White Shoal Lighthouse

Year Built

1855

Cost

$1,000

Type

Hexagonal house

Height

N/A

Location

James River, northwest of Newport News

Automated Year

N/A

First Lit

1855

Lens Type

Fifth-order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1935

Color

White Hexagonal screw-pile, red roof and foundation

Last Keeper - Date

Benjamin D. Preston (at least 1928 – at least 1930)

Description

In 1977 it was destroyed by ice floes.

Brief History

•  White Shoal Lighthouse was one of three screw-piles lit on February 6, 1855 on the James River.
•  By 1869 the poorly constructed structure was leaning to one side and deemed unsafe.
•  In 1871 the structure was completely rebuilt and a fog bell and fifth order lens were added.
•  The lighthouse was deactivated in 1934. An automated light was built near the original location.
•  In the 1970’s ice flows carried the structure away.