Fenwick Island Lighthouse | Fenwick Island

A Beacon of Delaware’s Maritime Heritage
The Fenwick Island Lighthouse stands at the southern tip of Delaware, marking the boundary between Delaware and Maryland and guiding mariners along the Atlantic coast for over 170 years. Built in 1858, this historic lighthouse is one of the oldest on the Delmarva Peninsula. Its white conical tower, modest in height but rich in character, remains a proud symbol of Delaware’s seafaring past and the coastal communities that grew around safe navigation and maritime trade.

History and Significance
Constructed during a period of rapid shipping expansion, the Fenwick Island Lighthouse served to warn vessels of the shifting shoals and treacherous coastline that had claimed countless ships over the centuries. Standing 87 feet tall and originally lit by a third-order Fresnel lens, it guided ships traveling between the Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay routes. The light was electrified in 1932 and continued operation until 1978, when it was decommissioned and fell briefly into disrepair. Local residents later rallied to restore it, preserving not only the tower but also its legacy as a guardian of the coast.

Restoration and Preservation
The Friends of Fenwick Island Lighthouse, a community organization, spearheaded the restoration in the 1980s and 1990s, repainting the structure and reopening it to the public. Adjacent to the lighthouse, the original keeper’s dwelling-though privately owned-still stands, offering a glimpse of the daily life once tied to the tower. The lighthouse grounds feature interpretive panels detailing its construction, the evolution of lighthouse technology, and stories from keepers who maintained the light through harsh storms and isolation.

Visitor Experience
Today, the Fenwick Island Lighthouse is open seasonally for tours and special events. Visitors can walk the surrounding grounds year-round and enjoy close-up views of the lantern room and tower base. Though climbing the interior is limited, the experience captures the timeless atmosphere of coastal navigation, with the ocean breeze and nearby sound of waves completing the setting. A small gift shop and visitor center offer historical displays and photographs tracing the lighthouse’s long service to Delaware’s mariners.

Enduring Symbol of the Coast
The Fenwick Island Lighthouse remains more than a navigational relic-it’s a living emblem of the region’s maritime heritage. Its clean white tower rising above the dunes continues to inspire admiration for the courage and perseverance of those who worked at sea. As one of the last active symbols marking Delaware’s southern boundary, it bridges the past and present, standing quietly against the horizon as a reminder that even in an age of satellites and GPS, the human need for lighthouses-both real and symbolic-endures.