List of lighthouses in Virginia

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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 , [1] while location and dates of activation, automation, and deactivation are taken from the United States Coast Guard Historical information site for lighthouses. [2] Locations of demolished lights have been estimated using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) navigational charts.

NameImageLocationCoordinatesYear first litAutomatedYear deactivatedCurrent LensFocal Height
Assateague Light Assateague Light May 2015.jpg Assateague Island 37°54′40″N75°21′21″W / 37.9111°N 75.3558°W / 37.9111; -75.3558 1833 [3] (First)
1867 [3] (Current)		1933 [3] Active DCB-24 154 ft (47 m) [4]
Back River Light USCGbackriverlight.JPG Hampton 37°05′14″N76°16′11″W / 37.0872°N 76.2698°W / 37.0872; -76.2698 182919151936
(Destroyed in 1956)		NoneUnknown
Bells Rock Light York River 37°29′02″N76°44′59″W / 37.4839°N 76.7498°W / 37.4839; -76.7498 1881Never1928 [4]
(Dismantled)		None40 ft (12 m) [4]
Bowlers Rock Light USCGbowlersrocklight.JPG Rappahannock River 37°49′28″N76°43′58″W / 37.8245°N 76.7327°W / 37.8245; -76.7327 1868 [5] Never1920 [5]
(Removed)		NoneUnknown
Cape Charles Light Cape charles light NPS.PNG Cape Charles 37°07′22″N75°54′23″W / 37.1229°N 75.9063°W / 37.1229; -75.9063 1828 [6] (First)
1895 [7] (Current)		1963 [7] Active190mm180 ft (55 m) [4]
Cape Henry Light (Old) Old Cape Henry Light NPS.jpg Virginia Beach
(Cape Henry)		 36°55′33″N76°00′29″W / 36.9257°N 76.0081°W / 36.9257; -76.0081 1792 [8] Never1881 [8] NoneUnknown
Cape Henry Light (New) Line1016 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg Virginia Beach
(Cape Henry)		 36°55′35″N76°00′26″W / 36.9264°N 76.0072°W / 36.9264; -76.0072 1881 [9] 1984 [9] ActiveUnknown157 ft (48 m) [9]
Cherrystone Bar Light USCGcherrystonebarlight.JPG Cape Charles
(Offshore)		 37°15′23″N76°01′57″W / 37.2564°N 76.0324°W / 37.2564; -76.0324 1858 [10] Never1919 [10]
(Moved in 1920)		NoneUnknown
Chesapeake Light Chesapeake Bay
(Entrance)		 36°54′17″N75°42′46″W / 36.90472°N 75.71278°W / 36.90472; -75.71278 1965 [11] 1980 [11] 2016 [12] None117 ft (36 m)
Craney Island Light Craney Island Light.PNG Elizabeth River
(Mouth)		 36°53′31″N76°20′13″W / 36.892°N 76.337°W / 36.892; -76.337 1859 [4] (First)
1884 [4] (Last)		Never1936 [4]
(Removed)		None36 ft (11 m)
Deepwater Shoals Light Deep water shoals.PNG Newport News
(Offshore)		 37°8′11.46″N76°38′12.48″W / 37.1365167°N 76.6368000°W / 37.1365167; -76.6368000 1855 [13] (First)
1868 [13] (Last)		Never1936 [13]
(Demolished)		None34 ft (10 m) [4]
Dutch Gap Canal Lights James River 37°22′35″N77°21′34″W / 37.37639°N 77.35944°W / 37.37639; -77.35944 1875 [14] Never1910 [14] None27 ft (8.2 m) [14]
Great Wicomico River Light Great Wicomico River
(Mouth)		 37°48′15″N76°16′03″W / 37.8042°N 76.2675°W / 37.8042; -76.2675 1889 [15] Never1967 [15]
(Dismantled)		None42 ft (13 m) [4]
Hog Island Light
(First tower)		 Exmore 37°23′38″N75°42′04″W / 37.394°N 75.701°W / 37.394; -75.701 1853 [16] Never1896 [17]
(Replaced)		NoneUnknown
Hog Island Light
(Second tower)		 Exmore 37°23′38″N75°42′04″W / 37.394°N 75.701°W / 37.394; -75.701 1896 [16] Never1948 [17]
(Demolished)		NoneUnknown
Jones Point Light Jones Point Light - Alexandria, Virginia.jpg Alexandria 38°47′25.4″N77°02′26.3″W / 38.790389°N 77.040639°W / 38.790389; -77.040639 1856 [18] 1919 [18] Active [18]
(Inactive: 1926–1995)		Unknown35 ft (11 m) [18]
Jordan Point Front Range Light None Known James River N/AUnknownUnknownUnknownNoneUnknown
Jordan Point Range Rear Light James River 37°18′47″N77°13′23″W / 37.313°N 77.223°W / 37.313; -77.223 1855 [19] (First)
1941 (Current)		1941 [19] ActiveUnknown35 ft (11 m)
(Second tower)
65 ft (20 m)
(Current tower)
Killock Shoal Light Chincoteague
(Offshore)		 37°56′02″N75°22′48″W / 37.934°N 75.380°W / 37.934; -75.380 1886 [20] 19291939 [20]
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Lambert Point Light Norfolk 36°52′30″N76°19′52″W / 36.875°N 76.331°W / 36.875; -76.331 1872 [21] Never1892 [21]
(Collapsed in 1911)		NoneUnknown
Nansemond River Light Nansemond River Light.PNG Nansemond River
(Mouth)		 36°54′43″N76°26′42″W / 36.912°N 76.445°W / 36.912; -76.445 1878 [22] Never1935 [22]
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
New Point Comfort Light Chesapeake Bay 36°54′43″N76°26′42″W / 36.912°N 76.445°W / 36.912; -76.445 1805 [23] 1930 [23] Active [24]
(Inactive: 1963–1999 [23] )		250mm58 ft (18 m) [23]
Newport News Middle Ground Light Middle Ground Lighthouse.png Newport News 36°56′43″N76°23′29″W / 36.9452°N 76.3915°W / 36.9452; -76.3915 1891 [25] 1954 [25] Active VRB-25 52 ft (16 m) [4]
Old Plantation Flats Light Cape Charles
(Offshore)		 37°13′44″N76°02′49″W / 37.2288°N 76.0469°W / 37.2288; -76.0469 1886Never1962
(Demolished)		None35 ft (11 m)
Old Point Comfort Light Old Point Comfort Light VA2.jpg Hampton 37°00′06″N76°18′23″W / 37.0018°N 76.3064°W / 37.0018; -76.3064 1804 [26] 1972ActiveFourth-order Fresnel [4] 54 ft (16 m) [4]
Pages Rock Light York River 37°18′39″N76°35′12″W / 37.3109°N 76.5866°W / 37.3109; -76.5866 1893 [27] 1960 [27] 1967 [27]
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Point of Shoals Light James River 37°04′06″N76°39′11″W / 37.0683°N 76.6530°W / 37.0683; -76.6530 1855 [28] (First)
1871 [28] (Last)		1932 [28] 1933 [28]
(Demolished)		NoneUnknown
Pungoteague Creek Light USCGPungoteaguecreek.JPG Chesapeake Bay 37°39′47″N75°53′53″W / 37.6630°N 75.8980°W / 37.6630; -75.8980 1854 [29] Never1856 [29]
(Destroyed)		NoneUnknown
Smith Point Light Smith point light.PNG Potomac River
(Mouth)		 37°52′48″N76°11′02″W / 37.8800°N 76.1839°W / 37.8800; -76.1839 1802 [30] (First)
1897 [30] (Current)		1971 [30] ActiveDCB-24 [4] 52 ft (16 m) [4]
Stingray Point Light Stingray point light.PNG Rappahannock River
(Mouth)		 37°33′41″N76°16′12″W / 37.5613°N 76.2700°W / 37.5613; -76.2700 1858 [31] 1950 [32] 1965 [31]
(Dismantled)		None34 ft (10 m) [4]
Tangier Sound Light Tangier sound light.PNG Tangier
(Offshore)		 37°47′16″N75°58′26″W / 37.7878°N 75.9740°W / 37.7878; -75.9740 1890Never1961
(Demolished)		NoneUnknown
Thimble Shoal Light Chesapeake Bay 37°00′53″N76°14′24″W / 37.0146°N 76.2399°W / 37.0146; -76.2399 1872 [33] (First)
1914 [33] (Current)		1964 [33] Active RB-355 55 ft (17 m) [33]
Tue Marshes Light Tue marshes light.PNG York River
(Mouth)		 37°14′08″N76°23′09″W / 37.2356°N 76.3859°W / 37.2356; -76.3859 1875 [34] Never1960 [34]
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Watts Island Light Chesapeake Bay 37°46′55″N75°53′38″W / 37.782°N 75.894°W / 37.782; -75.894 1833 [35] 1923 [35] 1944 [35]
(Destroyed)		NoneUnknown
White Shoal Light James River 37°01′18″N76°31′39″W / 37.0218°N 76.5275°W / 37.0218; -76.5275 1855 [36] (First)
1871 [36] (Last)		Never1934 [36]
(Destroyed in the 1970s)		NoneUnknown
Windmill Point Light Rappahannock River
(Mouth)		 37°35′48″N76°14′09″W / 37.5968°N 76.2359°W / 37.5968; -76.2359 1869 [37] 1954 [37] 1965 [37]
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown
Wolf Trap Light USCGwolftraplight1960.jpg Chesapeake Bay 37°35′48″N76°14′09″W / 37.5968°N 76.2359°W / 37.5968; -76.2359 1870 [38] (First)
1894 [38] (Current)		1971 [38] 2017 [4]
(Abandoned)		VRB-25Unknown
York Spit Light York Spit Light.PNG York River
(Mouth)		 37°12′35″N76°15′15″W / 37.2096°N 76.2542°W / 37.2096; -76.2542 1870 [39] Never1960 [39]
(Dismantled)		NoneUnknown

References

  1. ↑ Light List, Volume II, Atlantic Coast, Shrewsbury River, New Jersey to Little River, South Carolina (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2012.
  2. ↑ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Virginia" (PDF). United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.
  3. 1 2 3 "Assateague Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Virginia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Name: Bowlers Rock Light". Lighthouse Digest . Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ Russ Rowlett. "Cape Charles Light Station, Virginia". University of North Carolina. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Cape Charles Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Cape Henry (Old) Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "Cape Henry (New) Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Name: Cherrystone Bar Light". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Chesapeake Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Station CHLV2 - Chesapeake Light, VA". NOAA . Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 "Deep Water Shoal Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 "Dutch Gap Canal Lights". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Great Wicomico River". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "Name: Hog Island Light (VA)". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Jeremy D'Entremont. "Hog Island's First Order Lens Shines Again". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Jones Point Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  19. 1 2 "Jordan Point Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  20. 1 2 "Killock Shoal". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  21. 1 2 "Lamberts Point". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Nansemond River". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "New Point Comfort Light Station Historical Documentation" (PDF). newpointcomfortlighthouse.org. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  24. ↑ "New Point Comfort Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  25. 1 2 "Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Old Point Comfort Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  27. 1 2 3 "Pages Rock Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Point of Shoals". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Name: Pungoteague River Light". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  30. 1 2 3 "Smith Point Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  31. 1 2 "Stingray Point". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Stingray Point (Replica) Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  33. 1 2 3 4 "Thimble Shoal Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  34. 1 2 "Tue Marshes Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  35. 1 2 3 "Watts Island". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  36. 1 2 3 "White Shoal". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  37. 1 2 3 "Windmill Point". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  38. 1 2 3 "Wolf Trap Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  39. 1 2 "York Spit". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
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