Baltimore Lighthouse

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Baltimore Lighthouse

(Chesapeake Bay, Maryland - Entrance to the Baltimore Channel at the mouth of the Magothy River)

Located to mark the entrance to the Baltimore channel at the mouth of the Magothy River, the Baltimore Lighthouse was completed in 1908. It is one of only four Chesapeake Bay lighthouses to have been built in the 20^th century.

The lighthouse project began in 1890 when the Lighthouse Board requested from Congress funding of $60,000 dollars for the construction a light at the entrance to the Baltimore channel. Congress approved the request on August 18, 1894.

After the initial request for funding was approved a more detailed examination of the site was undertaken and it was quickly realized that more money would be required. Borings made at the site revealed that there was a layer of soft mud 55 feet below the surface of the shoal. The caisson would have to penetrate this layer and be anchored in the firmer sand below it. An additional $60,000 was requested and this was approved in 1902.

Because of the foreseen difficulty of the construction, it was very difficult to get people to bid on the project. After two attempts at getting bidders to respond, the contract was finally given to William H. Flaherty. The materials were gathered and partially assembled at Lazaretto Point Depot, then towed to the site and lowered to the bottom. Troubles began as heavy seas caused the caisson to tilt while it was being positioned. Then a storm came and pushed it over completely so that it was laying on its side. At this point, the contractor ceased work and never returned to the site.

In the fall of 1905 construction resumed under the guidance of the insurance company - U. S. Fidelity and Guaranty Co. A pier was built around the sunken caisson to hold worker housing, and the huge amount of machinery needed to right the structure. By 1907 the cylinder had been up righted and work progressed. The lighthouse was completed in 1908.

When completed, the caisson stood 82 feet below sea level. It was the tallest caisson lighthouse in the world at the time. A 38-foot brick dwelling and light tower was built on top of the caisson base and the light was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The focal height above mean high water was 52 feet. Typical of many of the Chesapeake Bay lighthouses, an outhouse was fastened to the outside edge of the caisson base. The lighthouse was officially commissioned on October 1, 1908.

In 1923 a fog horn was installed, replacing the older fog bell and later that same year the light was electrified. It is current lit using a 300 millimeter solar powered lamp. The characteristic is a flashing white light at 2.5 second intervals with a red sector from 82 to 150 degrees.

In May of 1964 the Baltimore Light was fully automated and became the first atomic powered lighthouse in the world. A small atomic reactor about the size of a 55-gallon oil drum was installed. It had been developed by the Martin Company in a joint effort with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Atomic Energy Commission. It was designed to supply continuous electricity for 10 years without being refueled, however, it was only in the experimental stage and was removed after only about a year.

Directions: Being out in the Chesapeake Bay, the Baltimore Light is best viewed by boat.

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All pictures are the original work of Rick Totton and are protected under copyright laws.

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