National Register of Historic Places
Bellevue Range Rear Light Station
Wilmington vicinity, New Castle County, Delaware
The record
- Listed
- April 26, 2006
- Type
- Structure
- Address
- Christina River N side, 0.3 mi. W of Delaware R, 50 ft. S of Cherry Island, Wilmington vicinity
- County
- New Castle
- State
- Delaware
- Period of significance
- 1900 to 1974
- Contributing resources
- 1 structure
- Coordinates
- 39.72228, -75.51710
- Reference number
- 06000313
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesUSGS Historical Topographic Map CollectionDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesUSGS Historical Topographic Map Collection
The story
Written by AI from this property's National Register nomination and the record above; every sentence is checked against its sources before it appears here. Corrections: privacy@treealive.com
The Bellevue Range Rear Light Station is a lighthouse on the north side of the Christina River, near Wilmington in New Castle County. It was built in 1909, with the U.S. Lighthouse Board as architect.
Why it's listed
It was listed under criteria A and C with consideration B, and has local-level significance in maritime history, transportation, architecture and engineering. Its period of significance runs from 1909 to 1955, reflecting its 1909 construction.
Physical character
The tower rises as a pyramidal skeletal structure on nine octagonal concrete piers, topped by a cylindrical light tower with a spiral staircase and metal catwalk. Its walls and roof are cast iron on a concrete foundation, and its cast iron and glass lantern holds a Fresnel lens above the watch room.
Historical context
Congress authorized the Bellevue Range Lights in 1906, and the War Department approved siting the front light on the bulkhead and the rear light beside the jetty in 1907. Its optic was first lighted on March 15, 1909, after the Fresnel lens arrived that January, letting the Christiana Light and Edgemoor Beacon be discontinued. Resident keepers ran it from 1909 until automation in 1934, and in 2001 a new beacon was lighted and this 1909 lighthouse was deactivated.