Author's posts
New Point Comfort Lighthouse
The New Point Comfort light, the third oldest light on the Bay, was built in 1804. It is located at the entrance to Mobjack Bay and the mouth of the York River in Mathews County, Virginia. In 1865 the 63-foot tower was fitted with a new fourth-order Fresnel lens that allowed the light to be …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/new-point-comfort-lighthouse/
Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse
In 1871, the United States government established a light station to mark the underwater L-shaped shoal in the middle of the Hampton Roads shipping lanes. This caisson lighthouse was completed and first lighted in 1891 at a cost of $50,000. The lighthouse was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The overall structure is 56 feet …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/newport-news-middle-ground-lighthouse/
Jones Point Lighthouse
In 1852 Congress approved $5,000 to acquire land and build a small lighthouse at Jones Point on the Potomac River just south of the city of Alexandra, Virginia. The land was purchased from the Manassas Gap Rail Road in 1855. The light was first lit on May 3, 1856. The builder of the light was …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/jones-point-lighthouse/
Chesapeake Light Tower*
The Chesapeake Light Tower stands 13 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia Beach. This steel, “Texas style” tower was built in 1965 and is 120 feet tall. The tower is supported by four 33 inch concrete filled steel pilings driven 180 feet into the ocean bottom. This so-called Texas tower was an adaptation …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/chesapeake-light-tower/
Drum Point Lighthouse
Drum Point Lighthouse was originally located along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay at the northern side of the mouth of the Patuxent River. Efforts to place a light at this location began in the 1850s due to the need for a light to mark the location of shoals around the point. Disputes …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/drum-point-lighthouse-2/
2010 Grant Award: Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society
A $1,000.00 grant award was presented to the Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society in 2010. Photo: Then Chapter President Robert Holland (center) presents check to (from left: Dustin Rusk, Sandra Sableski, Robert Hall and Barbara Loukota of the Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society. Photo by Joyce Holland.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/2010-grant-award-point-lookout-lighthouse-preservation-society/
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/2011-grant-award/
2012 Grant Award: Historical Place Preservation, Inc.
A $1,000.00 grant award was presented to the Historical Place Preservation, Inc. (which manages the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Light Station) in 2012.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/2012-grant-award-historical-place-preservation-inc/
Cape Henry (New) Lighthouse
The original Cape Henry Light was completed in 1792. By 1872 the old tower had developed cracks in the walls and it was decided to rebuild. It was not until 1875 that Congress appropriated $75,000 “for rebuilding and remodeling the lighthouse at Cape Henry.” The new cast iron 170-foot tower was completed in 1881. The …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/cape-henry-new-lighthouse/
Cape Henry (Old) Lighthouse
A provision for building a lighthouse at Cape Henry, at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, was made by Congress on March 26, 1790. The amount was for $24,076.66. The light was to be an octagonal structure with three windows in the east and four windows in the west rising 72 feet from the water …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/cape-henry-old-lighthouse/
Cape Charles Lighthouse
The first lighthouse at this site was completed in 1828. It was a 60-foot masonry tower that was painted white. In 1856 $35,000 was appropriated for a new tower. Work started in 1860 and at the start of the Civil War was only 83 feet tall. The Confederates raided the site and destroyed the light …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/cape-charles-lighthouse/
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/assateague-island-lighthouse/
Bear Scouts Pack 787, Den 2 of California, MD
Troop Leader John Propst sent in six applications from Bear Scouts Pack 787, Den 2 of California, MD. These 3rd graders completed seven activities. For their service project, they created elements for a poster and discussed the poster at the monthly pack meeting with other scouts of the Pack. They also displayed the poster at …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/bear-scouts-pack-787-den-2-of-california-md/
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/souvenir-bookmarks-2011-md-lighthouse-challenge/