Newport News Middle Ground Light, Caisson lighthouse in Hampton Roads, United States.
Newport News Middle Ground Light is a caisson lighthouse standing in Hampton Roads featuring a red painted exterior and a circular structure that rises 21 meters above water. The tower contains five interior levels distributed through its cylindrical body.
The Lighthouse Board identified navigation hazards in Hampton Roads and allocated funds in 1888 for construction of this beacon. The tower was completed and first illuminated in April 1891 to guide maritime traffic through the shipping lanes.
The structure represents Virginia's oldest caisson lighthouse design, earning places on both the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Historic Landmarks list.
The lighthouse emits red flashing signals every ten seconds with a visibility range of about 12 nautical miles to guide vessels. The structure remains an active navigation aid used by ships passing through the shipping channels.
Private owners transformed the former maritime navigation station into a vacation residence while maintaining its function as an active navigation aid.
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