Craney Island Lighthouse

 

In 1820, the first permanent lightship in the U.S. was stationed off Craney Island, having been in Hampton and moved from nearby Willoughby Spit due to adverse conditions there.

 

In 1859, the lightship was replaced by a square-shaped screwpile lighthouse that was damaged during the Civil War.

 

In 1884, the leaky and decayed lighthouse was replaced by a hexagonal lighthouse, which survived until the mid 1930s, when it was replaced by a simple light on the same screwpile foundation.

 

Red buoy #20 is near the site where the lighthouse once stood.