Chincoteague in Accomack County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Assateague Lighthouse

Assateague Island National Seashore

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 27, 2022

1. Assateague Lighthouse Marker

Inscription.

Assateague Lighthouse. Assateague Island National Seashore. The historic Assateague Lighthouse is one of nearly 450 automated lighthouses maintained today by the U.S. Coast Guard. First built by the U.S. Treasury Department in 1833 the original 45-foot tower proved too low and dim to be effective. The structure was rebuilt to 142 feet in 1867. , , Lighthouse keepers tended oil-burning lamps for 100 years. In 1933 the lamps were replaced by a flashing electric light. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1963 when the present rotating beacon was installed. , , The Tower , , Built on one of the island’s highest old dunes, the base of the massive brick tower stands 22 feet above sea level. The tower’s bold red and white pattern distinguishes it from the nearly 20 other tall historic brick lighthouses still functioning along the Atlantic Coast. , , The Location , , The lighthouse was located at the Virginia end of Assateague to help navigators locate the heavily used Chincoteague Inlet. Although it stands far inland today, when originally built the lighthouse was near the end of the island and faced the ocean. Dynamic southward deposition of sand since 1870 has stranded the lighthouse almost five miles from the inlet. , , The Light , , A first-order Fresnel Lens operated in the lighthouse from 1867 to 1963. This large, beehive-shaped lens reflected and concentrated light rays from a central light source with a complex series of glass prisms. , The present DCB-36 Rotating Beacon uses Fresnel-type lenses to focus light from a 1,000 watt lamp into a powerful horizontal beam that can be seen up to 22 miles away. The flash pattern or "characteristic" of the Assateague Lighthouse is a double flash every five seconds. , DCB-36 Rotating Beacon , The unique “characteristic” is created by the alignment of one beacon on top of another. , First-Order Fresnel Lens , Approximately 1,000 individual glass prisms had to be dusted each day and thoroughly cleaned once a month. , , (captions) , Visitors can walk the grounds daily, and during special events the tower is opened to the public. , Toms Cove "hook” at Assateague’s Virginia end continues to grow to the south and west.

The historic Assateague Lighthouse is one of nearly 450 automated lighthouses maintained today by the U.S. Coast Guard. First built by the U.S. Treasury Department in 1833 the original 45-foot tower proved too low and dim to be effective. The structure was rebuilt to 142 feet in 1867.

Lighthouse keepers tended oil-burning lamps for 100 years. In 1933 the lamps were replaced by a flashing electric light. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1963 when the present rotating beacon was installed.

The Tower

Built on one of the island’s highest old dunes, the base of the massive brick tower stands 22 feet above sea level. The tower’s bold red and white pattern distinguishes it from the nearly 20 other tall historic brick lighthouses still functioning along the Atlantic Coast.

The Location

The lighthouse was located at the Virginia end of Assateague to help navigators locate the heavily used Chincoteague Inlet. Although it stands far inland today, when originally built the lighthouse was near the end of the island and faced the ocean. Dynamic southward deposition of sand since 1870 has stranded

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the lighthouse almost five miles from the inlet.

The Light

A first-order Fresnel Lens operated in the lighthouse from 1867 to 1963. This large, beehive-shaped lens reflected and concentrated light rays from a central light source with a complex series of glass prisms.
The present DCB-36 Rotating Beacon uses Fresnel-type lenses to focus light from a 1,000 watt lamp into a powerful horizontal beam that can be seen up to 22 miles away. The flash pattern or "characteristic" of the Assateague Lighthouse is a double flash every five seconds.
DCB-36 Rotating Beacon
The unique “characteristic” is created by the alignment of one beacon on top of another.
First-Order Fresnel Lens
Approximately 1,000 individual glass prisms had to be dusted each day and thoroughly cleaned once a month.

(captions)
Visitors can walk the grounds daily, and during special events the tower is opened to the public.
Toms Cove "hook” at Assateague’s Virginia end continues to grow to the south and west.

Erected by National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 27, 2022

2. Assateague Lighthouse Marker

in these topic lists: Communications • Landmarks • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.

Location. 37° 53.406′ N, 75° 20.704′ W. Marker is in Chincoteague, Virginia, in Accomack County. It is at the intersection of National Seashore Lane and Stephen Decatur Hwy (Virginia Route 617), on the right when traveling west on National Seashore Lane. Marker is located on the Visitor Center’s boardwalk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7206 National Seashore Lane, Chincoteague Island VA 23336, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

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

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South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tom’s Cove Shellfishing (a few steps from this marker); Coast Guard Station (a few steps from this marker); Keeping the Forest Full of Life (approx. one mile away); The Wild Ponies (approx. 1.3 miles away); Welcome to Assateague Village (approx. 1.6 miles away); Still Shining…After All These Years (approx. 1.6 miles away); Assateague Light House (approx. 1.6 miles away); Miss Mollys Inn (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chincoteague.

Also see . . . Assateague Island Lighthouse. (Submitted on August 31, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 730 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.