PHOTO MYSTERY: It’s not a resort

It may look like a beach resort, but it’s not.  What is it and where? Send your guess to:  editor@charlestoncurrents.com.  And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live.

Our previous Mystery Photo

Our previous mystery, “Maybe this one will be easier,” was, in fact, easier for photo sleuths than the earlier mystery.  This photo, taken by Charleston-area photographer Josh Corrigan, showed a beautiful silhouette of the lighthouse on Sullivan’s Island.  Thanks to Ellis Creek Photography for providing the image.

Congratulations to those who correctly identified the location of Corrigan’s photo:  Larry Simon of Isle of Palms; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Chris Brooks of Mount Pleasant; David Brown of Daniel Island; Kristina Wheeler of West Ashley and Bill Segars of Hartsville.

Graf provide more of the story about the lighthouse: “According to us-lighthouses.com, construction of this new lighthouse had begun in 1960 on the northern side of the Charleston harbor. As the federal government had established a lifesaving station on the island in 1895, it was decided to use that location for the lighthouse.

“To help the new lighthouse stand strong against hurricane force winds, it was given a unique triangular shape, capable of withstanding 125-mph winds, by its architect, Jack Graham of the U.S. Coast Guard. After the design, Jack Graham left the Coast Guard, and never knew that his design was used in the construction of the lighthouse, until he saw the completed tower in Motor Boating magazine in August of 1962.

“To get to the top of the lighthouse, personnel can take the elevator, a feature Graham persuaded the Coast Guard to include due to the high number of accidents on lighthouse steps. It is the only lighthouse in the U.S. that includes an elevator. Another unique feature of the lighthouse, as it has offices, is air conditioning. And if the lighthouse should lose power, a generator at the base of the structure ensures the lamps stay lit.

“When the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse was first completed, it was given a unique red/orange and white paint scheme. Many of the locals complained of the combination, which was later changed to its current color scheme of black and white. The Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse was first illuminated on June 15, 1962 and was proclaimed to be “one of the most powerful lighthouses in the Western Hemisphere.”  The six lights produced an amazing 28 million candlepower which was said to be visible for 70 miles at sea. Many neighbors complained of the beam, and due to the dangers associated with servicing the lamps, due to its intense heat, the light’s output was cut back to 1.5 million candlepower in 1972. Even with this reduction, the light is still visible for 26 miles on a clear night.”

• Send us a mystery:  If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!)   Send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.