Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Virginia--Smith Point Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Virginia Lighthouses

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SMITH POINT LIGHT

State: VIRGINIA
Location: ENTRANCE TO POTOMAC RIVER
Nearest City: SUNNYBANK
County: NORTHUMBERLAND
U.S.C.G. District: 5
Year Station Established: 1802

NPS photo by Ralph Eshelman, 1997

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1897
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1971
Foundation Materials: CAST IRON/CONCRETE CAISSON
Construction Materials: BRICK
Markings/Patterns: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN & RED BASE
Shape: SQUARE ON OCTAGONAL DWELLING
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height: 35
Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER
Year Original Lens Installed: 1897
Present Optic: DCB-24
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 52
Fresnel Lens Disposition:
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s):

1. Construction Date: 1802, 1807, 1828
Description: ONSHORE TOWERS
Fate/Disposition: MOVED & REBUILT DUE TO EROSION, DISCONTINUED 1859
2. Construction Date: 1868
Description: (LIGHTSHIPS 1821-1868) SCREWPILE NEAR CURRENT TOWER
Fate/Disposition: DAMAGED BY ICE (LIGHTSHIP 1895-1897)

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Fog Signal Type: HORN

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1897
Number of Stories: 2
Architectural Style: OCTAGON INTEGRAL
Construction Materials: BRICK

Other Structures:

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION

Owner/Manager: PRIVATE

Open to the Public? NO

National Register Status: LISTED, 2002-12-02
Name of Listing: SMITH POINT LIGHT STATION (LIGHT STATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES MPS)
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 2003

Miscellaneous:
REBUILT 5 TIMES. SOLD AT AUCTION IN 2005 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION ACT.

Last Modified: Wed, Dec 28 2005 10:36:02 am EDT
JMP

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