Georgia's Lighthouses

If one were to ask the average American to name a lighthouse in Georgia, the response might start with Tybee Island. And it might end there. The Georgia shoreline is a short one, relative to the size of the rest of the state, and the Peach State is hardly well-known for its lighthouse history. There's Atlanta, the Civil War, Stone Mountain, those wonderful peaches and so much more to see first. But Tybee Island, St. Simons Island and Sapelo Lights have played major roles in American maritime history and, as such, they hold the prominent positions in this book. The author has done an excellent job of balancing the technical history of the lights with the social history connected to the light stations, and the imagery chosen to convey those stories was very well selected. This book is a primer for the most important history of the Georgia shore, and certainly belongs on the bookshelves of lighthouse enthusiasts around the United States.

Part of the "Images of America" series cherishing beloved local landmarks, Georgia's Lighthouses is a treasury of black-and-white archival photographs of lighthouses built along Georgia's 100-mile coastline. Images of the Cockspur Light, Sapelo Light, Simons Light, and Cumberland Light (now located on a private island) along with brief yet evocative captions help recreate the vibrant history of these historical buildings. Some of the pictures and captions are quite telling, such as one of a chicken coop - "Lighthouse keepers often cultivated gardens and raised chickens to help feed their families. Many keepers took second jobs to make ends meet." Written by the executive director of the Coastal Georgia Historical Society and the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum, Georgia's Lighthouses is a superb giftbook for lighthouse enthusiasts.