Deepwater Shoals Light

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Deepwater Shoals Light
Deep water shoals.PNG
Undated photograph of Deepwater Shoals Light (USCG)
Deepwater Shoals Light
LocationOff Fort Eustis in the James River, northwest of Newport News, Virginia
Coordinates 37°8′11.46″N76°38′12.48″W / 37.1365167°N 76.6368000°W / 37.1365167; -76.6368000 Coordinates: 37°8′11.46″N76°38′12.48″W / 37.1365167°N 76.6368000°W / 37.1365167; -76.6368000
Tower
Constructed1855  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Foundationwood-pile
Construction cast-iron/wood
Height27 feet (8.2 m)
Shapehexagonal house
Light
First lit1855
Deactivated1936
Lenssixth-order Fresnel lens
Characteristic fixed white

The Deepwater Shoals Light was a lighthouse located in the James River upstream from Newport News, Virginia.

Contents

History

This light was erected in 1855 to mark the western edge of the channel. Ice damaged the light in the following year, and again in 1867; in the latter case the light had to be rebuilt completely, at which time the light was upgraded to a sixth-order Fresnel from the previous masthead light. During the Civil War the light was extinguished by confederate forces; relit in 1862, the Lighthouse Board reconsidered and removed the lighting apparatus to Fort Monroe for safekeeping.

Decommissioning came in 1936, and the house was torn down in 1966. A steel tower light has been erected on the old iron foundation.

Notes

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    References