Hilton Head’s iconic lighthouse is shining a little brighter these days. Here’s why
The Harbour Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head Island is shining with a more historical glint these days after the installation of a Fresnel lens, the likes of which have guided mariners around the world for more than a century.
Fresnel lenses, named for French physicist Augustin Fresnel, resemble a giant beehive of multi-faceted glass prisms mounted in a brass framework, according to the National Park Service. The design allows a more efficient beam of light that can be seen from farther away.
The previous light on the landmark Harbour Town Lighthouse was a rotating spotlight.
The lens installed in the lighthouse in Sea Pines Resort is a replica of an original Fourth Order Fresnel lens. Orders are a reference to size, with first order being the smallest and sixth being the largest.
“The Fresnel lens is as beautiful in the day as when it’s illuminated at night,” Rob Bender, director of recreation and marine operations for Sea Pines, said in a news release. “There is a great deal of history associated with this lighthouse, and this represented a great opportunity to add to it.”
The lens was created by Dan Spinella, a Florida-based artist and engineer who began his research and restoration work on Fresnel lenses 30 years ago.
Talk of bringing in a Fresnel lens was initiated nearly a decade ago but Hurricane Matthew and other factors played roles in the delay.
Final approval from the U.S. Coast Guard took four months, the news release said.
The red-and-white striped lighthouse has been a landmark at the Harbour Town Yacht Basin since its construction more than 50 years ago. Visitors can climb 114 steps to an observation deck from 10 a.m. to sunset daily. Admission is $5.75 per person; children 5 and under may enter free.
This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 12:31 PM.
