Visiting the Tybee Island Lighthouse

I love lighthouses. As a child my family traveled to lots of different beaches and we always would stop to visit the lighthouse of where we were visiting, gathering different badges and pins as memorabilia of our visits. We also lived on an island off of Tybee Island, Georgia, which is close to the city of Savannah, Georgia, and so the Tybee Island Lighthouse serves as a landmark of where I call home.

If you are traveling to Savannah, Tybee Island, Hilton Head, or anywhere in the area, the Tybee Island Lighthouse is worth a stop. The Lighthouse was ordered in 1732, although it has been rebuilt several times. There is a lot of history to the  light station, including it being burnt by Confederate forces during the Civil War. All of its historic support buildings are still intact and when you visit the Lighthouse you are able to walk into several of these buildings to view the museum, a movie on the history of the lighthouse, and of course the gift shop. If you’re able to climb the 178 stairs to the top you’ll see some unbeatable views of Tybee Island, and it’s a fun trek up those stairs and nice to stand up there and look out, unless you’re afraid of heights like my husband.

Across the street from the Lighthouse at Fort Screven is the main Tybee Island Lighthouse Museum which is full of interesting artifacts and history of the Lighthouse and the area. This is all included in the $9 entrance fee. Keep in mind that the Lighthouse is not open on Tuesdays, but is open other days from 9 to 5:30 PM, and is closed on St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The lighthouse will close for adverse weather so it’s best to not visit during thunderstorms.

We had so much fun exploring the grounds, climbing to the top of the Lighthouse, and checking out the museum. Afterwards we walked across the street and went to the beach and ate at our favorite Tybee restaurant, North Beach Grill, which is right across the street from the Lighthouse. It made for a great family day and even the kids enjoyed it. Just a couple months ago we actually climbed to the top of the St. Simon’s Lighthouse and checked out its museum as well.

Are you a lighthouse fan? Keep track of your lighthouse visits with USLHS Passport Program. The era of manned lighthouses has come to an end in the United States but they should be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Co. wants to help celebrate lighthouses with their new Lighthouse Selections product line of seafood favorites. They’re made with sustainably certified, farm-raised shrimp, are gluten-free, as well as free of trans fats, additives, and preservatives! I got to try them out and they are delicious and an easy family meal! SeaPak is partnering with the U.S. Lighthouse Society to encourage and facilitate lighthouse preservation and education. The brand is supporting these efforts with a $10,000 grant to be awarded to the Morris Island Lighthouse this National Lighthouse Day, which is August 7th.

Find a USLHS Lighthouse to visit here! Do you have a favorite lighthouse? I’d love to hear all about it below!

*Thank you SeaPak for sponsoring this post. Regardless all thoughts and opinions are my own and I only recommend things I truly love!