Craighill Channel Upper Range Front Lighthouse

Craighill Channel Upper Range Light Front Light was built on the foundation of the old North Point Light. It is a small red and white brick octagonal tower. The original keeper’s quarters were located onshore with a wooden bridge connecting the light to the shore. After the bridge was destroyed in 1893 the keeper was moved into the less than twelve-foot square lighthouse. The light was moved outside the lighthouse in order to make more room for the keeper. A small skiff was his means of getting ashore. The light was automated in 1929.

Located just off North Point in Fort Howard. It is accessible only by boat.  The old Ft Howard VA Medical Center is closed and the property not open to the public.  The site and tower closed to the public.

The Upper Range Lights were constructed to mark a new channel when the Brewerton Channel was extended out further toward the Bay, but at a different angle/direction than the original Brewerton Channel.  It was originally named the Chraighill Channel after the Baltimore area Army Engineer, Col Craighill, who designed the new channel, obtained the funds and supervised the dredging of the new channel.  It was renamed the Craighill Upper Channel when the one Craighill Channel was extended further out into the Bay but in a different direction.  Since it was routed in a different direction than the original Craighill Channel, it was designated as the Craighill Lower Channel.  Both Upper and Lower Craighill Channels are still used as active Aids To Navigation as of 2023.

• Timeline: Craighill Upper Range Front Light
• Craighill Channel Upper Range Front Lighthouse

Head Keepers:  John B. Lewis (1886), George F. Culleton (1886), George W. Brock (1886), Charles Robinson (1886 – 1888), Frederick Burmeister (1888 – 1914)

Assistants:  Isaac J. Allen (1894), Frederick W.M. Burmeister (1895 – at least 1913)

Updated 5/29/2019