ASSATEAGUE

Type:
Year Established:
1833
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1879
Assateague
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2014
Photo Credit:
Candace Clifford
Photo Courtesy of:
U.S. Lighthouse Society
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
SOUTH END ASSATEAQUE ISLAND
Latitude:
37° 54.37'
Longitude:
75° 21.24'
City / Town:
CHINCOTEAQUE
U.S. State:
Virginia
Location County:
ACCOMACK
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
Yes
Light List Data:
  1. ASSATEAGUE
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1867
Tower Construction Material:
BRICK
Tower Foundation:
STONE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
142
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
129
Tower Shape:
CONICAL
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1910
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
CONCRETE
Other Structures:
OIL HOUSE

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
Yes
Current Optic:
DCB-224
Original Optic Type:
Reflectors
Year Original Lens Installed:
1867
Private Aid:
No
Year Automated:
1933
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • 1833 The original light was built it was only 45 feet tall and was not sufficient for coastal needs.
  • 1859 Congress appropriated funds to build a higher, more effective tower.
  • 1860 Work began but was suspended during the Civil War.  The current structure was completed and lit in 1867.  The keeper’s quarters were built in 1867.  There were three large sections to house three families with each section including a pantry, kitchen, dining room, living room, three bedrooms, bathroom, and large closet.
  • 1891 an oil house was added.
  • 1910 a two story concrete keeper’s dwelling was built.
  • 1933 the lens was powered by electricity from a generator and the characteristic changed from fixed white to flashing.
  • 1963 when electric power lines finally reached the Island a Directional Coded Beacon was installed.
  • 1969 the red brick tower was painted in horizontal red and white stripes.
  • 1970 the DCB was replaced by a light that consisted of two large drums each with a 1000 watt bulb.  The characteristic became a double flash every five seconds.
  • 2004, the property was transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000; the Chincoteague Natural History Association helps maintain the lighthouse and provide tours.
  • First order lens is currently on display in the Oyster and Maritime Museum in Chincoteague.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017