LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOS
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Fort Washington Light - 5 September 1960
FORT WASHINGTON LIGHT STATION BELL FOG SIG. Looking NW - 100' from Bell Tower - 1912
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Fort Washington National Park, Maryland, USA
Designated Waterway: Potomac River
The Fort Washington Light in it's original location. The tower is located on the grounds of Fort Washington National Park, on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, across from Mount Vernon at approximately 38.7123 degrees North 77.0369 degrees West.
Fort Washington Light is an unusual lighthouse located on the banks of the Potomac River on the grounds of its namesake fort. Although there has been a lighthouse on this location since 1857, the current light was converted from a fog bell tower in 1901.
Fort Washington projects into the Potomac River where the river turns north, and in 1856 Jefferson Davis, in his capacity of Secretary of War, authorized the construction of a lighthouse on the fort property, to be maintained by post personnel. Minimal funds were appropriated, and in 1857 a lantern was hoisted on top of an 18 ½ ‘cast-iron pole. Almost immediately this light was found inadequate, and in 1870 a 16 foot replacement tower was constructed in Baltimore and erected on a site closer to the water. This tower had a sixth-order Fresnel lens.
In 1882 a wooden fog bell tower was erected, and in the following years a keeper's house and various other structures sprung up around the old tower, largely obscuring it. As the fort grew the gun batteries and pier blocked the light from the second tower. There were several complaints about the quality of the light.
Funds were requested to heighten the light tower, but the request was denied. In an effort to address concerns about the obscured light the 1901 the bell tower was modified to raise the height of the bell tower and a small automated fixed white light was installed. This was supposed to be a temporary fix, but a replacement tower was never built. In 1901 the tower built in 1870 was also torn down. Over the years the keepr's house, and the surrounding buildings were all also demolished. The tower is readily visible to visitors to the park in which it stands, though it is closed to public access.
In 1920 the fixed white light was changed to a fixed red light.
In 1954 the station became unmanned.
In 1970 the bell mechanism broke and was not repaired.
In 2005 the tower was turned over to the National Park Service.
Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.
| Location Type |
Onshore |
|
Construction Type |
Wood |
| Original Optics |
Sixth-order Fresnel lens |
| Current Optics |
|
| Year Built |
1857, Current tower constructed 1882 |
| Builder: |
Lazaretto Work Shop, Fog Bell Manufacturer: E. J. Codd Co., Baltimore, MD. |
| Operational: |
Yes |
| Date Deactivited: |
|
| Automated: |
Yes |
|
Markings: |
|
| Shape: |
Converted wooden pyramidal fog-bell tower with detached keepers dwelling |
| Height: |
28 feet |
| Focal
Plane Height: |
|
| Range: |
7 miles |
| Sound
Signal Building: |
Yes |
| Sound
Device: |
1400 Metal Bell with single blow every 15 seconds. |
| Existing
Keepers Quarters: |
Destroyed |
| Current
Use: |
Active ATON |
| Current
Owner/Manager: |
National Park Service |
| Open to
the Public: |
No |
| Web
Site: |
Fort Washington Light |
National Register Status:
Miscellaneous
The light marks a point on the Potomac River with Swan Creek on the north and the Piscataway Creek on the South.
Directions: From the intersection of I95/495 and Route 210 on the southern side of the Capital Beltway just east of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
Go South on Route 210 (Indian Head Highway) for 6,3 miles to the intersection with Fort Washington Road.
Turn right onto Fort Washington Road. There is a sign directing you to turn here for Fort Washington National Park.
Stay on Fort Washington Road and go two and a half miles to the park entrance. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. The lighthouse is off the main loop road (the first turn past the first parking lot). Take this right turn and wind down to the river. There is a parking area at the end of the road and then you have to walk the last few 100 yards to the light.
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