Morris Island has receded from the ancient tower due to erosion, leaving the 161-foot tower well out in the surf! We took SC 171 to Folly Beach and parked along the road , then walked roughly one-quarter mile over sand dunes to reach a vantage point from which to photograph the lighthouse. The lighthouse was purchased by a non-profit group, Save the Light, Inc., in 1999; they have plans to stabilize and restore the structure.

Strong seas and rough weather have taken their toll on the lighthouse, which is no longer in use. It was deactivated in 1962, having first been lit in 1876. An earlier tower had been demolished during the Civil War. The newer Charleston Lighthouse tower at nearby Sullivan Island is seen in the background (right side) of the photo above. (It is unique in that it has an elevator!)

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