Portsmouth Lightship LV-101
Portsmouth, VA

History:
Lightship Portsmouth (LV-101) was built in 1915 by Pusey & Jones. It first served as the Charles in the Chesapeake Bay outside of Cape Charles, Virginia, from 1916 until 1924. After that assignment LV-101 served just over a year as the relief ship for other lightships in its district. It was then moved to Overfalls, Delaware, where it was station from 1926 to 1951 as the Overfalls. In 1939 when the United States Lighthouse Service was absorbed into the United States Coast Guard it became WAL 524, but still kept a station name on its hull. During World War II the vessel was not armed, however many other lightships were. In 1951 LV-101/WAL 524 was reassigned to Stonehorse Shoal, Massachusetts, where it served until decommissioned in 1963. The lightship then sat in harbor at Portland, Maine, until its fate had been decided.

On September 3, 1964 LV-101 was donated to the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, and became a part of Naval Shipyard Museum. The vessel was dry docked at the London Pier in Portsmouth. Today LV-101 is named Portsmouth, although it was never stationed there it has taken on the city's name. In 1989, the Lightship was designated a National Historic Landmark and can still be visited today. It is $3 to go into the hull of the vessel and on the same ticket visit the Naval Shipyard Museum a block down the road.

Source: Wikipedia

Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Both museums are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

See The Lightship Museum website for more information.

Latitude/Longitude: 36.83702, -76.29611

Nearest Address: 475 Water St, Portsmouth, VA

• Take I-264 east into Portsmouth
• Take exit 7B for VA-141 N/Effingham St toward Crawford St
• Keep left at the fork and merge onto Pavilion Dr
• In 0.5 miles turn right onto Bart St.
• Enter the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Crawford St
• In 0.4 miles turn right onto London St.
• At the end of the street turn left onto Water St. The Lightship Museum will be ahead on your right.

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