This is a list of all lighthouses in the U.S. state of Virginia as identified by the United States Coast Guard. There are nine active lights in the state as well as three automated caissons and eleven skeleton towers replacing previously staffed lights.
The first lighthouse in the state was erected in 1792 (the first Cape Henry Light) and it is the oldest surviving structure; the last, Chesapeake Light, was built in 1965 (ignoring automated towers erected later). The tallest extant tower is that at Cape Charles Light.
If not otherwise noted, focal height and coordinates are taken from the United States Coast Guard Light List, while location and dates of activation, automation, and deactivation are taken from the United States Coast Guard Historical information site for lighthouses. Locations of demolished lights have been estimated using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) navigational charts.
NameImage LocationCoordinates Year first lit Automated Year deactivated Current Lens Focal Height Assateague Light Assateague Island 1833 (First) 1867 (Current) 1933 Active DCB-24 154 Back River Light Hampton 1829 1915 1936(Destroyed in 1956) None Unknown Bells Rock Light York River 1881 Never 1928(Dismantled) None 040 Bowlers Rock Light Rappahannock River 1868 Never 1920(Removed) None Unknown Cape Charles Light Cape Charles 1828 (First) 1895 (Current) 1963 Active 190mm 180 Cape Henry Light (Old) Virginia Beach(Cape Henry) 1792 Never 1881 None Unknown Cape Henry Light (New) Virginia Beach(Cape Henry) 1881 1984 Active Unknown 157 Cherrystone Bar Light Cape Charles(Offshore) 1858 Never 1919(Moved in 1920) None Unknown Chesapeake Light Chesapeake Bay(Entrance) 1965 1980 2016 None 117 Craney Island Light Elizabeth River(Mouth) 1859 (First) 1884 (Last) Never 1936(Removed) None 036 Deepwater Shoals Light Newport News(Offshore) 1855 (First) 1868 (Last) Never 1936(Demolished) None 034 Dutch Gap Canal Lights James River 1875 Never 1910 None 027 Great Wicomico River Light Great Wicomico River(Mouth) 1889 Never 1967(Dismantled) None 042 Hog Island Light(First tower) Exmore 1853 Never 1896(Replaced) None Unknown Hog Island Light(Second tower) Exmore 1896 Never 1948(Demolished) None Unknown Jones Point Light Alexandria 1856 1919 Active(Inactive: 1926–1995) Unknown 035 Jordan Point Front Range Light None Known James River N/A Unknown Unknown Unknown None Unknown Jordan Point Range Rear Light James River 1855 (First) 1941 (Current) 1941 Active Unknown 035 (Second tower) (Current tower) Killock Shoal Light Chincoteague(Offshore) 1886 1929 1939(Dismantled) None Unknown Lambert Point Light Norfolk 1872 Never 1892(Collapsed in 1911) None Unknown Nansemond River Light Nansemond River(Mouth) 1878 Never 1935(Dismantled) None Unknown New Point Comfort Light Chesapeake Bay 1805 1930 Active(Inactive: 1963–1999) 250mm 058 Newport News Middle Ground Light Newport News 1891 1954 Active VRB-25 052 Old Plantation Flats Light Cape Charles(Offshore) 1886 Never 1962(Demolished) None 035 Old Point Comfort Light Hampton 1804 1972 Active Fourth-order Fresnel 054 Pages Rock Light York River 1893 1960 1967(Dismantled) None Unknown Point of Shoals Light James River 1855 (First) 1871 (Last) 1932 1933(Demolished) None Unknown Pungoteague Creek Light Chesapeake Bay 1854 Never 1856(Destroyed) None Unknown Smith Point Light Potomac River(Mouth) 1802 (First) 1897 (Current) 1971 Active DCB-24 052 Stingray Point Light Rappahannock River(Mouth) 1858 1950 1965(Dismantled) None 034 Tangier Sound Light Tangier(Offshore) 1890 Never 1961(Demolished) None Unknown Thimble Shoal Light Chesapeake Bay 1872 (First) 1914 (Current) 1964 Active RB-355 055 Tue Marshes Light York River(Mouth) 1875 Never 1960(Dismantled) None Unknown Watts Island Light Chesapeake Bay 1833 1923 1944(Destroyed) None Unknown White Shoal Light James River 1855 (First) 1871 (Last) Never 1934(Destroyed in the 1970s) None Unknown Windmill Point Light Rappahannock River(Mouth) 1869 1954 1965(Dismantled) None Unknown Wolf Trap Light Chesapeake Bay 1870 (First) 1894 (Current) 1971 2017(Abandoned) VRB-25 Unknown York Spit Light York River(Mouth) 1870 Never 1960(Dismantled) None Unknown
References