Great Shoals Light

Last updated
Great Shoals Light
Great Shoals Light
Locationmouth of the Wicomico River in the Chesapeake Bay
Coordinates 38°12′51″N75°52′46″W / 38.2143°N 75.8794°W / 38.2143; -75.8794 Coordinates: 38°12′51″N75°52′46″W / 38.2143°N 75.8794°W / 38.2143; -75.8794
Tower
Constructed1884  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Foundation screw-pile
Construction cast-iron/wood
Height37 feet (11 m)
Shapesquare house
Light
First lit1884
Deactivated1966
Focal height11 m (36 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Lensfifth-order Fresnel lens
Characteristic Fl W 6s  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Great Shoals Light was a screw-pile lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Wicomico River.

Contents

History

This light was constructed to mark a narrow channel at the entrance to the Wicomico River, as requested by the Maryland General Assembly in 1882. An appropriation was not made until the following year, and further delays pushed the commissioning date to August 1884.

In 1966 the light was dismantled and a modern automated light was erected on the old foundation.

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