White Shoal Lighthouse
Location & Light Range
About White Shoal Lighthouse
Established in 1855, the White Shoal Lighthouse was located in the James River, about 2.5 miles west of the James River Bridge near Newport News. It guided ships navigating the waterway and warned them of the submerged White Shoal. The lighthouse served for nearly 80 years before its light was extinguished in 1934. The structure remained for some time but was destroyed by a severe ice event in the 1970s.
Why it matters: The lighthouse was essential for safe passage in a key shipping channel off Newport News, marking the hazard of White Shoal.
Light & Optic
- Flash Type
- Flashing
- Light Color
- White
- Interval
- 4s
- Raw Code
- Fl W 4s
- Focal Height
- 38m
- Geographic Range
- 16.7NM
Construction & History
- Year Built
- 1855
Significant events: discontinued in 1934, destroyed by ice in the 1970s
References & Identifiers
- Nearest Port
- Brevort(10.9 km)
- ARLHS No.
- USA-996
- Wikipedia
- Read on Wikipedia →
- Wikidata
- Q7995386 →
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
Tower & Structure
Structure: White Shoal Lighthouse, established in 1855, once stood near the heart of the James River, just off Newport News. Positioned approximately 2.5 miles west of the James River Bridge, it served as a crucial aid to navigation in this busy waterway, guiding vessels through the river's currents and around the treacherous White Shoal. For nearly eight decades, its light was a familiar sight to mariners navigating the vital shipping lanes of the James. However, its operational life concluded in 1934, and the light was extinguished, marking the end of an era for this riverine sentinel. The abandoned structure, a silent witness to countless passing ships and the ebb and flow of river commerce, endured for several more decades. Yet, the unforgiving forces of nature ultimately claimed it. In the 1970s, a severe ice event, a common hazard in these waters, completely destroyed the lighthouse, leaving no trace of its former presence. Today, the shoal remains unmarked by a light, a stark reminder of the river's changing landscape and the impermanence of even the most steadfast navigational aids that once dotted its waters.
Location
- Country
- 🇺🇸United States
- Region
- Michigan
- Sea Region
- near the center of the James River off Newport News, about 2.5 mi (4 km) west of the James River Bridge (US 17), marking White Shoal
- Latitude
- 45.8500°
- Longitude
- -85.1333°
Nearby Vessels
White Shoal Deniz Feneri'ni canlı deniz haritasında bulun
United States yakınlarında sefer planlayın, yakındaki gemileri gerçek zamanlı görün ve uygulamada 14.900'den fazla seyir yardımcısını keşfedin.