LIGHTSHIP No. 101, PORTSMOUTH
Also known as: Lightship # 101; Wal 524; Cape Charles; Relief; Overfalls; Stoneh
Why it's listed
Lightship No. 101, now called Portsmouth, is a steel-hulled vessel built in 1916 by Pusey and Jones of Wilmington, Delaware. She measured 101 feet in length and carried a crew of 11. Over her career she marked the entrance to Chesapeake Bay off Cape Charles, served at the Overfalls station at the Delaware Bay breakwater, and later worked Nantucket-area stations under the names Relief, Stonehorse and Cross Rip. She was the first lightship built with a single light tower amidships, and her design reflected Lighthouse Establishment advances such as metal hulls, steam power and a bow hawsepipe placed to carry strain to the strongest part of the hull. After retirement she became a museum in Portsmouth, where the city owns her. Original fittings survive, including the bell dated 1916, the wheel, telegraphs and a steam windlass. She is regarded as one of a few preserved American lightships, a type once essential to coastal navigation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of a small number of preserved historic American lightships. It served on at least five stations guiding vessels into Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay and Nantucket Bay. It also retains remarkable integrity and reflects improvements in lightship design, including being the first lightship built with a single light tower amidships.
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 89001080, listed May 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | London Slip, Elizabeth River, Portsmouth (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Portsmouth |
| Listed | May 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001080 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1916-1964 |
| Architect / builder | U.S. Lighthouse Establishment / Pusey and Jones, Wilmington, Delaware |
| Architectural style | Architecture (Naval) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 5, 1989 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Fully restored to her early 1920s appearance, in excellent condition, open to the public as a museum and still listed as an active aid to navigation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.83701, -76.29623 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89001080.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890709
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.