Smith Point Light facts for kids
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| An old photo of Smith Point Light, Virginia | |
 Smith Point Light
Location in Virginia
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| Location | off west shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia at the mouth of the Potomac River |
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| Coordinates | 37°52′48″N 76°11′02″W / 37.8800°N 76.1839°W |
| Year first constructed | 1897 |
| Automated | 1971 |
| Foundation | pneumatic wooden caisson |
| Construction | cast iron/Brick |
| Tower shape | Octagonal |
| Height | 52 feet (16 m) |
| Original lens | fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | DCB-24 |
| Range | 16 nautical miles; 29 kilometres (18 mi) |
| Characteristic | 10 sec flashing white |
Smith Point Light is a special kind of lighthouse called a caisson lighthouse. It stands in the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, right where the Potomac River meets the bay. This important lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 because of its history.
History of the Light
Smith Point, at the mouth of the Potomac River, has been marked by many different lights over the years. Before the current lighthouse, there were three towers, three lightships, and a screw-pile lighthouse that helped guide ships.
Early Towers
The very first light was a stone tower built in 1802 by Elzy Burroughs. It was located right on Smith Point. However, the land here was washing away quickly. Because of this, the light had to be rebuilt further inland in 1807 by Elzy and his brother, William K. Burroughs. William also became the lighthouse keeper in 1806.
The tower was rebuilt again in 1828 by a different builder. This last tower was finally stopped being used in 1859. By then, a lightship had been placed off the point since 1821 to help guide ships.
Civil War and Ice Damage
During the American Civil War, the first lightship was destroyed in 1861 by Confederate forces. A new lightship, made from a refitted brig, took its place the next year and served until 1868.
In 1868, a screw-pile lighthouse was built off the point. This type of lighthouse stands on piles screwed into the seabed. The location was very open to the weather, and ice was a big problem for these lights. In 1893, ice damaged the lighthouse. The keepers were even fired for leaving their posts! Just two years later, in 1895, the entire house part of the lighthouse was ripped from its foundation by ice and carried away.
The Current Lighthouse
After the screw-pile lighthouse was destroyed, another lightship was placed off the point. It stayed there until 1897. That year, the current caisson lighthouse was first lit. This lighthouse was built using the same plans as the Wolf Trap Light. The main difference between them is that Wolf Trap is red, while Smith Point is white.
The Smith Point Light was staffed by keepers until 1971, which was quite late for a lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay. After that, it was automated, meaning it could run by itself. A long underwater cable was laid from the shore to power the light. It also had battery backup in case the power went out.
In the 1980s, this power cable was damaged. The United States Coast Guard thought about turning off the light for good. But many people spoke up, and the cable was repaired in 1988.
In 2005, Smith Point Light was put up for auction under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. It was bought for $170,000 by David McNally, a builder from Winona, Minnesota. Today, the lighthouse is still active and helps ships navigate safely.
