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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
Fax: 207-596-1091
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the
preservation of America's historic
lighthouses & lightships and
their heritage.
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Delaware Breakwater East End Light to Welcome
It’s First Visitors
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
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The Delaware
Breakwater East End Lighthouse, located just offshore of the Cape
Henlopen State Park in Lewes, DE, has traditionally been close enough to
love and appreciate but just out of reach for the community and
lighthouse enthusiasts to touch. Daily low tides reveal shifting sand
bars soaked in |
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Delaware Breakwater East End Light
Lewes,
Delaware
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retreating salt
water that extend far out into the inner harbor, but despite the appearance
of these temporary bridges, their glistening paths stop well short of
enabling the public to experience one of Delaware’s most storied beacons of
the sea up close and personal.
For the first time
in history, the barriers previously preventing people from visiting Delaware
Breakwater East End Light are about to be removed in 2006 thanks to a
cooperative partnership between the Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA)
and the nonprofit Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation (DRBLHF).
The DRBA, which
leases the lighthouse from the State of Delaware, forged an exciting
partnership with the DRBLHF in fall 2004 that brings |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
View from the lantern room of the
lighthouse
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together the
expertise and resources of both entities for the benefit of the public
at large. This joint effort will enable visitors to not only learn about
the First State’s rich lighthouse heritage, but also why the Delaware
Breakwater itself was so important to the United States of America
throughout |
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the 1800s and
efforts being carried out today to save Delaware’s remaining historic
lighthouses.
Imagine 125 years
ago when it was not uncommon to see nearly 200 hundred schooners of every
size seeking refuge behind the long protective arm of the Delaware
Breakwater during stormy weather that would encircle the mid-Atlantic
region. During these harrowing times, there was no other place for ships to
“run for cover” between Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and Cape Henry, Virginia;
therefore, the 0.8-mile long Delaware Breakwater became world renowned to
seafarers of all flags as a lifesaver when winter’s northeast gales punished
the Atlantic seaboard.
The “celebrity” of
the breakwater is the 56-foot tall Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse.
Built in 1885, this rugged cast-iron |
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sentinel has
witnessed some of the most important maritime moments in the history of
Delaware and the City of Lewes. From the devastating winter storm in
March 1888 and the fall of the nearby Cape Henlopen Lighthouse in 1926
to the growth of heritage tourism in the 21st century – the
Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse continues to stand |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
The lighthouse sits on the east end of
the historic Delaware Breakwater
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tall in the wake
of Father Time’s sea of constant change.
Can you imagine
living in Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse as storm waves pound up
against the caisson structure or during winter’s ice encasing the harbor and
preventing its keepers from leaving the beacon for weeks on end? Now you
can! Tours to Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse will begin in April
2006 and depart from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry’s finger pier at the Lewes
terminal. Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation volunteers will be your
escort on this fascinating trip back in time as you learn about the beacon
and its keepers and enjoy its breathtaking location overlooking Cape
Henlopen, the National Harbor of Refuge and the Atlantic Ocean. Regardless
of whether you are a lighthouse enthusiast or someone who simply appreciates
the unique beauty of Delaware’s coastline, a tour to Delaware Breakwater
East End Lighthouse is a must-do experience – an experience that promises to
last a lifetime!
Note: The
DRBLHF will not be accepting
reservations for 2006 tours to Delaware Breakwater and Harbor of
Refuge lighthouses until
MARCH 1, 2006.
Lighthouse Tour Dates for 2006...
April 22, 2006 to Delaware
Breakwater East End Lighthouse
May 20, 2006 to Delaware Breakwater
East End Lighthouse
June 24, 2006 to Harbor of Refuge
Lighthouse
July 22, 2006 to Delaware
Breakwater East End Lighthouse
August 26, 2006 to Delaware
Breakwater East End Lighthouse
September 9, 2006 – one tour to
both Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse and Harbor of Refuge
Lighthouse
October 14, 2006 to Delaware
Breakwater East End Lighthouse
According to
the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation –
“Tour times have not been
finalized, but all tours will be as close to mid-day as tides allow. Ticket
prices are also still up in the air…the DRBLHF hopes to be able to hold
ticket prices to last year’s level but increases in the cost of launch
transportation brought on by spiraling fuel costs makes this goal difficult.
All tours will leave from the Lewes Ferry Terminal finger pier and are
subject to weather conditions and the judgment of the launch captain as to
docking safety.”
For more information contact:
Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation
P.O. Box 708
Lewes, DE 19958
Phone: (302) 644-7046
www.delawarebaylights.org
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