Named for King Charles II, the historic city of Charleston covers a peninsula created by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. The colonial seaport, once called Charles Towne, began settlement in 1670. Early plantation owners enjoyed the rich earth and favorable climate, cashing in on plentiful harvests. Less than 200 hundred years later, the United States would be steeped in a slavery controversy.
Charleston Harbor is protected by barrier islands and four forts. Fort Sumter, being one of the most famous, is where the initial shots were fired, the beginnings of civil war. Sullivan Island Lighthouse, located on the northern barrier island, marks the entrance into the Charleston Harbor. Built in 1962, the modern shaped beacon lacks traditional lighthouse charm. The 165 foot, aluminum clad tower features a powerful million candle power light, air conditioning and an elevator. In this Picture of the Day, a silhouette of the triangular shaped tower stands out against Sullivan Island's evening sky. The future of the lighthouse remains in question as the Coast Guard has declared it a surplus property.