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.

Name Image Location Coordinates Year first lit Automated Year deactivated Current Lens Focal Height
Assateague Light Assateague Island 37°54′40″N 75°21′21″W / 37.9111°N 75.3558°W / 37.9111; -75.3558 1833[3] (First)
1867[3] (Current) 		1933[3] Active DCB-24 154 154 ft (47 m)[4]
Back River Light Hampton 37°05′14″N 76°16′11″W / 37.0872°N 76.2698°W / 37.0872; -76.2698 1829 1915 1936
(Destroyed in 1956) 		None Unknown
Bells Rock Light York River 37°29′02″N 76°44′59″W / 37.4839°N 76.7498°W / 37.4839; -76.7498 1881 Never 1928[4]
(Dismantled) 		None 040 40 ft (12 m)[4]
Bowlers Rock Light Rappahannock River 37°49′28″N 76°43′58″W / 37.8245°N 76.7327°W / 37.8245; -76.7327 1868[5] Never 1920[5]
(Removed) 		None Unknown
Cape Charles Light Cape Charles 37°07′22″N 75°54′23″W / 37.1229°N 75.9063°W / 37.1229; -75.9063 1828[6] (First)
1895[7] (Current) 		1963[7] Active 190mm 180 180 ft (55 m)[4]
Cape Henry Light (Old) Virginia Beach
(Cape Henry) 		36°55′33″N 76°00′29″W / 36.9257°N 76.0081°W / 36.9257; -76.0081 1792[8] Never 1881[8] None Unknown
Cape Henry Light (New) Virginia Beach
(Cape Henry) 		36°55′35″N 76°00′26″W / 36.9264°N 76.0072°W / 36.9264; -76.0072 1881[9] 1984[9] Active Unknown 157 157 ft (48 m)[9]
Cherrystone Bar Light Cape Charles
(Offshore) 		37°15′23″N 76°01′57″W / 37.2564°N 76.0324°W / 37.2564; -76.0324 1858[10] Never 1919[10]
(Moved in 1920) 		None Unknown
Chesapeake Light Chesapeake Bay
(Entrance) 		36°54′17″N 75°42′46″W / 36.90472°N 75.71278°W / 36.90472; -75.71278 1965[11] 1980[11] 2016[12] None 117 117 ft (36 m)
Craney Island Light Elizabeth River
(Mouth) 		36°53′31″N 76°20′13″W / 36.892°N 76.337°W / 36.892; -76.337 1859[4] (First)
1884[4] (Last) 		Never 1936[4]
(Removed) 		None 036 36 ft (11 m)
Deepwater Shoals Light Newport News
(Offshore) 		37°8′11.46″N 76°38′12.48″W / 37.1365167°N 76.6368000°W / 37.1365167; -76.6368000 1855[13] (First)
1868[13] (Last) 		Never 1936[13]
(Demolished) 		None 034 34 ft (10 m)[4]
Dutch Gap Canal Lights James River 37°22′35″N 77°21′34″W / 37.37639°N 77.35944°W / 37.37639; -77.35944 1875[14] Never 1910[14] None 027 27 ft (8.2 m)[14]
Great Wicomico River Light Great Wicomico River
(Mouth) 		37°48′15″N 76°16′03″W / 37.8042°N 76.2675°W / 37.8042; -76.2675 1889[15] Never 1967[15]
(Dismantled) 		None 042 42 ft (13 m)[4]
Hog Island Light
(First tower) 		Exmore 37°23′38″N 75°42′04″W / 37.394°N 75.701°W / 37.394; -75.701 1853[16] Never 1896[17]
(Replaced) 		None Unknown
Hog Island Light
(Second tower) 		Exmore 37°23′38″N 75°42′04″W / 37.394°N 75.701°W / 37.394; -75.701 1896[16] Never 1948[17]
(Demolished) 		None Unknown
Jones Point Light Alexandria 38°47′25.4″N 77°02′26.3″W / 38.790389°N 77.040639°W / 38.790389; -77.040639 1856[18] 1919[18] Active[18]
(Inactive: 1926–1995) 		Unknown 035 35 ft (11 m)[18]
Jordan Point Front Range Light None Known James River N/A Unknown Unknown Unknown None Unknown
Jordan Point Range Rear Light James River 37°18′47″N 77°13′23″W / 37.313°N 77.223°W / 37.313; -77.223 1855[19] (First)
1941 (Current) 		1941[19] Active Unknown 035 35 ft (11 m)
(Second tower)
65 ft (20 m)
(Current tower)
Killock Shoal Light Chincoteague
(Offshore) 		37°56′02″N 75°22′48″W / 37.934°N 75.380°W / 37.934; -75.380 1886[20] 1929 1939[20]
(Dismantled) 		None Unknown
Lambert Point Light Norfolk 36°52′30″N 76°19′52″W / 36.875°N 76.331°W / 36.875; -76.331 1872[21] Never 1892[21]
(Collapsed in 1911) 		None Unknown
Nansemond River Light Nansemond River
(Mouth) 		36°54′43″N 76°26′42″W / 36.912°N 76.445°W / 36.912; -76.445 1878[22] Never 1935[22]
(Dismantled) 		None Unknown
New Point Comfort Light Chesapeake Bay 36°54′43″N 76°26′42″W / 36.912°N 76.445°W / 36.912; -76.445 1805[23] 1930[23] Active[24]
(Inactive: 1963–1999[23]) 		250mm 058 58 ft (18 m)[23]
Newport News Middle Ground Light Newport News 36°56′43″N 76°23′29″W / 36.9452°N 76.3915°W / 36.9452; -76.3915 1891[25] 1954[25] Active VRB-25 052 52 ft (16 m)[4]
Old Plantation Flats Light Cape Charles
(Offshore) 		37°13′44″N 76°02′49″W / 37.2288°N 76.0469°W / 37.2288; -76.0469 1886 Never 1962
(Demolished) 		None 035 35 ft (11 m)
Old Point Comfort Light Hampton 37°00′06″N 76°18′23″W / 37.0018°N 76.3064°W / 37.0018; -76.3064 1804[26] 1972 Active Fourth-order Fresnel[4] 054 54 ft (16 m)[4]
Pages Rock Light York River 37°18′39″N 76°35′12″W / 37.3109°N 76.5866°W / 37.3109; -76.5866 1893[27] 1960[27] 1967[27]
(Dismantled) 		None Unknown
Point of Shoals Light James River 37°04′06″N 76°39′11″W / 37.0683°N 76.6530°W / 37.0683; -76.6530 1855[28] (First)
1871[28] (Last) 		1932[28] 1933[28]
(Demolished) 		None Unknown
Pungoteague Creek Light Chesapeake Bay 37°39′47″N 75°53′53″W / 37.6630°N 75.8980°W / 37.6630; -75.8980 1854[29] Never 1856[29]
(Destroyed) 		None Unknown
Smith Point Light Potomac River
(Mouth) 		37°52′48″N 76°11′02″W / 37.8800°N 76.1839°W / 37.8800; -76.1839 1802[30] (First)
1897[30] (Current) 		1971[30] Active DCB-24[4] 052 52 ft (16 m)[4]
Stingray Point Light Rappahannock River
(Mouth) 		37°33′41″N 76°16′12″W / 37.5613°N 76.2700°W / 37.5613; -76.2700 1858[31] 1950[32] 1965[31]
(Dismantled) 		None 034 34 ft (10 m)[4]
Tangier Sound Light Tangier
(Offshore) 		37°47′16″N 75°58′26″W / 37.7878°N 75.9740°W / 37.7878; -75.9740 1890 Never 1961
(Demolished) 		None Unknown
Thimble Shoal Light Chesapeake Bay 37°00′53″N 76°14′24″W / 37.0146°N 76.2399°W / 37.0146; -76.2399 1872[33] (First)
1914[33] (Current) 		1964[33] Active RB-355 055 55 ft (17 m)[33]
Tue Marshes Light York River
(Mouth) 		37°14′08″N 76°23′09″W / 37.2356°N 76.3859°W / 37.2356; -76.3859 1875[34] Never 1960[34]
(Dismantled) 		None Unknown
Watts Island Light Chesapeake Bay 37°46′55″N 75°53′38″W / 37.782°N 75.894°W / 37.782; -75.894 1833[35] 1923[35] 1944[35]
(Destroyed) 		None Unknown
White Shoal Light James River 37°01′18″N 76°31′39″W / 37.0218°N 76.5275°W / 37.0218; -76.5275 1855[36] (First)
1871[36] (Last) 		Never 1934[36]
(Destroyed in the 1970s) 		None Unknown
Windmill Point Light Rappahannock River
(Mouth) 		37°35′48″N 76°14′09″W / 37.5968°N 76.2359°W / 37.5968; -76.2359 1869[37] 1954[37] 1965[37]
(Dismantled) 		None Unknown
Wolf Trap Light Chesapeake Bay 37°35′48″N 76°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-25 Unknown
York Spit Light York River
(Mouth) 		37°12′35″N 76°15′15″W / 37.2096°N 76.2542°W / 37.2096; -76.2542 1870[39] Never 1960[39]
(Dismantled) 		None Unknown

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. ^ a b c "Assateague Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Virginia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Cape Charles Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Cape Henry (Old) Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "Cape Henry (New) Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Name: Cherrystone Bar Light". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Chesapeake Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "Station CHLV2 - Chesapeake Light, VA". NOAA. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "Deep Water Shoal Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c "Dutch Gap Canal Lights". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Great Wicomico River". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Name: Hog Island Light (VA)". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Jeremy D'Entremont. "Hog Island's First Order Lens Shines Again". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  18. ^ a b c d "Jones Point Lighthouse". Lighthousefriends.com. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Jordan Point Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Killock Shoal". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  21. ^ a b "Lamberts Point". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Nansemond River". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  23. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b "Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  26. ^ "Old Point Comfort Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  27. ^ a b c "Pages Rock Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  28. ^ a b c d "Point of Shoals". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  29. ^ a b "Name: Pungoteague River Light". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  30. ^ a b c "Smith Point Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  31. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d "Thimble Shoal Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  34. ^ a b "Tue Marshes Lighthouse". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  35. ^ a b c "Watts Island". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  36. ^ a b c "White Shoal". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  37. ^ a b c "Windmill Point". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  38. ^ a b c "Wolf Trap Lighthouse". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  39. ^ a b "York Spit". Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. Retrieved October 19, 2017.