Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

York Spit Lighthouse

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. York Spit Lighthouse Marker

Inscription.

York Spit Lighthouse. . , . Built in 1870 at York Spit, Virginia, at the entrance to the York River. , , . The lighthouse was a white hexagonal cottage with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a sitting room. The cottage was supported by 14 wood piles encased in cast iron. It was originally equipped with a fifth-order Fresnel lens but was changed to a larger, fourth-order Fresnel lens with a fixed red light. , , . The lighthouse had two larger "wing-like" decks extending from two sides of the house. These were used for additional storage, as well as greater support for fog machinery. , , . Keeper William J. Diggs reports major damage to the lighthouse during a bad storm in August 1933. He states, "Floors began to burst up. Sailboat broke away. Sea breaking over deck. Oil tanks broke away" When his boat was found onshore, many thought Keeper Diggs had drowned, but he was taken off the lighthouse earlier by a passing fisherman. A temporary light was established until repairs could be made. , , [Timeline:] ,

1855 A lightship is placed in the Chesapeake Bay, at the entrance to the York River at York Spit , 1860s The lightship is captured by Confederates in 1861 and replaced in 1863, where a lightship remains for the next six years , 1870 Construction of the wood cottage is completed at Lazaretto Depot in Baltimore, MD. and towed to the site - the light is first exhibited on November 15th, and the lightship is removed , 1876 The existing fifth-order Fresnel lens is replaced with a larger fourth-order Fresnel lens exhibiting a fixed red light , 1886 A new fog bell tower resembling a small lighthouse, is constructed at Lazaretto Depot and installed at the lighthouse , 1896 The fourth-order Fresnel lens is sent to the lighthouse depot for repairs and temporarily replaced by a lens lantern , 1899 New model fourth-order lamps are installed , 1901 After soundings are made, it is determined that there is a significant amount of erosion around the lighthouse , 1903 2,350 tons of riprap stone is placed around the piles to protect the foundation from further damage , 1916 Keeper John F. Hudgins rescues nine people from a disabled boat and brings them to the lighthouse where they are fed and spend the night , 1960 An automated flashing beacon is constructed next to the lighthouse-the cottage is dismantled and removed

, [Captions:] , York Spit Lighthouse with keeper standing underneath cottage- date unknown National Archives Photo , York Spit Lighthouse - date unknown Photo by Ralph Eshelman Courtesy USLHS , Remains of old screwpile foundation - 2021 Photo Courtesy Greg Krawczyk

• Built in 1870 at York Spit, Virginia, at the entrance to the York River.

• The lighthouse was a white hexagonal cottage with two bedrooms, a kitchen & a sitting room. The cottage was supported by 14 wood piles encased in cast iron. It was originally equipped with a fifth-order Fresnel lens but was changed to a larger, fourth-order Fresnel lens with a fixed red light.

• The lighthouse had two larger "wing-like" decks extending from two sides of the house. These were used for additional storage, as well as greater support for fog machinery.

• Keeper William J. Diggs reports major damage to the lighthouse during a bad storm in August 1933. He states, "Floors began to burst up. Sailboat broke away. Sea breaking over deck. Oil tanks broke away" When his boat was found onshore, many thought Keeper Diggs had drowned, but he was taken off the lighthouse earlier by a passing fisherman. A temporary light was established until repairs could be made.

[Timeline:]

1855 A lightship is placed in the Chesapeake Bay, at the entrance to the York River at York Spit
1860s The lightship is captured by Confederates in 1861 and replaced in 1863, where a lightship remains for the next six years
1870 Construction of the wood cottage is completed
Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online
at Lazaretto Depot in Baltimore, MD. & towed to the site - the light is first exhibited on November 15th, and the lightship is removed
1876 The existing fifth-order Fresnel lens is replaced with a larger fourth-order Fresnel lens exhibiting a fixed red light
1886 A new fog bell tower resembling a small lighthouse, is constructed at Lazaretto Depot and installed at the lighthouse
1896 The fourth-order Fresnel lens is sent to the lighthouse depot for repairs & temporarily replaced by a lens lantern
1899 New model fourth-order lamps are installed
1901 After soundings are made, it is determined that there is a significant amount of erosion around the lighthouse
1903 2,350 tons of riprap stone is placed around the piles to protect the foundation from further damage
1916 Keeper John F. Hudgins rescues nine people from a disabled boat & brings them to the lighthouse where they are fed and spend the night
1960 An automated flashing beacon is constructed next to the lighthouse-the cottage is dismantled & removed

[Captions:]
York Spit Lighthouse with keeper standing underneath cottage- date unknown National Archives Photo
York Spit Lighthouse - date unknown Photo by Ralph Eshelman Courtesy USLHS
Remains of old screwpile foundation - 2021 Photo

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. York Spit Lighthouse Marker

Courtesy Greg Krawczyk

Erected 2021 by Watermen's Museum and the Chesapeake Chapter of the United Lighthouse Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 37° 14.369′ N, 76° 30.599′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It can be reached from Water Street 0.2 miles Buckner Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker stands along Yorktown's Riverwalk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 Water Street, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

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: Bells Rock Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); Tue Marshes Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Chesapeake Bay Watermen (a few steps from this marker); York River Ferry (a few steps from this marker); What’s a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise? (within shouting distance of this marker); Pale Moon (within shouting distance of this marker); Virginia Chesapeake Bay Patent Tong Work Boats (within shouting distance of this marker); Oysters and the Chesapeake Bay (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

Also see . . .

Paid Advertisement

1. Watermen's Museum. Preserving The Heritage of the Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay (Submitted on February 11, 2025.)

2. York Spit Lighthouse. Chesapeake Chapter U.S.L.H.S. (Submitted on February 10, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

3. Watermen's Museum. National Park Service (Submitted on February 10, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 217 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on June 15, 2026, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 10, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.