Fourteen Foot Bank Light

Fourteen Foot Bank Light is a square cast-iron tower with a house-like superstructure positioned on a shoal in Delaware Bay. The structure rests on deep foundations and features a light mechanism that guides maritime traffic through these waters.

Construction took place between 1885 and 1886 using innovative pneumatic caisson methods for the foundation. This engineering approach became a model for future offshore and coastal construction projects.

The lighthouse marks an important point in maritime navigation history for ships traveling through Delaware Bay. People recognize it as a symbol of how builders and engineers worked to make waterways safer.

The light flashes white every 9 seconds and can be seen across the bay up to 13 nautical miles away. Red sectors are used to warn of nearby shallow areas and dangerous sandbars for passing vessels.

The tower sits on wooden caissons driven deep into the seabed to provide a stable foundation against storms and tidal forces. Thousands of cubic meters of concrete were poured underwater to anchor this remote outpost securely in place.

Location: Kent County

Inception: 1886

Height: 12 m

GPS coordinates: 39.04820,-75.18360

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43