ASSATEAGUE LIGHT

SOUTH END ASSATEAGUE ISLAND
Station Established: 1833
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1867
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1965
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: STONE
Construction Materials: BRICK
Tower Shape: CONICAL
Markings/Pattern: WHITE & RED BANDS
Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE
Original Lens: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL 1867


BACK RIVER LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


BELLS ROCK LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


BOWLERS ROCK LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


CAPE CHARLES LIGHT

Location: Smiths Island / Chesapeake Bay entrance
Date Built: Original tower - 1828, current tower - 1895
Type of Structure: Octagonal skeletal tower built on concrete piers, central column
Markings / Pattern: White with black lantern
Height: 180 feet above mean high water
Characteristics: Flashing white
Foghorn: Yes
Appropriation: $150,000
Range: 24 miles
Status: Standing and Active

General Information:

The original lighthouse on Smith Island, near Cape Charles, Va., at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay was completed in 1828, at a cost of $7,398.82. In 1856 Congress appropriated $35,000 for "rebuilding the Cape Charles Lighthouse upon a proper site and fitting it with proper illuminating apparatus. This sum was spent in 1858 and 1859 and on June 20, 1860, an additional $10,200 was appropriated for a keeper?s dwelling. Only about $1,890 of this was spent, however. Before the new tower was finished it was completely destroyed by "a party of guerrillas" (Confederate) in the Civil War then raging.
"In August last (1862)" the Lighthouse Board reported "the lighthouse at Cape Charles was visited by a party of guerrillas, who completely destroyed the light, carrying away such portable articles as they deemed valuable. The new tower authorized for that station had, at the outbreak of the rebellion progressed in construction to a height of 83 feet, the greater part of the materials to complete the tower to its proper height (150 feet) being on the ground, stored, ready for future use. During the rebel occupancy of this part of the peninsula, the articles which had been stored were subjected to indiscriminate pilfering and spoliation, so that a new provision will have to be made."
In 1864 Congress appropriated $20,000 for rebuilding the lighthouse and the tower was completed forthwith, the light being first exhibited on May 7, 1864. "Owing to the liability of this important light to an attack from the enemy the Board reported on June 30, 1864, "a competent military guard for its protection has been asked for." The encroachment of the sea upon the shore at this station had been in progress for many years by 1883 and about 300 feet had been washed away since 1857. By that time (1883) the waterline was within 300 feet of the tower and still nearer the keeper?s dwelling. The average annual encroachment was then about 30 feet. As a result, Congress in 1885 appropriated $10,000 to be used for "jetties of stone resting upon heavy timber mattresses to prevent too rapid sinking into the sand."
However, further congressional action was believed necessary in that year to authorize the purchase of additional land needed for the three large jetties and $30,000 was asked for this purpose. By 1886 about 120 feet of brush mattresses of this shore protection were completed and partially loaded with stone and about 80 feet of one jetty was finished extending from the shore to about low water mark. The jetty had already gathered much sand but had washed away somewhat at the sea extremity. In 1889, as steps were being taken to extend the protection, a heavy northeasterly gale washed away about 75 feet of the jetty and undermined the south end of the protection wall, and, at one time, the station was entirely surrounded by water. The retreat of the shore was not local but was general along the island. Any protection works, therefore, would have to extend a long distance to the northeast and be very expensive. It was, therefore, thought to be more economical to build a new light station where it would not be exposed to any danger. This would cost about $150,000.
Measures were meanwhile taken to construct four jetties at right angles to the shore protection and a protection wall in front of the one still standing. These were begun in February 1890. An appropriation of $150,000 for a new tower was made on August 30, 1890. The new jetties were finished in April 1891. The contract for a new iron tower on a new site was signed in June 1893 and the structure was completed December 21, 1894. A first-order lens was installed and the light first exhibited August 15, 1895. The tower is an octagonal, pyramidal skeleton structure, 191 feet above land and 180 feet above water. The 1,200,000 candlepower first-order electric apparatus is unwatched and is visible 20 miles.


CAPE HENRY LIGHT(s) - OLD & NEW

Location: Fort Story, Virginia (near Virginia Beach), Chesapeake Bay entrance
Date Built: Original tower - 1792, current tower - 1881
Type of Structure: Tower constructed out of cast iron plate on a masonry foundation
Markings / Pattern: Vertical black and white stripes
Height: 180 feet above mean high water
Characteristics: Flashing white with red sector
Foghorn: Yes
Appropriation: $150,000
Range: 17 miles
Status: Standing and Active

General Information:

A provision for building a lighthouse at Cape Henry, at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, was included in the first appropriation made for lighthouses by Congress on March 26, 1790. The amount was for $24,076.66. The project had already been undertaken by the State of Virginia and Governor Randolph had written President Washington on December 18, 1789:
"The State, some years ago, placed upon the shore of Cape Henry nearly a sufficient quantity of materials to complete such a lighthouse as was at that time thought convenient, which have been, in the course of time, covered with sand. Measures are being taken to extricate them from this situation."

The Governor offered to sell these materials to the Federal Government and to cede the necessary land for the lighthouse to the United States. The tower which was constructed under contract for $15,200, was an octagonal sandstone tower, the materials for which had undoubtedly been brought from abroad as ballast. The light, which was first shown in 1792, first consisted of oil lamps burning in turn fish oil, sperm oil, colza oil, lard oil, and finally kerosene after the discovery of petroleum in Pennsylvania in 1859. During most of the early 1800s it was outfitted with 18 Argand style lamps, each with a 12 inch reflector.
In 1857 the lighthouse was provided with a dioptric Fresnel lens. Great difficulty, however, was experienced in distinguishing between lights along the coast in the 1840?s because of the numerous fixed white lights, such as Cape Henry?s. It was not until 1922 that the Cape Henry light?s characteristic was changed to a distinctive group flashing light.
During the Civil War the lantern of Cape Henry lighthouse was destroyed by Confederate raiders, but it was back in operation by 1863 being protected by a military guard detailed from Fortress Monroe. All the light vessels from Cape Henry southward had either been removed, sunk or destroyed by the Southern forces.
In 1872 the Lighthouse Board recommended the building of a new tower, stating that the old tower was in an unsafe condition and that there was no way of repairing it satisfactorily. "It is in danger of being thrown down by some heavy gale." It was not until 1875 that Congress appropriated $75,000 "for rebuilding and remodeling the lighthouse at Cape Henry."
In 1879 a contract for a new iron lighthouse, consisting of cast-iron plates backed by masonry walls, was entered into and after two more appropriations of $25,000 each in 1880 and 1881, the new tower was completed and the light first shown on December 15, 1881. The old tower remained standing and became one of the antiquities of the State of Virginia, serving as a monument commemorating the landing of John Smith. It is now open to the public.
The new structure was 170 feet in height and the lantern was equipped with a first-order lens, the lamp having five concentric wicks. A steam siren fog signal was also established. An incandescent oil-vapor lamp, burning kerosene vapor, replaced the wick lamp in 1912. This increased the intrinsic brilliancy, but decreased the area lit. The candlepower, however, was increased from 6,000 to 22,000. The candlepower has now been increased to 80,000 for the white light, with 16,000-candlepower red sector covering the shoals outside the cape and the middle ground inside the bay. The light is 164 feet above water and visible 19 miles. This station is also equipped with a diaphone fog signal and a radio beacon. The light was fully automated in 1984.
Click here to access the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Cape Henry (Second Tower) Light Station.

Lighthouse was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 December 2002.


CHERRYSTONE BAR LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


CHESAPEAKE LIGHT

14.5 MILES EAST OF CAPE HENRY
Station Established: 1930
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1965
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1980
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: STEEL PILE
Construction Materials: STEEL/CONCRETE
Tower Shape: SQUARE
Markings/Pattern: BLUE TOWER ON WHITE SUPERSTRUCTURE
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: DCB 224

General Information:

The "Texas Tower" was built in 1965 and was automated in 1980. It is scheduled to be decommissioned and demolished in 2004.


CRANEY ISLAND LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


DEEPWATER SHOALS LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


DUTCH GAP CANAL LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


GREAT WICOMICO RIVER LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


HOG ISLAND LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


JONES POINT LIGHT

POTOMAC RIVER/JONES POINT PARK
Station Established: 1856
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1856
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1919; active light was moved to a skeleton tower in 1926
Deactivated: ??
Foundation Materials: NATURAL/EMPLACED
Construction Materials: WOOD
Tower Shape: CONICAL LANTERN ON SQUARE HOUSE
Markings/Pattern: GREY LANTERN ON WHITE HOUSE
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FIFTH ORDER, FRESNEL 1856


JORDAN'S POINT LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


KILLOCK SHOAL LIGHT


LAMBERT POINT LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


LOWER CEDAR POINT LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


NANSEMOND RIVER LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


NEW POINT COMFORT LIGHT

ENTRANCE TO MOBJACK BAY
Station Established: 1801
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1806
Operational? NO
Automated? YES 1930
Deactivated: 1963
Foundation Materials: DRESSED STONE
Construction Materials: ASHLAR SANDSTONE
Tower Shape: OCTAGONAL
Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL 1855


NEWPORT NEWS MIDDLE GROUND LIGHT

HAMPTON ROADS HARBOR
Station Established: 1871
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1891
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1954
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: CAST IRON/CONCRETE CAISSON
Construction Materials: CAST IRON
Tower Shape: CONICAL SPARK PLUG
Markings/Pattern: RED
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens:

Click here to access the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Newport News Middle Ground Light.

Lighthouse was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 December 2002.


OLD PLANTATION FLATS LIGHT

ENTRANCE TO OLD PLANTATION CREEK AND THE CITY OF CAPE CHARLES
Station Established: 1886
Deactivated: 1962

Status: No longer standing


OLD POINT COMFORT LIGHT

ENTRANCE TO HAMPTON ROADS HARBOR
Station Established: 1774
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1802
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1972
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: MASONRY
Construction Materials: SANDSTONE
Tower Shape: OCTAGONAL CONICAL
Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/GREEN LANTERN & RED ROOF
Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE
Original Lens: 11 LAMPS & 14-INCH REFLECTORS


PAGES ROCK LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


POINT OF SHOALS LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


PUNGOTEAGUE CREEK LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


RAGGED POINT LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


SMITH POINT LIGHT

ENTRANCE TO POTOMAC RIVER
Station Established: 1802
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1897
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1971
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: CAST IRON/CONCRETE CAISSON
Construction Materials: BRICK
Tower Shape: SQUARE ON OCTAGONAL DWELLING
Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN & RED BASE
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER 1897

Click here to access the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Smith Point Light Station.

Lighthouse was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 December 2002.


STINGRAY POINT LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


TANGIER SOUND

Status: No longer standing


THIMBLE SHOAL LIGHT

ENTRANCE TO HAMPTON ROADS
Station Established: 1870
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1914
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1964
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: CAST IRON/CONCRETE CAISSON
Construction Materials: CAST IRON
Tower Shape: CONICAL SPARK PLUG
Markings/Pattern: RED TOWER
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER

Click here to access the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Thimble Shoal Light Stations.

Lighthouse was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 December 2002.


TUE MARSHES LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


WATTS ISLAND LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


WHITE SHOAL INLET LIGHT

Status: No longer standing


WINDMILL POINT LIGHT

Status: No longer standing.


WOLF TRAP LIGHT

LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY
Station Established: 1821
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1894
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1971
Deactivated: n/a
Foundation Materials: CAISSON
Construction Materials: BRICK
Tower Shape: SQUARE ON OCTAGONAL DWELLING
Markings/Pattern: RED ON BROWN CYLINDER W/BLACK LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER

Click here to access the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Wolf Trap Light Station.

Lighthouse was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 December 2002.


YORK SPIT LIGHT

Status: No longer standing