Year first lit 1870 Foundation screw-pile Opened 1870 Materials Wood, Cast iron | Deactivated 1960 Construction cast-iron/wood Tower shape hexagonal house | |
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Location At the mouth of the York River in the Chesapeake Bay Similar Pages Rock Light, Bowlers Rock Light, Point of Shoals Light, Wolf Trap Light, Tangier Sound Light | ||
The York Spit Light was a lighthouse located at the mouth of the York River in the Chesapeake Bay, marking a long shoal paralleling the main channel into the river.
Contents
Map of York Spit Light, 3, VA, USA
History
This light replaced lightships stationed at this location beginning in 1853. Extra fender piles were added to the usual six pile structure in order to provide extra stability against the current. In 1903 riprap was placed around the piles for additional protection. A hurricane in September 1933 damaged the light.
The house was removed and replaced with an automated light in 1960 as part of the program of decommissioning at that time. More recently this light was damaged in a hurricane, and a separate light on a single pole was erected next to the old screw-pile foundation.
References
York Spit Light Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA