Nansemond River Lighthouse

Structure: Nansemond River Lighthouse once marked the entrance to its namesake river, situated off Pig Point on the eastern side, within Suffolk City. Operational from 1878 until 1935, it guided vessels navigating these waters, ensuring safe passage into and out of the bustling port areas. The lighthouse played a crucial role for nearly six decades, a familiar sight for mariners traversing the river's currents. Over time, the original structure was decommissioned, a common fate for many older aids to navigation as technology and shipping routes evolved. It was subsequently replaced by a more modern skeletal tower. However, even that replacement proved temporary; its platform has since been completely removed, leaving no trace of a light at this historically significant location. Today, the waters off Pig Point, once illuminated by this vital aid, are dark, a quiet testament to the changing needs of maritime navigation and the impermanence of even the most steadfast structures. The physical presence of the lighthouse is gone, making it impossible for people to visit the site of the former light, but its story remains a part of the region's rich maritime heritage.

Significant events: initially replaced by a skeletal tower, platform removed