Old Point Comfort Light facts for kids
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| Old Point Comfort Light (keeper's house out of frame to right) | |
 Old Point Comfort Light
Location in Virginia
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| Location | Fenwick Rd., SW of E gate of Fort Monroe, Hampton, Virginia |
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| Coordinates | 37°00′06″N 76°18′23″W / 37.00178°N 76.30643°W |
| Year first constructed | 1803 |
| Year first lit | 1804 |
| Automated | 1972 |
| Construction | sandstone masonry |
| Tower shape | Octagonal tower |
| Height | 58 feet (18 m) |
| Original lens | fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 11 nautical miles; 21 kilometres (13 mi) |
| Characteristic | 12 sec double flash red |
The Old Point Comfort Light is a historic lighthouse. It stands on the grounds of Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. This area is part of the Chesapeake Bay.
This lighthouse is very special. It is the second oldest lighthouse in the entire bay. Even more, it's the oldest one that is still working today! The U.S. Coast Guard takes care of it. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historic site.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
Early Beginnings (1775-1823)
People have been using lights to guide ships at Old Point Comfort since 1775. A man named John Dams was paid to keep a beacon (a type of light) working back then.
Because it's at the entrance to Hampton Roads, it was one of the first places the new United States government decided needed a proper lighthouse. Money was set aside for it starting in 1800.
The lighthouse was built by Elzy Burroughs. It started helping ships in 1803. However, the lighthouse keeper didn't get a house to live in until 1823.
Through Wars and Changes
During the War of 1812, British forces took control of this light. They were moving towards Washington, D.C. After the war, Fort Monroe was built very close to the lighthouse. Its walls were just a short distance away.
In the Civil War, the lighthouse was lucky. It wasn't damaged or turned off. This was because Union (North) forces held Fort Monroe throughout the war. By this time, the old lamp system had been replaced. A new, more powerful Fresnel lens was installed.
After the Civil War, people thought about closing the lighthouse. The area around it was developing, making the light harder to see. But the lighthouse stayed open!
Improvements and Modernization
Towards the end of the 1800s, many improvements were made. The old keeper's house was replaced with a new one in 1891.
In the early 1900s, the lighthouse got even more upgrades. In 1936, an experimental photoelectric control was added for the fog signal. This made the fog signal turn on automatically.
The way the light flashed also changed over time. At first, it showed a white light in some areas and red in others. Later, the entire light became a flashing red signal.
Automation and Today
In 1972, the lighthouse became automated. This means it no longer needed a keeper to live there and operate it. The keeper's house was then given to the U.S. Army. They used it as a home for Fort Monroe's Command Sergeant Major. This continued until the fort closed in 2011.
The top part of the lighthouse, called the lantern, has unique colors. It has a red roof and green rails, decking, and walls. The Old Point Comfort Light is still active today, guiding ships safely.
