 The Chesapeake Bay is more than a beautiful body of water—it’s a complex,
changeable and sometimes dangerous natural wonder. The Bay is a place where water,
human activities and nature’s power intersect at every turn. For every calm
inlet and tranquil cove, there are miles of open water where ocean tides surge,
and in a heartbeat blue skies can blacken with looming storms. For mariners, the
sum of these parts has been a daunting mix of fair weather and foul, broad channels
and convoluted tributaries, shallow water and life-threatening shoals.
How have mariners found their way safely through the Bay? From colonial times
until the advent of modern satellite technology, lighthouses literally rose to
the challenge of guiding vessels through the Bay’s channels and byways.
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Early navigation aids on the Chesapeake such as buoys and signal fires were unreliable. As travel and commerce increased on the Bay so to did the need for a reliable means of navigation. |
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While not an easy task the role of the lighthouse keeper was crucial to ensuring safe passage for the many ships that travel the Bay. Learn more about the brave and dedicated lighthouse keepers.
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Today the Chesapeake Bay is one of the nations largest commercial and recreational waterways. Learn more about the role and importance of the Chesapeake Bay in this section. |
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Of the 74 lights that once illuminated Chesapeake waters, over 30 still stand - 23 of which play important roles as aids to navigation. Learn more about the lighthouses of the Chesapeake. |
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In 1806, the keeper of the Cape Henry light was paid only about $16 a month for his services. Find more interesting and unusual facts about lighthouses in this section about lighthouse lore.
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Ever wonder what inspires the design of a particular lighthouse? Or why there are so many different kinds of lighthouses. Learn what inspired the designs of many of the Bay lighthouses.
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Take a virtual tour of one of the Bay's most popular lighthouses, Thomas Point Lighthouse. Using the interactive diagram you can learn about some of its major features. |
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Order a copy of Chesapeake Bay Lighthouses: Lighting the Bay - a full-color interpretive poster/guide featuring Chesapeake Bay lighthouses, is the first in a planned series of poster/guides celebrating the Chesapeake Bay. Lighting the Bay is available in two formats: a traditional flat "poster" format and a map-folded, "take-along" version handy for those who wish to tuck it into a daypack or large pocket. |
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| For more information on Bay Lighthouses, visit the U.S. Lighthouse Society, Chesapeake Chapter. The Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society is a membership organization supporting preservation of Chesapeake Bay lighthouses. The Chesapeake Chapter runs a variety of trips and programs. |
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