Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2016

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A s any boater can tell you,
navigating Charleston Harbor can
be a tricky proposition because of its
many sandbars and oyster beds. That
challenge is of particular importance
for the large commercial vessels
entering and leaving this busy port
city. Today, modern technology enables harbor pilots to
guide ships safely through the
main channel. But more than
a century ago, ships relied on several lighthouses to keep
them on track. One such beacon was the Mount Pleasant
Light, located in what is now known as the Old Village.
Designed and built in 1858 by the federal govern-
ment, the lighthouse and adjoining keeper’s house sat
atop the 14-foot high bluff at the water’s edge of Bank
Street. Situated directly across the harbor from the Mor-
ris Island Lighthouse and at a right angle to the steeple
of St. Michael’s Church in downtown Charleston, it
was part of a geometric configuration that encircled the
harbor.
The local newspaper reported at the time it was
The Past
Looks Bright
Remembering Our Mount Pleasant Lighthouse
Photo by Mary Coy.
By MaRy COy