Back River Light, Historic lighthouse on Chesapeake Bay in Hampton, United States
The thirty-foot conical brick tower contained ten oil lamps with fourteen-inch reflectors to guide ships through the western shore of Chesapeake Bay.
Built in 1829 by Winslow Lewis of Boston, the lighthouse operated until 1936 when environmental conditions forced its deactivation and eventual collapse in 1956.
The lighthouse site became the center of public attention in 1931 during a highly publicized murder trial involving the drowning of Elisha Kent Kane's wife.
The structure required constant maintenance against erosion, leading to multiple installations of protective measures including riprap stones and concrete walls between 1868 and 1888.
A 144-foot wooden footbridge connected the keeper's quarters to the lighthouse tower across the surrounding marsh, facilitating daily maintenance operations.
Location: Hampton
GPS coordinates: 37.08720,-76.26980
Latest update: March 15, 2025 16:33
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