In the Distance

In the Distance. . , A Guiding Light , Imagine sailing the Atlantic in the 19th century, before GPS navigation. Sailors looking for the northern entrance to the Chesapeake Bay would look no further than the rhythmically flashing beacon atop the Cape Charles Lighthouse. In spite of mosquitoes, harsh weather, and isolation, the lighthouse keeper made certain the light burned every night. Today the lighthouse is powered by a solar-powered beacon., The lighthouse was originally established in 1827 with a 55-foot-tall brick structure that proved ineffective. A new station was completed in 1864 and consisted of a masonry tower, which stood at 150 feet. Constant erosion and encroachment by the sea threatened the safety of the tower. Finally, in 1895 a 191-foot-tall skeletal tower was built. Visible from 24 miles away, the Cape Charles Lighthouse continues to welcome travelers to the Eastern Shore., Endangered Towers , The three towers beside the lighthouse are witnesses to another era. If you were a world war two soldier stationed there, you would be on the lookout for enemy vessels. You would use radio range and direction data to coastal defense sites, such as Winslow Battery, so they could precisely target and fire on the vessels. Hence, they were called “fire control towers.” Similar towers once stood on today’s refuge land., Take a Look , From here, on a clear day, you can see the Cape Charles Lighthouse and three fire control towers located on Smith Island., Stop by the Visitor Center for a free stamp to show you spotted the Cape Charles Lighthouse!, [Captions:] , The lantern room for the Cape Charles Lighthouse being assembled in a factory circa 1894., The tallest in Virginia and second tallest in the country, the Cape Charles Lighthouse also marks the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore., The Smith Island towers are some of the last of their kind, a rare piece of our history.