Delaware Lighthouses

Wilmington and New Castle Area Lighthouses
* Marcus Hook Range Front (2)

1918 (station established 1915). Active; focal plane 81 ft (25 m); continuous red light, day and night, visible only along the range line. 75 ft (23 m) square pyramidal tower with gallery, unpainted, mounted on a square concrete pier. This range guides vessels downstream. Located in the Delaware River opposite the foot of Hilltop Road in Bellefonte; there's a good view from the north end of nearby Fox Point State Park. Google has a fine satellite view. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. Admiralty J1314; USCG 2-3135.

* [Cherry Island Range Rear (2)]

About 1970 (station established 1880). Active; focal plane 120 ft (37 m); continuous red light, day and night, visible only along the range line. Approx. 35 ft (11 m) slender square skeletal tower, unpainted. The original lighthouse, with a square wood tower atop a 2-story wood keeper's house, was demolished around 1970. However, the original brick oil house survives and has been renovated as an equipment room for the modern tower. Google has a satellite view. Located off Riverside Drive at the north end of River Road Park in Bellefonte. There is a parking area located adjacent to the light tower. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS USA-165; USCG 2-2980.

* Marcus Hook Range Rear (2)

1920 (station established 1915) . Active; focal plane 278 ft (85 m); continuous red light, day and night, visible only along the range line. 100 ft (30.5 m) square cylindrical reinforced concrete tower, unpainted; RL-24 aerobeacon. The original 4° Fresnel range lens is on display at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. The original 2-1/2 story brick keeper's house was used as Coast Guard housing until 2004; since then it has been boarded up. Ann Searle has photos of the light station taken in 2002 when the house was still occupied. Jim and Virginia Slechta have also posted a photo of this tower, Lighthouse Digest has an article on its longtime keeper Leslie Millar, and the tower emerges from the trees in the center of a Google satellite view. The Coast Guard made minor repairs to the rear range tower in 2000. In March 2005 the lighthouse was offered for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, but no preservation groups applied, and the lighthouse will probably be sold at auction. Located 1.75 mi (2.8 km) southwest of the front light on Lighthouse Road just south of Lore Avenue in Bellefonte. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-474; Admiralty J1314.1; USCG 2-3140.

* Bellevue Range Rear (1) 1909. Inactive since 2000. 104 ft (32 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower with central cylinder. Entire lighthouse and lantern painted black. The keeper's house has been demolished. Luis Felipe Castro has a good photo, the Coast Guard has a historic photo and Bob Trapani has provided the photo at right; Kraig Anderson has a photo and directions for viewing the tower, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse sits adjacent to the Cherry Island Landfill, and growth of the landfill required deactivating the historic light and building a new range tower (focal plane 90 ft (27 m); continuous green light) in 2000. Endangered: in 2007 the lighthouse was listed for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, but no preservation group is interested in applying for it. Located on the north side of the Christiana River about 600 m (0.4 mi) above the Delaware River in Wilmington; visible downstream from the I-495 bridge over the Christiana. Site restricted, but visitors can obtain permission and the landfill gate to view the lighthouse; tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Delaware Solid Waste Authority. ARLHS USA-050; Admiralty J1313.1; USCG 2-3085. New Castle Range Rear (2) 1953 (station established 1876). Active; focal plane 110 ft (33.5 m); continuous green light, day and night, visible only along the range line. Approx. 90 ft (27 m) square pyramidal steel tower. Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse, a square cylindrical wood tower rising from a front corner of a 2-1/2 story Victorian wood keeper's house, was burned intentionally in 1982 after years of vandalism and neglect. Located just west of DE 9 on Granham Lane, about 2 mi (3 km) southwest of New Castle. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-547 (original) and 1126 (current); USCG 2-2735. New Castle Range Front (2) 1964 (station established 1876). Active; focal plane 56 ft (17 m); green light, 1 s on, 1 s off, day and night, visible only along the range line. 60 ft (18 m) square cylindrical steel tower. The original keeper's house survives, though altered by modern additions, and the original brick oil house also survives. Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse, a square pyramidal wood tower, was originally attached to the keeper's house, but in 1886 it was detached and moved about 30 ft (9 m) to adjust the range line. The tower was demolished in 1964. Located on the Delaware River bank at the east end of Grantham Road about 2 mi (3 km) southwest of New Castle and 800 yards (730 m) from the rear range. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-546 (original) and 1125 (current); USCG 2-2730.

Bellevue Range Rear Light in 2000 photo copyright Bob Trapani used by permission

Port Penn and Odessa Area Lighthouses
Baker Range Rear

1896 (relocated in 1904). Active; focal plane 110 ft (33.5 m); continuous green light. 110 ft (33.5 m) triangular pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower, mounted at the end of a short pier projecting into the river. Tower painted black, and the tower also carries a black slatted daymark on its upper portion. The lighthouse was originally the Old Reedy Island Range Rear Light. This tower was originally equipped with a pulley system that allowed the light apparatus to be lowered into a small lamp house for maintenance. The lamp house and hoisting equipment has been removed. Only a few lights of this design were built, and this is believed to be the only survivor of the class. Located on the edge of the Delaware River about 1.8 mi (3 km) north of Port Penn; Google has a fine satellite view. Site and tower closed, but the tower can be seen from highway 9. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard.ARLHS USA-029; USCG 2-2510.

* [Old Reedy Island Range Rear (1)]

1896. Inactive. The lighthouse was relocated in 1904 as the Baker Range Rear Light (previous entry). The 1-story wood keeper's house and brick oil house survive. The house remained in service until 1924 as the keeper's house for the Baker Range Lights; thereafter the property was sold as a private residence. Located at the end of North Congress Street in Port Penn. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: private.

* Liston Range Rear

1877 (relocated; was Penn Range Rear Light 1877-1905). Active; focal plane 176 ft (54 m); continuous white light, day and night, visible only on the range line. 120 ft (36.5 m) hexagonal pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower with central cylinder, lantern and gallery; aerobeacon. The original and rare 2° Fresnel range lens remains in use. Entire lighthouse and lantern painted black. The 2-story wood keeper's house is a private residence. The original enameled brick oil house also survives. Luis Felipe Castro has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Sibling of Finns Point and Tinicum Island range lights in New Jersey. The Liston Range extends for 20 miles (32 km), making it the longest navigation range in the U.S. In May 2004, DRBLF signed a 30-year lease of the light tower and oil house from the Coast Guard, and in August volunteers began working on the lighthouse. These efforts lagged, however, and in September 2007 the group decided to surrender its lease. Lighthouse Digest has an April 2003 article on the history of the lighthouse. Located on Port Penn Road about 1/2 m (800 m) east of US 13. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager (tower): U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-437; Admiralty J1292.1; USCG 2-2450.

Liston Range Front

1908. Inactive since 1953. focal plane 45 ft (14 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, day and night, visible only on the range line. 3-story wood keeper's house topped by a square wood cupola. Building painted white with red roofs. The active light is on a square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white, which stands in front of the original lighthouse. Luis Felipe Castro has a good photo, Ann Searle has a photo taken from the water showing the lighthouse and the modern tower, and Google has a satellite view. The house is a private residence; the owner, Dr. William Duncan, is a grandson of the station's first keeper. Dr. Duncan has maintained the lighthouse in excellent condition, and in January 2004 the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located on the Delaware River off DE 9 near the intersection of Bayview and St. Augustine Roads, about 2.5 mi (4 km) south of Port Penn. Site and tower closed (gated community), although the lighthouse can be seen from route 9. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-436; USCG 2-2445.

* Reedy Island Range Rear (2)

1910 (station established 1896). Active; focal plane 134 ft (41 m); continuous red light, visible only on the range line. 110 ft (33.5 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower with central cylinder, lantern and gallery; DCB-224 aerobeacon. Entire lighthouse and lantern painted black. The original 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, privately owned for many years, was destroyed by fire on April 6, 2002. This is an outbound (southbound) range; the front light is 2.8 mi (4.5 km) north on a 22 ft (7 m) skeletal tower. The Coast Guard painted the light tower in 2000. After the 2002 fire, the property was sold, and the new owner has cleared away all of the light station except for the light tower and a wood barn. Lighthouse Digest also reported on the fire. Located at Taylor's Bridge, on DE 9 about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Odessa; a Google satellite view is available. Visible from DE 9 at the intersection of Taylor's Bridge and Fleming Landing Roads. Site and tower closed. Owner (tower only): U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: private. ARLHS USA-692; Admiralty J1298.1; USCG 2-2585.

Lower Delaware Bay Lighthouses

Fourteen Foot Bank 1888. Active; focal plane 59 ft (18 m); white flash every 9 s; red sector covers nearby shoal. 40 ft (12 m) square cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story wood keeper's house, mounted on a round cast iron caisson; solar-powered lens (1997). Fog horn (3 s blast every 30 s). The original 4° Fresnel lens is on display at the Cannonball House and Marine Museum in Lewes. Diane Hams's photo is at right. An attractive and well preserved caisson lighthouse. The lighthouse carries an array of environmental monitoring equipment as part of the University of Delaware's Delaware Bay Observing System. In 2005 the light was offered for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The American Lighthouse Foundation attempted to secure ownership of the lighthouse in partnership with the University, but these plans fell through. In 2007 the lighthouse was sold at auction for $200,000 to Michael Gabriel, a California lawyer. Located near the center of Delaware Bay, about 10 km (6 mi) east northeast of Big Stone Beach. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-305; Admiralty J1266; USCG 2-1575. #Mispillion (2) 1873 (station established 1831). Inactive since 1929. The lighthouse was demolished June 13, 2002, after a fire May 2, 2002 left it in ruins; it was a 65 ft (20 m) square cylindrical wood tower rising from one corner of a 2-story gothic style wood keeper's house. Formerly used as a restaurant and inn, the light station was listed for sale in 1997 at an asking price of $549,000 (including an adjacent restaurant building and docks). The building was badly deteriorated and critically endangered, with broken windows and visible holes in the roof. In August 2001 the Digest named this the "Most Endangered Lighthouse in the U.S.A." Bob Trapani has contributed some photos taken before and after the fire. A month after the fire, the remains of the lighthouse were removed. In 2004, John and Sally Freeman identified themselves as the new owners and announced they were rebuilding the lighthouse as a private residence at Shipcarpenter Square in Lewes. However, the rebuilding used much more new than original material and the house was considerably expanded in size, so the result is not really a reconstruction. Meanwhile, the state purchased the original site as a birding center, scheduled to open in 2006. Originally located at the mouth of the Mispillion River and the end of Lighthouse Road, off DE 36 about 8 km (5 mi) east of Milford. ARLHS USA-503.

Fourteen Foot Bank Light, June 2005 Creative Commons photo by Diane Ham

* Mispillion (3)

1924 (relocated from Cape Henlopen in 1929). Inactive since 1984. 60 ft (18 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted black. Google has a satellite view. Located at the mouth of the Mispillion River and the end of Lighthouse Road, off DE 36 about 8 km (5 mi) east of Milford. Site and tower closed. Owner: Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. Site manager: DuPont Nature Center. ARLHS USA-1224.

[Delaware Breakwater Range Rear (Greenhill)]

1881. Inactive since 1918. The tower, a square pyramidal skeletal tower with central cylinder, was relocated to Gasparilla Island Range in Florida in 1921. The original keeper's house (quite dilapidated) and oil house survive. The Lewes Greenways and Trails Committee plans to develop a trail to the site and perhaps restore the buildings or reconstuct the lighthouse. In April 2003, Lewes City Council decided to create a 15-acre park and nature preserve including restoration of the keeper's house and oil house. However, as of early 2008 work had not started. Located in the Great Marsh at the end of Pilottown Road west of Lewes. Site open. Owner/site manager: City of Lewes. ARLHS USA-1013.

** Lightship 118 (WLV-539) Overfalls

1938 (Rice Brothers, East Boothbay ME). Decommissioned 1972 (a decorative light is shown from the crow's nest). Single-masted steel lightship, length 116 ft (35.4 m), beam 25 ft (7.6 m). Anderson also has photos, a good July 2007 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. WLV-539 was the last lightship built in the U.S. Though named now for the former Overfalls Shoal lightship station off Lewes, the ship actually served all of its career off New England, the last ten years of it as the Boston. A local support group, revived in 1999, took ownership of the vessel in December 2001. Engineering studies of the ship in early 2000 revealed it is in bad shape and needs to be moved onshore for preservation. The ship will then be the centerpiece in a new municipal park. Volunteers worked steadily to restore the interior of the vessel, and this lengthy project has reached a successful completion. Lighthouse Digest has a November 2003 article on these efforts. In the winter of 2004-05 the ships's electrical system was rebuilt and running lights were installed, as well as the light in the crow's nest. Fundraising continues to secure the $1 million needed to lift the ship from the water; in October 2005 these efforts got a big boost from a $275,000 federal grant. In early 2008, the foundation was negotiating with several shipyards and hoped it would be possible to tow the ship to one of them late in the year. Moored on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal in Lewes. Site open; vessel open for tours Friday through Sunday afternoons late May through early October, also holiday Mondays as well as Thursday afternoons in July and August. Owner/site manager: Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation. ARLHS USA-573.

 

Delaware (Lewes) Breakwater 1885. Inactive since 1996 (a decorative white light is displayed toward the land). 65 ft (20 m) sparkplug style round tower with 3-story round keeper's quarters, lantern and gallery. The original 4° Fresnel lens is still mounted in the lantern. Lighthouse painted brown. Mike Mehaffie's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Until 1918, this lighthouse was the front light of a range, the Greenhill lighthouse (see above) being the rear light. The exterior was restored in 1999, when the lighthouse was transferred to the State of Delaware. The tower needs interior restoration. The Delaware River and Bay Authority leased the lighthouse in 2001 with the intention of restoring it and opening it to the public. In 2004 the Authority and the Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation formed a partnership to carry out these intentions, and the lighthouse was subleased to the Foundation. Volunteers are working to clean up the tower and public tours began in June 2005. Located at the east end of a detached breakwater. Accessible only by boat, but there's a good view from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Site and tower open to occasional guided tours. Owner: State of Delaware. Site manager: Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation. ARLHS USA-222; Admiralty J1281.2.

Delaware Breakwater Light, January 2006 Creative Commons photo by Mike Mahaffie

Harbor of Refuge (2)

1926 (station established 1902). Active; focal plane 72 ft (22 m); white flash every 5 s; two red sectors cover nearby shoals. 76 ft (23 m) sparkplug style round cast iron lighthouse with 3-story round keeper's quarters, lantern and gallery, mounted on a caisson; solar-powered VRB-25 lens. The DCB-36 aerobeacon used from about 1945 to 1997 has been rebuilt for display on site. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and caisson black. Fog horn (two 2 s blasts every 20 s). Mike Mehaffie's photo appears at the top of this page, Anderson has an excellent page with good photos, Bill Britten also has a nice photo, and Marinas.com has an aerial photo. The present lighthouse replaced a beautiful 3-story octagonal lighthouse built on the same caisson. The exterior of the tower was restored by Coast Guard in 1999. Also in 1999, the Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation began working for its restoration. In 2001 the Coast Guard repaired the docking platform and ladders to improve safety of access to the building. In April 2002, the Coast Guard granted the Foundation a 20-year lease on the light station, and in August the Foundation began preliminary restoration work. The first step was to restore the windows, which had been removed and boarded up by the Coast Guard. The station's dock landing was restored in March 2003 and the first tour was held in June. On September 30, 2004, ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the Foundation. Damage by Hurricane Isabel in September was quickly repaired, but there is concern that the lighthouse is endangered by the poor condition of the Harbor of Reguge Breakwater on which it is built. In late 2007, Congress appropriated $340,000 for repairs to the breakwater. Located at the end of a long breakwater extending from the tip of Cape Henlopen near Lewes; there's a good view from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower generally closed; occasional tours available. Owner/site manager: Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation. ARLHS USA-366; Admiralty J1280; USCG 2-1530.

Atlantic Coast Lighthouse

* Fenwick Island 1859. Reactivated (inactive 1978-1982, now privately operated); focal plane 83 ft (25 m); white light, on 7.5 s, off 5.5 s. 84 ft (25.5 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery. The original 3° Fresnel lens remains in use. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black. Original 2-story wood keeper's house and 1881 assistant keeper's house are privately owned. Small museum in lighthouse base. Jimmy Emerson's photo is at right, Britten has a good photo of the light station, and Google has a satellite view. A major restoration in 1981-82 saved the lighthouse, and a there was another significant renovation in 1997-98. In 2006, the exterior of the lighthouse was repaired and painted; Geoffrey Meyer-van Voorthuijsen has an April photo of the project in progress. Located on 146th Street at Lighthouse Avenue in Fenwick Island, a few feet from the Delaware-Maryland state line. Site open; base of tower open daily; tower closed. Owner: State of Delaware. Site manager: Friends of Fenwick Island Lighthouse. ARLHS USA-283; Admiralty J1354; USCG 2-0205.

Fenwick Island Light, October 2007 Creative Commons photo by Jimmy Emerson

Information available on lost lighthouses:

• Baker Range Front (1904-1924), Delaware River below C&D Canal. ARLHS USA-1146 (front) and 029 (rear).
• Bombay Hook (1841-ca. 1974), Delaware Bay. ARLHS USA-1011.
• Cape Henlopen (1767-1924), Delaware Bay entrance. ARLHS USA-120.
• Cape Henlopen Beacon (1825-1884), Delaware Bay entrance. ARLHS USA-1186.
• Cherry Island Range Front (1880-?), Delaware River near Wilmington. ARLHS USA-1149.
• Christiana (1835-1939), mouth of Christiana River. ARLHS USA-1150.
• Christiana Beacon (1884-?), mouth of Christiana River. ARLHS USA-173.
• Delaware Breakwater West End (1839-1950s), Lewes
• Mahon River (1831-1955), Port Mahon. ARLHS USA-464.
• Port Penn Range Front (1876-1904), Delaware River. ARLHS USA-1151.

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Posted 2001. Checked and revised April 14, 2008. Lighthouses: 14. Lightships: 1. Site copyright 2008 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.