.

From Coast Guard to historical society

The Coast Guard owned and operated the lighthouse for more than half a century before the Tybee Island Historical Society took over care of the grounds and building in 2002.

Fisher said that partnership has helped the lighthouse continue to shine.

“When I was a kid, the lighthouse [was] not poorly maintained but just not as beautiful as we see it is today,” Fisher said.

Jones said the lighthouse holds a central place in the island’s identity.

“This is the symbol of Tybee,” Jones said.

History spanning centuries

Jones said the lighthouse’s significance extends well beyond the island.

“It’s seen every war, from the Revolutionary War until World War II, it’s been a part of that in some way,” Jones said.

Kelsey Chandler, the historical society’s archivist and curator, said her connection to the lighthouse is personal.

“I used to climb this lighthouse with my grandfather,” Chandler said.

Chandler noted that when the lighthouse was converted into Coast Guard offices, several Coast Guard families lived on the property.

The historical society is a nonprofit that operates on community funds. The lighthouse was renovated two years ago using those funds. Chandler said researchers are still uncovering the names of individuals who kept the lighthouse running since the 1700s.