These 10 Lighthouses In Virginia Are Simply Stunning
By Anna Strock|Published April 03, 2015
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Anna Strock
Author
Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land.
Maybe it’s just me, but when I conjure up the image of a lighthouse, it’s always on a lonely, rocky island. And without a doubt, it’s manned by a crusty old sailor named “Capt’n Jim.” Naturally, he smokes a pipe and drinks too much because his true love died of a fever while he was away at sea chasing his nemesis, a great white whale. But even though I like to butcher both the plot of “Anne’s House of Dreams” and “Moby Dick” in my imagination, the fact remains, lighthouses are romantic icons. But more than that, they have been vital to mariners for hundreds of years. Long before the days of GPS, lighthouses kept sailors on point and beaconed them home. Even today, they serve as navigational aides to thousands of boats and ships off the shores of Virginia.
These 10 lighthouse in Virginia, ranging from storybook to steel, are examples of the stunning beauty and creative architecture that have made lighthouses an essential part of our history.
Arguably one of the most recognizable lighthouses in Virginia, the Assoteague Light was built in 1833. Still active today, it is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. A $1.5 million renovation in 2013 has kept the light in top condition and it serves as an active navigational aide for the surrounding waters.
First used in 1803, the light at Fort Monroe is the second oldest in the Chesapeake Bay and the oldest still in service. The keeper's house is used for housing by the U.S. Army.
Despite its name, the New Point Light was not a replacement for the Old Point Light, rather it is named after the portion of the Chesapeake Bay where it stands. It is the third oldest light in the bay (1804) and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The lighthouse at Cape Henry was the first lighthouse to be commissioned by the U.S. government in 1792 and stands near the site of the first landing of Jamestown Settlers in 1607. Although it was replaced in 1881, the original light remained. It was relit in 1983 and still shines today.
Standing just 350 feet from the old light, the New Cape Henry Lighthouse was built in 1881 after lightning struck the old structure and its stability was questioned. The newer light remains in service today.
Literally a light "house", the Jones Point Light is a small river light on the Potomac built in 1855. It was replaced by a steel tower in 1926, but restored and relit in the 1980s. It is now a National Register of Historic Places site.
Sitting opposite Cape Henry on Smith Island, the Cape Charles light is an example of the steel skeleton structures that started replaced more traditional lighthouse "silos". This light was built in 1895 and is the third light to stand on this spot.
The oldest example of caisson construction in Virginia, the Newport News Middle Ground Light is also called a "sparkplug lighthouse." It has three stories of living space with a lantern at the top. It was automated in 1954 and subsequently neglected. A private party purchased it in 2005 and have now restored it into a vacation home. Not a bad place to spend a holiday.
Another example of caisson construction, this light was lit in 1897 and manned until 1971. It was purchased by a private party in 2005 and remains in active service.
This caisson lighthouse also has a "sparkplug" design and has stood in the Chesapeake Bay since 1914. Like so many others, the light was automated in the 1960s and left unmanned, therefore neglected. Fortunately, it, too, has been purchased by a private party and is still an active navigation aide.
Unfortunately, many historic lighthouse have been torn down as technology replaces their old-fashioned techniques or beach erosion threatens their stability. But we can be grateful that Virginia, through both public and private efforts, has saved these 10 amazing structures and that we can still enjoy their service and beauty today.
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