Thomas Point, located just a few miles from Annapolis, is named after Philip Thomas, one of the earliest Europeans who came to Maryland from England in 1651. With the port of Baltimore becoming increasingly important, Naval Officer William Barney contacted Stephen Pleasonton (of the U.S. Treasury), requesting a lighthouse to mark Thomas Point Shoal (a …
Category: Crossed the Bar
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Smith Point Station
Smith Point, 1821-1897 Smith Point Station in Virginia served several purposes. It marked the south side of the entrance to the Potomac River on the west side of the Chesapeake Bay. Almost 100 miles up the Potomac are the busy ports of Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington D.C. In 1881, a total of 1,889 ships visited …
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Cape Charles Light Station
Cape Charles Light Station, 1888-1926 Established in 1888, The Cape Charles Light Station was located 9.3 miles and 102 degrees from the Cape Charles Lighthouse, marking the north side of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Light Vessel LV-46 was the first assigned to this light station, serving there until 1891 and marked CHARLES. We …
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Choptank River Station
There are no photos of LV-25 marked as Choptank known to exist. If one is found, please contact the Chapter Historian. (See contact information at the bottom of this page) Choptank River Station, 1870-1871 LV-25 was placed at the entrance to the Choptank River at the junction with the Tred-Avon River in January 1870 to …
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Point of Shoals Lighthouse
Point of Shoals Lighthouse had two lighthouses. The first was built in 1855 in Burwell’s Bay on the shallow southern shoreline of the James River. It was a small, twenty-foot square, four-room white dwelling with a red tin roof and black lantern supported by five wrought-iron piles. It was equipped with a large-sized pressed glass …
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Pages Rock Lighthouse
Due to increased river traffic along the York River, Congress appropriated $25,000 on March 3, 1891, to construct a lighthouse on a shoal which jutted out from Blundering Point, about 5 miles north of Yorktown, Virginia. After borings were made, it was determined that the river bottom was not firm enough to support a lighthouse …
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Greenbury Point Lighthouse
In 1846, the Maryland House of Delegates passed a resolution to construct a lighthouse in Greenbury Point on the north side of the entrance to the Severn River & Annapolis Harbor. On March 3, 1847, $3,500 was appropriated to construct the lighthouse. The land for the lighthouse was purchased at a price of $367.000 and …
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North Point Range Lights
On March 3, 1819, Congress appropriates $9,000 to construct a lighthouse on the Bodkin and two lighthouses on North Point at the mouth of the Patapsco River, Maryland. Additional funds were appropriated in 1822 and 1823. When the two lights at North Point were lined up one above the other, mariners knew that they were …
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Brewerton Channel Range Lights
The two Brewerton Channel Range Lights were lighted on November 1, 1868. One structure was near Hawkins Point and the other on Leading Point. Together they marked the Brewerton Channel in the Patapsco River into Baltimore. The channel and range lights were named after Henry Brewerton, an engineer who had worked on defenses around Baltimore …
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Leading Point Lighthouse
On July 28, 1866, Congress appropriated $30,000 to construct two lights that would mark the Brewerton Channel on the south shore of the Patapsco River approaching Baltimore Harbor. The rear light, Leading Point, was built on a high bluff of land approximately one mile from the front light, Hawkins Point, built on a shoal in …
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Hawkins Point Lighthouse
On July 28, 1866, Congress appropriated $30,000 to construct two lights that would mark the Brewerton Channel on the south shore of the Patapsco River approaching Baltimore Harbor. The rear light, Leading Point, was built on a high bluff of land approximately one mile from the front light, Hawkins Point, built on a shoal in …
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Tangier Sound Lighthouse
Tangier Sound Lighthouse was built in 1890 in the Chesapeake Bay at the end of a long shoal just southeast of Tangier Island to accommodate the increasing oyster business in the area. The island was originally settled by Englishman John Crockett and his family in 1686. Built at a price of $25,000, the lighthouse was …
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York Spit Station
The station was established in 1855 and located in the Chesapeake Bay near the entrance to the York River in Virginia. The first lightship to mark this spot is not identified. In 1861 lightship “T” was on station and was sunk, destroyed or removed by Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil War. From 1861 to …
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Winter Quarter Shoal Station
Station was located approximately 8.5 miles off Assateague Island, Virginia, 13 miles and 080 degrees from the Assateague Lighthouse. It marked the approach to the Chesapeake Bay from the north. From 1874-1875, LV24 served this station. The ship was built in 1863 by Stephen Andrews of New Bedford, Massachusetts. In November 1875 LV24 was replaced …
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Windmill Point Station
Station was located in the Chesapeake Bay, near the entrance to the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Lightship “U” was assigned in 1834 when the station was established. It stayed on station until 1861 when Confederate forces sunk, destroyed or removed the ship. The station was vacant from 1861-1863. It is not known what vessel was …
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Upper Cedar Point Station
Station was located in the Potomac River, approximately 44 miles upriver from the Chesapeake Bay. Anchored on the south side of the channel off the mouth of the Tobacco River, about 2.75 miles from the route 301 bridge. In 1821, the first lightship placed on this station was designated “LL”. It is not known how …
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Thirty-Five Foot Channel Station
Thirty-Five Foot Channel, 1908-1919 Located on the lower Chesapeake Bay 10.9 miles and 331 degrees from Cape Henry, Virginia, this station marks the junction for the westbound York River entrance and the northbound Chesapeake channel. This station was served by LV-45 from 1908-1918. The 124-foot-long schooner was built in 1887 by Houston & Woodbridge of …
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Tail of the Horseshoe Station
Tail of the Horseshoe, 1901-1922 As early as 1895, petitions were being made to Congress from steamship lines running out of Baltimore, MD, Norfolk, and Newport News, VA., to place a lightship at to mark shoals at The Tail of the Horseshoe. The Tail of the Horseshoe Shoal was an extensive shoal that extended approximately …
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Wolf Trap Station
The first lightship stationed at Wolf Trap Shoal, designated “S”, was built in 1820 and stationed at the shoal in 1821. No record as to how long it was on station or what happened to the ship. The next lightship (“T”) stationed at the shoal was built in 1856 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was …
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Willoughby Spit Station
The Willoughby Spit was a 120-ton wooden hull ship built in 1821. It replaced lightship “C” when it was moved to Craney Island. The station marked the south side of the channel for entering Hampton Roads. This ship served on station from 1821-1847 when it was replaced with a 400-ton iron hull ship. This was …
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Lower Cedar Point Station
Lower Cedar Point, 1825-1867 In 1825, the first of two lower Cedar Point lightships were positioned in the section of the Potomac River often referred to as the “narrows of the Potomac”. This is approximately 40 miles upriver from the Chesapeake Bay. From 1825-1861, the lightship designated as “DD”, occupied this position until the ship …
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Janes Island Station
Janes Island, 1853-1867 The Janes Island station was located on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay between Smith Island and the eastern shore of the Bay. The station was held from 1853-1867, a total of 14 years, and marked the entrance to the Little Annamessex River, Tangier Sound, Maryland. Built in 1853, the vessel …
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Craney Island Station
Craney Island Station, 1820-1859 Only one lightship ever marked this location and it was also the first U.S. Lightship. Lightship “C” (lightships were designated by a single letter prior to the LV or “Light Vessel system) was stationed from 1820-1859. Serving as a guide to vessels approaching the Norfolk & Portsmouth Harbors, it was stationed …
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Hooper Strait Station
Hooper Strait, 1827-1867 LV-25 was a 61-foot wood schooner built in the Chesapeake Bay area and stationed in Hooper Strait in 1827. The lighting apparatus was a single lantern, an oil lamp with 11 cylindrical wicks. There was also a hand-operated bell and horn which served as the fog signal. The condition of the schooner …
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Bush Bluff Station
Bush Bluff Station, 1891-1918 The Bush Bluff station was stationed in Elizabeth River in the lower bay approximately one mile north of Craney Island. It was used to mark the dangerous Bush Bluff Shoal and serve as a guide in the approach to the harbors of Portsmouth & Norfolk. The U.S. Lighthouse Board had originally …
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Blakistone Island Lighthouse
Blakistone Island Light was once located on Blackston Island. Today the island is better known as St. Clement’s Island. The island is only 5 miles downriver from Cobb Point Bar light. Congress appropriated $3,500 in 1848 for the lighthouse construction. John Donahoo was awarded the contract at a cost of $4,535. The structure was …
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Lazaretto Point Lighthouse *
The original tower on this point was built in 1831 by John Donahoo, the builder of 12 Chesapeake Bay lights. This was the tenth light that he was to build. It was 31 feet tall and was built of brick. The decision to build here was made because the government already owned five acres of …
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Upper Cedar Point Lighthouse
In 1821, a lightship was stationed at the location of the Upper Cedar Point Lighthouse. For the next 46 years, a total of four lightships remained there until the Lighthouse Board began replacing lightships with permanent structures. In 1867, a white, square screwpile light was built. It was nearly identical in appearance to the …
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Somers Cove Lighthouse
On March 2, 1867, Congress appropriated $10,000 to construct a lighthouse to mark the entrance to the Little Annemessex River at Crisfield, MD., situated just north of the Virginia line on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay. According to the U.S. Lighthouse Board, it should be “a screwpile structure of the least expensive class.” …
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Sharkfin Shoal Lighthouse
Sharkfin Shoal Lighthouse was located two miles southwest of Clay Island at the Nanticoke River. It was built to replace the Clay Island Lighthouse, located two miles to the northeast. In 1889, Congress appropriated $25,000 to construct the new lighthouse. Construction of the superstructure was executed at Lazaretto Depot, in Baltimore, MD. In May …
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