description Cape Charles Light Overview
Cape Charles Light is a historic cast-iron skeleton lighthouse located on Smith Island in Northampton County, Virginia. Standing at 191 feet tall and activated in 1895, it is the tallest lighthouse in Virginia and the second-tallest in the United States. The structure was built to guide maritime traffic safely through the Chesapeake Bay. It was fully automated in 1963 and remains an active aid to navigation, notable for its distinctive exposed framework design.
help Cape Charles Light FAQ
Where is Cape Charles Light located?
Cape Charles Light stands on Smith Island in Northampton County, Virginia. The remote location places it in the Chesapeake Bay area rather than in the town of Cape Charles itself.
How tall is Cape Charles Light?
The lighthouse stands 191 feet tall. That makes it the tallest lighthouse in Virginia and the second-tallest lighthouse in the United States.
When was Cape Charles Light activated?
Cape Charles Light was activated in 1895. Its cast-iron skeleton design was built to withstand the exposed conditions of the Chesapeake Bay.
What makes Cape Charles Light different from a traditional stone lighthouse?
It is a cast-iron skeleton lighthouse, so its tower is formed by an open metal framework rather than a solid masonry shaft. That structure also makes the tall tower visibly lighter and more transparent against the sky.
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