6 May 2010
Don’t Miss The Hilton Head Island Lighthouse Museum
Posted by Oliver Woods under: Golf .
The distinctive red and white day mark of the Hilton Head Island Lighthouse stands out from its surroundings like a giant 90 foot, barber pole. It is so easily recognized that it has in fact become the unofficial symbol of Hilton Head Island. It is also the official logo of the Horizon Heritage PGA golf tournament, held every year in April on the Island.
"Walking up all those stairs is very tiring," as one visitor put it, "If you have bad knees, I wouldn't recommend it. The view, however, is awesome!" The view of the Atlantic Ocean from the top of the lighthouse is breathtaking. There is also a museum with displays at about 10 landings as you climb the 114 steps to the top.
The Museum
This "step and study, step and study" approach puts you at the top before you even have time to think about it. Every 10 steps brings you to another "room" of the museum on the self-guided Legends Tour. The historical objects and paintings are rotated on a regular basis, so there's always something fresh and new to anticipate every time you visit the Island.
The panorama displayed on the lighthouse walls ranges from ancient times to as late as 1970 when the lighthouse was constructed. One landing features items dating back 3000 to 5000 B.C. Some of the themes include the construction of the lighthouse itself, the imprint of the Civil War on the history of Hilton Head, and the discovery and development of the Island by William Hilton in 1663.
Although the French and Spanish were here first, Captain Hilton was the first to stake an official claim for the British crown. He was en-route from Barbados in search of tropical lands suitable for profitable plantations. Here he paused to survey the abundant, untamed island and was not shy about establishing the legacy with his own name... "Hilton's Headland."
The Gift Shop
The lighthouse climb may be "breathtaking", but the view from the top is even more so. You can catch your breath in the little souvenir shop which occupies every square inch of the Watch Room (lighthouse terminology). "The Island's most elevated shopping experience," is the way some have described it. Over 2,000 items are on sale, many of them crafted specifically for the Hilton Head Lighthouse. The prices are not bad at all.
The experience is also billed as "Shop At The Top." It is in fact the only lighthouse in the United States with a shop at the top. It's the only lighthouse constructed in the United States since the late 1800s. Built in 1970, the Hilton Head Island Lighthouse is the visual centerpiece of the Sea Pines district at the south end of the Island. More than just a replica, its beacon is visible from 15 miles at sea.
The red and white Hilton Head Island lighthouse has become the unofficial logo of Hilton Head Island, the #1 vacation destination in the continental United States. When planning your next vacation at Hilton Head Resort, be sure to include the lighthouse with its built in museum and "Shop At The Top.
Who needs Hawaii, when we've got Hilton Head? Get great price breaks on meals, rooms, golf and much more with your Hilton Head vacation Trip Planner Worksheet. Join Oliver Woods for an overview of how it feels to retreat to Hilton Head Island at Hilton Head South Carolina
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