Built in 1881 on Parris Island, South Carolina, this historic rear range light guided vessels through the treacherous Port Royal Sound. The lighthouse served as part of a range light pair, helping mariners align their approach through the channel. Deactivated and no longer serving its original navigational purpose, the light stands as a quiet relic of the Lowcountry’s maritime heritage.

The lighthouse is not open to the public, as it sits within the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Visitors may view it from a distance during base visits. Golden hour provides the best photography light against the marsh backdrop. Nearby attractions include the Parris Island Museum, Beaufort’s historic district, and Hunting Island State Park with its own climbable lighthouse.

Explore Nearby

• James Edwin McTeer Bridge & the Causeways scenic byway — Scenic Byway
• Hunting Island State Park — State Park in South Carolina
• South Carolina Highway 170 — Scenic Byway in South Carolina
• Edisto Beach State Park — State Park in South Carolina
• Sumter National Forest — National Forest in South Carolina