Assateague Island Lighthouse

In 1833, the original Assateague Lighthouse was established on Assateague Island at a cost of $55,000.
In 1867, a new lighthouse was built on a land bluff that was thirty-one feet above mean low water and positioned on the southerly part of Assateague Island. The lighthouse replaced the original lighthouse whose tower’s height proved not tall enough to aid in navigation. The distance of the tower from the nearest high water mark is about thirteen hundred feet.

In 1933, electricity was established at the lighthouse and used on the beacon. It now has a bank of batteries and two generators. It requires about 15 hours a week in order to keep the batteries charged for the light to operate well.

The oil house is made of brick, size 14 feet x 18 feet and located about 4 feet east of the tower. The batteries are charged and other supplies are kept here.

The keeper’s quarters was built in 1867 and consisted of three large sections, large enough to house three families regardless of the size of each family. Each section included a pantry, kitchen, dining room, living room, three bedrooms, bathroom, and large closet; porches were on both sides of the house.

The 142′ tower is located within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge just east of the town of Chincoteague, VA.

For operating hours and admission prices, as well as other information, go to the Assateague Lighthouse website or call 757-336-2872. Children age 2-12 must be accompanied by an adult. All proceeds will help fund the restoration, preservation, and operation of the lighthouse.

It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

DIRECTIONS: From Washington D.C.: Chincoteague, V.A. is about a 3-hour drive. Take U.S. 50 East across the Bay Bridge and south to Salisbury, M.D., pick up U.S. 13 South and then Route 175 east to Chincoteague Island. When you get to Chincoteague Island, go straight on Maddox Blvd. to Assateague Island.
From V.A. Beach: From the Bay Bridge Tunnel, stay on U.S. 13 North: then turn right on Route 175 East. When you get to Chincoteague Island, go straight on Maddox Blvd. to Assateague Island.

• Keeper Bio: Parker, William Major
• Keeper Bio: Carter, Peter Jacob
• Keeper Bio: Smith, Mary Caulk
• Keeper Bio: Smith, Charles Harwin
• Timeline: Assateague Island Lighthouse
• Assateague Island Lighthouse

Head Keepers:  David Watson (1833 – 1840), John Hope (1840 – 1846), George C. Waters (1846 – 1849), Thomas H. Bratten (1849 – 1851), Michael Robbins (1851 – 1853), John Hope (1853 – 1855), David Tarr (1855 – 1861), Robert G. Silverthorn (1861 – 1865), Thomas L. Birch (1865 – 1867), Charles Harwin Smith (1867 – 1872), William S. Vane (1873 – 1874), John L. Anderton (1874 – 1920), Samuel E. Quillin (1920 – 1922), Walter J. Westcott (1922 – 1933)

First Assistant: : Thomas L. Birch (1867 – 1868), Mrs. M.M. Smith (1868 – 1872), Richard P. Reynolds (1872), James Lewis (1873 – 1874), John A. Jones (1874), Alfred Hudson (1874 – 1875), Charles W. Duncan (1875 – 1881), Samuel E. Quillin (1881 – 1886), William M. Parker (1886), Samuel E. Quillin (1886 – 1920), Water J. Westcott (1920 – 1922), William T. Collins (1922 – 1933)

Second Assistant:  John W. Birch (1868), Thomas B. Smith (1868 – 1869), Thomas Schedrick (1869 – 1870), Leven Walker (1870), S.B. Taylor (1870), C.J. Caulk (1870 – 1871), Peter J. Carter (1871), Smith W. Ames (1871 – 1872), Edward Brenney (1872), Arthur D. Miller (1873 – 1876), Severn T. Bevans (1876), William M. Parker (1876 – 1886), Elias R. Wilson (1886), Windred E. Hopkins (1886 – 1905), Walter J. Westcott (1905 – at least 1925), William T. Collins (1920 – 1922)

Third Assistant:  Gustav M. Bonsted (1907 – 1908), William T. Collins (1908 – at least 1925)

Updated 5/30/2019