Fenwick Island Light

A historic brick lighthouse rises on Fenwick Island, Delaware, directly on the border with Maryland at the southernmost tip of the state. Situated on a narrow peninsula, it is recognized as the oldest lighthouse in Delaware.

The conical tower is constructed of brick and rises 87 ft above the ground. Inside, a central cast‑iron spiral staircase leads to the lantern room, which houses a third‑order Fresnel lens. The light displays a white flash every 13 seconds and is visible for 15 nmi.

Congress appropriated funds for the station in 1856 and a ten‑acre tract was acquired in early 1858. Construction was completed on December 29 1858, and the light was first lit on August 1 1859. The beacon was automated in 1940, decommissioned in 1978, and remained dark until it was relit in 1982. A major restoration in 1997 led to a rededication in July 1998, and the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The aid remains active today. Ownership belongs to the state of Delaware, while day‑to‑day care is provided by the private nonprofit New Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse. Visitors may access the base to view a modest museum and gift shop, although the tower itself is not open for climbing.

Light and tower

It was first lit in 1859. It was automated in 1978.