St. Simons Island Lighthouse

In October 1804, John Cooper (or Couper) sold four acres of land, known as Couper’s Point to the government for one dollar. Finally, three years later, an act passed on March 3, 1807, authorizing $19,000 to build the lighthouse. This amount far exceeds funds authorized for other lighthouses in this era. As an example, in 1806 $5,000 was authorized for each of the following lighthouses: on Fairweather Island, Connecticut, and Franklin Island, Maine, and a two-towered station at Chatham, Massachusetts.