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Turtle Rock Lighthouse

🇺🇸Southeastern Pennsylvania, USInactive

Location & Light Range

About Turtle Rock Lighthouse

Constructed in 1887 by Frank Thurwanger, the Turtle Rock Lighthouse originally served to guide vessels along the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia. The tower stands 9.1 meters tall with a focal height of 9 meters. Its design features a hexagonal lantern room that is accessed by an octagonal walkway. Initially powered by gas, the light was electrified in 1990. This refurbishment also included repainting the structure and replacing the wooden balustrade and newel posts. The lighthouse was built on land west of Boathouse Row at a cost of $2,663.

Why it matters: This structure is recognized as a contributing property to the Turtle Rock National Register of Historic Places listing.

Background
The Lighthouse on Turtle Rock is a lighthouse built in 1887 to aid traffic on the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The lighthouse was constructed by Frank Thurwanger at a cost of $2,663 on an area of land just west of Boathouse Row. The lighthouse has a hexagonal lantern room with an octagonal walkway. Gas was first used to power the light, but in 1990, when the lighthouse was repainted and received a new wooden balustrade and newel posts, the beacon was electrified.

Light & Optic

Flash Count
1 flash
Focal Height
9m

Construction & History

Year Built
1887
Heritage Status
National Register of Historic Places contributing property

References & Identifiers

Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q7856452 →
OpenStreetMap
View on OSM →

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
9.1m

Location

City
Southeastern Pennsylvania
Country
🇺🇸US
Latitude
39.9699°
Longitude
-75.1899°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does Turtle Rock Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Turtle Rock Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Camden at 3.3 NM to the SE. Other ports served include Philadelphia (3.8 NM SSE), Wynnewood (4 NM WNW), Port Richmond (4.5 NM E), Gloucester City (4.9 NM SE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Turtle Rock Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Turtle Rock Lighthouse is currently listed as inactive. It may have been decommissioned, replaced by a different navigation aid, or temporarily taken out of service. Mariners should check the latest Notices to Mariners for current status.
What shipping routes pass near Turtle Rock Lighthouse?+
Turtle Rock Lighthouse is located within the US East Coast shipping lane — a major shipping corridor serving ports along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Turtle Rock Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Turtle Rock Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.