Type:
Year Established:
1857
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1879
Download:
Ft Wash bell tower (4) copy_0.jpg (2.39 MB)
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2011
Photo Credit:
Ralph Eshelman
Photo Courtesy of:
U.S. Lighthouse Society
Collection / Donor:
LOCATION
Location:
Potomac River
Latitude:
38 42.42'
Longitude:
77 02.13'
U.S. State:
Maryland
Country:
United States
OWNER & ACCESS
Open to Public:
No
STRUCTURE
Year Tower Established:
1857
Tower Construction Material:
Wood
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
17 feet above sea
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
12
Tower Shape:
pyramid
Fog Signal Building?:
Yes
Year Fog Signal Building Constructed:
1857
Fog Signal Bldg Construction Materials:
wood
Keeper's Quarters?:
No
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1857
Keeper's Quarters Style:
small dwelling attached to tower
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
wood
OPTICS
Original Optic Type:
6th Order Fresnel
Year Original Lens Installed:
1857
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Entered by:
Entered Date:
Sep 29, 2017
Began as a bell tower; light added later.
Fort Washington Light Station -
Historic Significance: High. The wooden tapering square fog bell tower was constructed in 1882 and outfitted with a lantern in 1901. Few fog signal towers survive today. This is the only free standing fog signal tower extant in Maryland (the Point Lookout fog signal tower is an attached tower).
Historic Integrity: Moderate. The major structural elements of the tower appear to be original. The siding has probably been replaced at least once if not several times over the life of the structure. Today the tower functions as a light beacon aid to navigation, not a fog signal station. The fog bell and striking mechanism have been removed. The other station structures such as the keeper’s quarters, boat house, oil house, and storehouse, have been demolished.