Cape Henlopen Light
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Location: | Cape Henlopen, Delaware |
|---|---|
| Year first lit: | 1769 |
| Year first constructed: | 1767 |
| Deactivated: | 1924; tower collapsed due to erosion in 1926 |
| Height: | 69 ft |
| Original lens: | First order Fresnel lens |
| Characteristic: | Flashing white with red sector |
Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was a lighthouse in Delaware, United States, on the north side of the Great Dune on Cape Henlopen, Delaware. It was the sixth lighthouse built in the colonies.
[edit] History
Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was completed in 1767 and was built on the north side of the Great Dune to obtain additional height. In 1777, the lighthouse was almost completely burned down by the British. The wardens repaired the damage and it was relighted in 1784. In 1897 the sand dune surrounding the tower was reported to be steadily blowing away at a rate of 3 to 5 feet a year. In 1905 several tons of brush were placed about the tower and oil house to prevent the foundations and brick walls from being undermined by the drifting away of the sand. All measures to protect the tower failed, and in 1926 a storm undermined the tower and caused it to fall seaward.
Another light also once stood on Cape Henlopen. In 1824, the Cape Henlopen Beacon was constructed on a 45-foot tower about a mile north of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. There is no record of what happened to the Beacon.
 |
This article relating to a United States lighthouse is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
