Newport News Middle Ground Light Station
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Why it's listed
Rising from about 15 feet of water in Hampton Roads, this red cast-iron lighthouse was first lit on April 15, 1891, to guide vessels leaving the Newport News docks around the Middle Ground shoal. Its foundation is a wooden caisson topped by a 56-foot cast-iron cylinder filled with concrete. Above it sits a three-story conical tower and dwelling, a round watch room and a black octagonal lantern. Lighthouses of this shape are often called spark plugs. Congress appropriated $50,000 in 1888 for the work, and about 1,000 tons of riprap stone were placed around it to guard against current scour. The light was automated in 1954, struck by a ship in 1979, and later fitted with solar power. It is listed for its role in Chesapeake Bay maritime transportation and as the oldest caisson lighthouse in Virginia waters, a design similar to Maryland's Hooper Island Lighthouse. It still serves as an aid to navigation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is tied to federal efforts to build an integrated system of navigational aids for safe shipping in the Chesapeake Bay. It also embodies a distinctive caisson method of lighthouse construction typical of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is the oldest caisson lighthouse in Virginia waters.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 02001438, listed December 2, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Approx. 2 mi. SSE of Newport News, Newport News (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Newport News |
| Listed | December 2, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001438 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1891-1954 |
| Architect / builder | U.S. Lighthouse Board |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Maritime History, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned and managed by the U.S. Coast Guard; the light remains an active aid to navigation, automated in 1954 and powered by solar panels since 1986/87. A 1994 inspection found it in fair overall condition with some structural defects. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.94514, -76.39146 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 02001438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7018936
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.