Baltimore Hundred on Fenwick Island in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Fenwick Island Lighthouse

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2007

1. The Fenwick Island Lighthouse Marker

Inscription.

The Fenwick Island Lighthouse. . The Fenwick Island Lighthouse Erected 1858 In operation from 1859 to 1978 as an official aid to navigation Transferred to Delaware, 1981 Restored, 1982 – 1983, by The Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse under the leadership of W. Paul Pepper, President With the assistance of: The State of Deleware The Fenwick Island Women’s Club Senator Richard S. Cordrey Richard B. Carter Randy Murray Earl R. Strausbaugh John Cziraki, Steeplejack Oliver Cropper Herla Lobo Vice-President Treasurer Claire Pritchett Secretary . A.D. 1983, (nearby informational marker) On December 29, 1858, the Lighthouse Board issued the following announcement:, “Notice to Mariners New Light-House at Fenwicks Island, Delaware” . Notice is hereby given that the new tower at Fenwicks Island, Deleware, is finished, and that a light will be exhibited therefrom for the first day of August next, and will be kept burning during that night, and every night thereafter, from sunset to sunrise. The tower is built of brick, is 75 feet high and is surmounted by a lantern 10 feet high. The watch room and lantern are painted black, the lower and keeper’s dwelling white. The illuminating apparatus is of the third order of the system of Fresnel and will show a fixed white light varied by a bright flash every two minutes. The focal plane is 86 feet above the level of the sea, and the light should be visible in ordinary states of the atmosphere 15 nautical miles. The approximate position of the light-house, as deduced from the Coast Survey charts, is – Latitude, 38° 27’ 00” North Longitude, 75° 03’ 30” West…” The lighthouse cost $23,748.96 to build in 1858. The light was first fueled by whole oil, then kerosene and was magnified by a lens, (Fresnel lens), imported from France. , The two houses flanking the lighthouse were the homes of the lighthouse keeper and his assistant. These are now privately owned., The Lighthouse is presently operated by the Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse as a private aid to navigation and is powered by solar energy.

The Fenwick Island Lighthouse
Erected 1858
In operation from 1859 to 1978
as an official aid to navigation
Transferred to Delaware, 1981
Restored, 1982 – 1983, by The Friends of
the Fenwick Island Lighthouse under the
leadership of W. Paul Pepper, President
With the assistance of:
The State of Deleware
The Fenwick Island Women’s Club
Senator Richard S. Cordrey
Richard B. Carter
Randy Murray
Earl R. Strausbaugh
John Cziraki, Steeplejack
Oliver Cropper Herla Lobo
Vice-President Treasurer
Claire Pritchett
Secretary
A.D. 1983

(nearby informational marker)
On December 29, 1858, the Lighthouse Board issued the following announcement:

“Notice to Mariners
New Light-House
at
Fenwicks Island, Delaware”
Notice is hereby given that the new tower at Fenwicks Island, Deleware, is finished, and that a light will be exhibited

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therefrom for the first day of August next, and will be kept burning during that night, and every night thereafter, from sunset to sunrise. The tower is built of brick, is 75 feet high and is surmounted by a lantern 10 feet high.
The watch room and lantern are painted black, the lower and keeper’s dwelling white.
The illuminating apparatus is of the third order of the system of Fresnel and will show a fixed white light varied by a bright flash every two minutes.
The focal plane is 86 feet above the level of the sea, and the light should be visible in ordinary states of the atmosphere 15 nautical miles.
The approximate position of the light-house, as deduced from the Coast Survey charts, is –
Latitude, 38° 27’ 00” North
Longitude, 75° 03’ 30” West…”
The lighthouse cost $23,748.96 to build in 1858.
The light was first fueled by whole oil, then kerosene and was magnified by a lens, (Fresnel lens),

Fenwick Island Lighthouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rudy and Alice's Lighthouse Page, June 28, 2005

2. Fenwick Island Lighthouse Marker

The marker is located at the base of the lighthouse. www.rudyalicelighthouse.net

imported from France.

The two houses flanking the lighthouse were the homes of the lighthouse keeper and his assistant. These are now privately owned.

The Lighthouse is presently operated by the Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse as a private aid to navigation and is powered by solar energy.

Erected 1983 by the Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Notable Buildings • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1897.

Location. 38° 27.081′ N, 75° 3.297′ W. Marker is on Fenwick Island, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Baltimore Hundred. It is at the intersection of 146th Street and Lighthouse Ave, on the left when traveling east on 146th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fenwick Island DE 19944, United States

3. Fenwick Island Lighthouse Marker

of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Delaware’s Beaches.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mason and Dixon Line-Survey Start (here, next to this marker); Transpeninsular Line (here, next to this marker); Australia (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Eastern End of Transpeninsular Line Between Maryland and Three Lower Counties of Pennsylvania (approx. 0.2 miles away in Maryland); Fiesta City Park (approx. 0.4 miles away in Maryland); Sam Wilkinson (1994 - 2003) (approx.

4. Fenwick Island Lighthouse Marker

1.2 miles away in Maryland); Northside Park Military Flag Plaza & Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away in Maryland); The Evolution of Paradise Shores & York Beach (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fenwick Island.

Other markers no longer nearby. The History of the Lighthouse (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fenwick Island Lighthouse (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . A Brief History of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse. Lighthouse friends entry. (Submitted on October 18, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Fenwick Island Lighthouse from the East. image. Click for full size.

5. Fenwick Island Lighthouse from the East.

Fenwick Island Lighthouse from the South image. Click for full size.

6. Fenwick Island Lighthouse from the South

Another Fenwick Island Lighthouse Marker at the sight. image. Click for full size.

7. Another Fenwick Island Lighthouse Marker at the sight.

Fenwick Island Lighthouse
- Erected 1858 -
This structure is owned by the State of Delaware. It is maintained by the private, non-profit friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, which is open to all and depends on dues and contributions to keep up the lighthouse. Your participation is welcome.

The Fenwick Island Lighthouse and Informational Marker image. Click for full size.

8. The Fenwick Island Lighthouse and Informational Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,964 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 16, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2. submitted on October 18, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 17, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 18, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.