 Assateague Lighthouse
From the U.S. Fish |
 The
Assateague Lighthouse is one of a number of lighthouses operated to warn ships of the treacherous shoals that lie off the barrier islands of
the Eastern Coast of the United States. The lighthouse was constructed in 1833 at a cost
of $55,000 and was eventually rebuilt to its present form in 1867. Located on a hill some
22 feet above the mean high water, it is 142 feet high, with a diameter of 27 feet, 6 3/4
inches at the base. The light is rated at 800,000 candle power, and can be seen for 19
nautical miles.Over the years, the lighthouse has had a number of different lights. The original tower had a candle lantern. In 1867 this was replaced by a standard oil-burner plunger lamp. The lamp was in a fixed position and required seven lighthouse keepers to maintain it. The house nearby was used as a home for the lighthouse keepers. It is now used as a residence for Wildlife Refuge personnel. In 1939, the U.S. Lighthouse Service, which had been responsible for managing the lighthouse was merged into the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard then installed a flashing electric light, powered by generators. The present revolving light was installed in 1963 when power lines were extended to the island. The lighthouse is a colorful symbol of the history of the island, but it is also a monument to the changing ways of nature. When it was first constructed, the lighthouse was situated at the southern tip of Assateague Island, but the constant deposition of sand by the sea over the years has added much new land to the lower part of Assateague, leaving the lighthouse far inland. Text Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Info Page
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