lighthouses of delaware bay

Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse is located in the lower part of the Delaware Bay on the western side of the shipping channel. The “Victorian” structure, originally brown in color, was the first US Lighthouse to be built on a submarine foundation with the caisson sunk by a pneumatic process — 20 feet down into the shoal. Its 4th order Fresnel lens was first lit on December 1, 1886, which allowed the Fourteen Foot Bank Lightship to be taken off station.

Sometime during the 1930’s, the entire cast-iron structure, including the “hip roof” privy located at the railing on the northwest side, was repainted white with black trim and remains the same today. Although automated and without keepers since 1972, its beacon still provides safe passage to all ships traveling the Delaware Bay. This lighthouse is privately owned. The owners have had ideas of turning it into a microbrewery, however with microbreweries becoming so mainstream, their efforts have shifted to other ideas.

Located off of Fortescue, NJ, Elbow of Cross Ledge and more commonly referred to lovingly as the “Ugly Light,” Crossledge was completed and lit in 1910 – and has been described as having a brown lantern on top of a red, octagonal brick dwelling, sitting on top of a brown cylindrical base. During a hurricane in 1951, The Elbow was damaged and the 4-man crew (who routinely slept in life jackets because of repeated blows from passing ships) were removed – never to return! Elbow was then automated via underwater cable.

On Oct. 20, 1953, during a dense fog, Elbow was struck by an ore-laden freighter – leaving only the base and about the first 10′ or the light! In 1954, an automated light was installed atop a red, steel skeleton tower on the original Elbow base – which still remains in operation today as an aid to navigation.

Ship John Shoal Lighthouse was named after the Ship “John” – wrecked in 1787 near the site of the present structure located in the northern part of the Bay near the mouth of the Cohansey River. The iron superstructure, a part of the lighthouse exhibit at the 1876 International Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, was brought to the shoal and placed in position where it became a permanent structure in 1877.

Its 4th order Fresnel lens became fully automated in 1973. The lens has since been replaced by a modern optic and is still a working aid to navigation. The original lens is now on display at the Coast Guard Air Station in Pomona, NJ.

The present Cape May Lighthouse, located at Cape May Point, NJ, is the third beacon to aid navigation where the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay meet. The first structure, built in 1823, was destroyed by erosion. The site now lies approximately 100 yards off shore southwest of the present tower. Due to poor maintenance and construction, the second beacon, built in 1847, had to be demolished in 1862. The base was retained and used for storage. The third and present tower was built in 1859 and is constructed of double brick masonry walls.

The tower stands 157 feet and six inches tall – with a cast iron spiral staircase of 199 steps leading up to the lantern room. Originally maintained by Keepers employed by the US Lighthouse Service (USLHS), the beacon is now administered by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) which was overseen the complete restoration since 1986.

The Delaware Breakwater East End Light – Built in 1885, this 56′ conical iron tower’s 4th order lens was first lit in October of 1885. In May of 1903, it became the front range light for the new Delaware Breakwater Range, replacing the West End Light. Keepers were still on board through 1950 when automated.

Located of Cape Henlopen, Delaware, it replaced Cape Henlopen Light, “toppled” by beach erosion on April 13, 1926. Since 1996, the light was owned by the State of Delaware. On September20, 2004, the Delaware River & Bay Authority and the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation partnered to preserve this historic lighthouse.