Olde Towne in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lightship Portsmouth
101-WAL524
Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009
1. Lightship Portsmouth Marker
Lightships and the City of Portsmouth go back to the beginning of lightship duty in this country in 1820. The first lightship was established off Craney Island at the mouth of the Elizabeth River. Working lightships were constant visitors on the Portsmouth waterfront at the buoy yard until 1966, when the last lightships were discontinued in the district. At this time Lightship #101 was brought back to Portsmouth to become a permanent fixture on the waterfront. It was to be a tribute to the lightship service and to her own first home port. The custom was for the lightship vessels to take the name of the station where they were standing duty. Thus, she was renamed Portsmouth.
In 1967 the City of Portsmouth placed this vessel on the waterfront and opened it as a museum. In 1989 LIGHTSHIP PORTSMOUTH was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.
Location. 36° 50.222′ N, 76° 17.752′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. It is at the intersection of Water Street and London Street, on the right when traveling north on Water Street. This marker is beside
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads, specifically in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Lightship Portsmouth (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Lightship No. 101 Portsmouth (within shouting distance of this marker); The Coast Guard (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 4 Pounder Cannon (about 400 feet away); Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients (about 500 feet away); Lafayette's Tour (about 500 feet away); Cornwallis' Embarkation (about 500 feet away); Shopmates Memorial (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.
More about this marker. This marker is part of the Portsmouth, VA Path of History.
Also see . . .
1. United States lightship Portsmouth (LV-101). Wikipedia entry:
Links to National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Submitted on August 5, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Lightship Portsmouth Museum. Museum website homepage (Submitted on May 31, 2015.)
Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009
2. Lightship Portsmouth and Marker
Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009
3. U.S. Lightship No. 101 Portsmouth National Historic Landmark Marker
Portsmouth
has been designated a
National Historic Landmark
This vessel possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America
1989
National Park Service
United States Department of the Interior
Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 1, 2009
4. Lightship and National Historic Landmark Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 976 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 1, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
