Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Virginia--Cape Charles Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Virginia Lighthouses

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CAPE CHARLES LIGHT

State: VIRGINIA
Location: SMITHS ISLAND / CHESAPEAKE BAY ENTRANCE
Nearest City: KIPTOPEKE
County: NORTHAMPTON
U.S.C.G. District: 5
Year Station Established: 1828

NPS photo by Ralph Eshelman, 1995

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1895
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1963
Foundation Materials: CONCRETE PIERS
Construction Materials: CAST IRON
Markings/Patterns: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN
Shape: OCTAGONAL SKELETAL W/CENTRAL COLUMN
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height: 191
Original Optic: FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1864
Present Optic: 190 MM (SOLAR POWERED)
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 180
Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIGINAL FIRST ORDER LENS GIVEN TO MARINERS MUSEUM IN 1963
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s):

1. Construction Date: 1828
Description:
Fate/Disposition: DESTROYED DURING CIVIL WAR
2. Construction Date: 1864
Description: BRICK
Fate/Disposition: FOUNDATION IN SURF

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Existing Keepers Quarters? NO (DESTROYED IN BRUSH FIRE IN JULY 2000)

Year Constructed: 1895
Number of Stories: 2.5
Architectural Style: AMERICAN SHINGLE STYLE
Construction Materials: BRICK/WOOD/SLATE

Other Structures: BRICK COAL HOUSE, BRICK GENERATOR SHED, WOOD SHED/STOREHOUSE, WOOD PRIVY, BRICK CISTERN

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD (TOWER) / NATURE CONSERVANCY (OTHER STRUCTURES)

Open to the Public? NO

Web Site:

National Register Status: NONE; Reference # 0
Name of Listing:
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
THIRD LIGHT TOWER ON THIS ISLAND; TALLEST SKELETAL IN US

Last Modified: Wed, Mar 13 2002 8:47:02 am EDT
JMP

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