List of lighthouses in Virginia explained

This is a list of all lighthouses in the U.S. state of Virginia as identified by the United States Coast Guard. There are nine active lights in the state as well as three automated caissons and eleven skeleton towers replacing previously staffed lights.

The first lighthouse in the state was erected in 1792 (the first Cape Henry Light) and it is the oldest surviving structure; the last, Chesapeake Light, was built in 1965 (ignoring automated towers erected later). The tallest extant tower is that at Cape Charles Light.

If not otherwise noted, focal height and coordinates are taken from the United States Coast Guard Light List, while location and dates of activation, automation, and deactivation are taken from the United States Coast Guard Historical information site for lighthouses. Locations of demolished lights have been estimated using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) navigational charts.

NameImageLocationCoordinatesYear first litAutomatedYear deactivatedCurrent LensFocal Height
Assateague LightAssateague Island37.9111°N -75.3558°W1833[1] (First)
1867 (Current)		1933ActiveDCB-24154 154feet[2]
Back River LightHampton37.0872°N -76.2698°W182919151936
(Destroyed in 1956)		NoneUnknown
Bells Rock LightYork River37.4839°N -76.7498°W1881Never1928
(Dismantled)		None040 40feet
Bowlers Rock LightRappahannock River37.8245°N -76.7327°W1868[3] Never1920
(Removed)		NoneUnknown
Cape Charles LightCape Charles37.1229°N -75.9063°W1828[4] (First)
1895[5] (Current)		1963Active190mm180 180feet
Cape Henry Light (Old)Virginia Beach
(Cape Henry)		36.9257°N -76.0081°W1792[6] Never1881NoneUnknown
Cape Henry Light (New)Virginia Beach
(Cape Henry)		36.9264°N -76.0072°W1881[7] 1984ActiveUnknown157 157feet
Cherrystone Bar LightCape Charles
(Offshore)		37.2564°N -76.0324°W1858[8] Never1919
(Moved in 1920)		NoneUnknown
Chesapeake LightChesapeake Bay
(Entrance)		36.9047°N -75.7128°W1965[9] 19802016[10] None117 117feet
Craney Island LightElizabeth River
(Mouth)		36.892°N -76.337°W1859 (First)
1884 (Last)		Never1936
(Removed)		None036 36feet
Deepwater Shoals LightNewport News
(Offshore)		37.1365°N -76.6368°W1855[11] (First)
1868 (Last)		Never1936
(Demolished)		None034 34feet
Dutch Gap Canal LightsJames River37.3764°N -77.3594°W1875[12] Never1910None027 27feet
Great Wicomico River LightGreat Wicomico River
(Mouth)		37.8042°N -76.2675°W1889[13] Never1967
(Dismantled)		None042 42feet
Hog Island Light
(First tower)		Exmore37.394°N -75.701°W1853[14] Never1896[15]
(Replaced)		NoneUnknown
Hog Island Light
(Second tower)		Exmore37.394°N -75.701°W1896Never1948
(Demolished)		NoneUnknown
Jones Point LightAlexandria38.7904°N -77.0406°W1856[16] 1919Active
(Inactive: 1926–1995)		Unknown035 35feet
Jordan Point Front Range LightNone KnownJames RiverN/AUnknownUnknownUnknownNoneUnknown
Jordan Point Range Rear LightJames River37.313°N -77.223°W1855[17] (First)
1941 (Current)		1941ActiveUnknown035 35feet
(Second tower)
65feet
(Current tower)
Killock Shoal LightChincoteague
(Offshore)		37.934°N -75.38°W1886[18] 19291939
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Lambert Point LightNorfolk36.875°N -76.331°W1872[19] Never1892
(Collapsed in 1911)		NoneUnknown
Nansemond River LightNansemond River
(Mouth)		36.912°N -76.445°W1878[20] Never1935
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
New Point Comfort LightChesapeake Bay36.912°N -76.445°W1805[21] 1930Active[22]
(Inactive: 1963–1999)		250mm058 58feet
Newport News Middle Ground LightNewport News36.9452°N -76.3915°W1891[23] 1954ActiveVRB-25052 52feet
Old Plantation Flats LightCape Charles
(Offshore)		37.2288°N -76.0469°W1886Never1962
(Demolished)		None035 35feet
Old Point Comfort LightHampton37.0018°N -76.3064°W1804[24] 1972ActiveFourth-order Fresnel054 54feet
Pages Rock LightYork River37.3109°N -76.5866°W1893[25] 19601967
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Point of Shoals LightJames River37.0683°N -76.653°W1855[26] (First)
1871 (Last)		19321933
(Demolished)		NoneUnknown
Pungoteague Creek LightChesapeake Bay37.663°N -75.898°W1854[27] Never1856
(Destroyed)		NoneUnknown
Smith Point LightPotomac River
(Mouth)		37.88°N -76.1839°W1802[28] (First)
1897 (Current)		1971ActiveDCB-24052 52feet
Stingray Point LightRappahannock River
(Mouth)		37.5613°N -76.27°W1858[29] 1950[30] 1965
(Dismantled)		None034 34feet
Tangier Sound LightTangier
(Offshore)		37.7878°N -75.974°W1890Never1961
(Demolished)		NoneUnknown
Thimble Shoal LightChesapeake Bay37.0146°N -76.2399°W1872[31] (First)
1914 (Current)		1964ActiveRB-355055 55feet
Tue Marshes LightYork River
(Mouth)		37.2356°N -76.3859°W1875[32] Never1960
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Watts Island LightChesapeake Bay37.782°N -75.894°W1833[33] 19231944
(Destroyed)		NoneUnknown
White Shoal LightJames River37.0218°N -76.5275°W1855[34] (First)
1871 (Last)		Never1934
(Destroyed in the 1970s)		NoneUnknown
Windmill Point LightRappahannock River
(Mouth)		37.5968°N -76.2359°W1869[35] 19541965
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Wolf Trap LightChesapeake Bay37.5968°N -76.2359°W1870[36] (First)
1894 (Current)		19712017
(Abandoned)		VRB-25Unknown
York Spit LightYork River
(Mouth)		37.2096°N -76.2542°W1870[37] Never1960
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Assateague Lighthouse. Lighthousefriends.com. October 17, 2017.
  2. October 17, 2017.
  3. Web site: Name: Bowlers Rock Light. Lighthouse Digest. October 17, 2017.
  4. Web site: Cape Charles Light Station, Virginia. Russ Rowlett. University of North Carolina. October 17, 2017.
  5. Web site: Cape Charles Lighthouse. Lighthousefriends.com. October 17, 2017.
  6. Web site: Cape Henry (Old) Lighthouse. Lighthousefriends.com. October 17, 2017.
  7. Web site: Cape Henry (New) Lighthouse. Lighthousefriends.com. October 17, 2017.
  8. Web site: Name: Cherrystone Bar Light. Lighthouse Digest. October 17, 2017.
  9. Web site: Chesapeake Lighthouse. Lighthousefriends.com. October 17, 2017.
  10. Web site: Station CHLV2 - Chesapeake Light, VA. NOAA. October 17, 2017.
  11. Web site: Deep Water Shoal Lighthouse. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 17, 2017.
  12. Web site: Dutch Gap Canal Lights. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 17, 2017.
  13. Web site: Great Wicomico River. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 17, 2017.
  14. Web site: Name: Hog Island Light (VA). Lighthouse Digest. October 18, 2017.
  15. Web site: Hog Island's First Order Lens Shines Again. Jeremy D'Entremont. Lighthouse Digest. October 18, 2017.
  16. Web site: Jones Point Lighthouse. Lighthousefriends.com. October 18, 2017.
  17. Web site: Jordan Point Lighthouse. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. . October 18, 2017.
  18. Web site: Killock Shoal. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 18, 2017.
  19. Web site: Lamberts Point. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 18, 2017.
  20. Web site: Nansemond River. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 18, 2017.
  21. Web site: New Point Comfort Light Station Historical Documentation. newpointcomfortlighthouse.org. October 18, 2017.
  22. Web site: New Point Comfort Lighthouse. Lighthouse Friends. October 18, 2017.
  23. Web site: Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse. Lighthouse Friends. October 18, 2017.
  24. Web site: Old Point Comfort Lighthouse. Lighthouse Friends. October 19, 2017.
  25. Web site: Pages Rock Lighthouse. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.
  26. Web site: Point of Shoals. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.
  27. Web site: Name: Pungoteague River Light. Lighthouse Digest. October 19, 2017.
  28. Web site: Smith Point Lighthouse. Lighthouse Friends. October 19, 2017.
  29. Web site: Stingray Point. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.
  30. Web site: Stingray Point (Replica) Lighthouse. Lighthouse Friends. October 19, 2017.
  31. Web site: Thimble Shoal Lighthouse. Lighthouse Friends. October 19, 2017.
  32. Web site: Tue Marshes Lighthouse. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.
  33. Web site: Watts Island. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.
  34. Web site: White Shoal. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.
  35. Web site: Windmill Point. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.
  36. Web site: Wolf Trap Lighthouse. Lighthouse Friends. October 19, 2017.
  37. Web site: York Spit. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S.. October 19, 2017.

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