Cape Charles Lighthouse
Cape Charles Light in 1995 | |
| Location | Smith Island off Cape Charles at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°07′23″N 75°54′23″W / 37.12292°N 75.90647°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1828 |
| Construction | cast iron skeleton tower |
| Automated | 1963 |
| Height | 191 feet (58 m) |
| Shape | Octagonal pyramidal skeleton |
| Markings | lantern and watchroom, black tower, white |
| Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place, Virginia Historic Landmark |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1895 |
| Deactivated | 2019 |
| Focal height | 180 feet (55 m) |
| Lens | First order Fresnel lens (original), Vega VRB-25 solar-powered beacon (current) |
| Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s |
Cape Charles Light Station | |
| Nearest city | Kiptopeke, Virginia |
| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1894 |
| MPS | Light Stations of the United States MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000569 |
| VLR No. | 065-0071 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 2003 |
| Designated VLR | December 4, 2002 |
Cape Charles Lighthouse is an octagonal cast iron skeleton tower lighthouse at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on Smith Island which was officially removed from service in 2019. It is the tallest lighthouse in Virginia and the second tallest in the United States.