Oh, The Lighthouses You See from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry!
There are people who travel the country in an attempt to see all of the almost one thousand lighthouses still in existence in the U.S. Luckily, for them as well as the rest of us, there are three lighthouses not only in close proximity to the Ferry terminals, but in easy view during a regular crossing. Each of the three are distinctive from each other and clearly show the variety of lighthouse construction.
The Breakwater East End Lighthouse
When leaving Lewes, the first lighthouse you’ll spot is called The Breakwater, a reddish lighthouse which can be seen from the shore. Built in 1885, it separates the Delaware Bay on the breakwater rocks built to protect the Delaware coast from higher force waves. The lighthouse is formally known as the East End Lighthouse, but locals know it as The Breakwater likely because when having a swim in the calm waters of the Lewes beach, they know they have the breakwater platform for the Lighthouse to thank. The Cape May – Lewes Ferry passes close enough that you can make out the red iron tower without any zoom.
The Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse
The white Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse is a bit farther out at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, named because it was built to protect the maritime area known as the National Harbor of Refuge. Built in 1926, it was constructed to withstand the harshest of Atlantic storms if need be, and it has already survived several fierce hurricanes. Keep your camera ready as the ferry passes; the Harbor of Refuge is one of the most striking views of the entire crossing.
The Cape May Lighthouse
Finally, when coming into Cape May, passengers can spot the lean and tall Cape May Lighthouse. Located in Cape May Point State Park, it is the oldest and tallest of the three, built in 1859. Visitors to the park can climb the 199 steps to the top to get a spectacular view of the area all the way from Wildwood back to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. Cape May Point State Park is a short drive from the Cape May Ferry Terminal, making a Cape May Lighthouse tour a natural add-on to your crossing.
More Delaware Bay Lighthouses Worth Exploring
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry passes three of the most visited Delaware Bay lighthouses on every crossing, but several more historic structures mark the waters of this bay and the Delaware River channel that feeds into it. While none of these lighthouses are visible from the ferry route, each has its own place in the region’s maritime history.
Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse
The Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse stands roughly 11 miles offshore in Delaware Bay, east of Bowers Beach, Delaware. Built between 1885 and 1886 and first lit in 1886, it holds an important place in engineering history: it was the first lighthouse in the United States constructed using a pneumatic caisson foundation, a technique that allowed builders to excavate 23 feet below the seabed and fill the base with 2,000 cubic yards of concrete. The structure consists of a two-story keeper’s house topped by a 40-foot cast iron tower, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Because it sits far offshore, it is not visible from land, but it can be spotted on boat tours departing from Bowers Beach.
Reedy Island Rear Range Light
The Reedy Island Rear Range Light stands near Taylor’s Bridge, Delaware, on the Delaware River approximately two miles from the western riverbank. Built in 1910 as part of a channel dredging project, the 110-foot cast iron skeletal tower was designed to work in tandem with the front range light at Reedy Island to guide vessels through the turning point at Baker’s Shoal. The lighthouse was automated by the mid-1930s and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It remains an active aid to navigation today.
Bellevue Rear Range Light
The Bellevue Rear Range Light stands in Bellevue State Park near Wilmington, Delaware, along the western bank of the Delaware River. Like the Reedy Island Rear Range Light to the south, it was built to work as part of a paired range light system, helping ship captains align their vessels with the river channel. The lighthouse sits within the grounds of Bellevue State Park, making it one of the more accessible Delaware Bay area lighthouses for visitors in the northern part of the state.
The Liston Rear Range Light
The Liston Range Lights are a pair of lighthouses near Port Penn, Delaware, that together form the longest navigable range in the United States, spanning approximately 17 miles from near the Ship John Shoal Lighthouse in Delaware Bay to the rear tower inland. The front range light was first exhibited in 1877 and guided ships through the Delaware Bay and into the river channel above it. The rear range tower, standing 120 feet tall, remains the tallest lighthouse in Delaware and was built by the Kellogg Bridge Company of Buffalo, New York. Both lights were automated in 1976, and while the original front range structure is no longer an active aid to navigation, a modern metal tower now serves that function at the same site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lighthouses are there in Delaware?
Delaware has 23 lighthouses in total, spanning active structures and historical ones that are no longer in service. Several of the most recognizable sit along the Delaware Bay shoreline, including the Breakwater East End Lighthouse and the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse, both visible from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
How many lighthouses are on Delaware Bay?
Delaware Bay has roughly 15 active lighthouses, with an additional 13 that are historical or no longer in service. The exact count varies depending on whether nearby Delaware River range lights are included. Three of the most recognizable (Breakwater East End, Harbor of Refuge, and Cape May) are visible from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry during every crossing.
Which lighthouses can you see from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry?
Passengers on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry can spot three lighthouses during the crossing: the Breakwater East End Lighthouse near Lewes, the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse at the mouth of the bay, and the Cape May Lighthouse on the New Jersey shore as the ferry arrives. Each one is visible without any special equipment. For a closer look at the lighthouses from the water, you can book your crossing here.
What is the oldest lighthouse on Delaware Bay?
The Cape May Lighthouse, built in 1859, is the oldest of the three lighthouses visible from the Cape May – Lewes Ferry. It stands in Cape May Point State Park and remains open to the public. Visitors can climb its 199 steps for sweeping views of the bay and coastline.
Are there lighthouse tours on Delaware Bay?
Yes! There are several options for seeing Delaware Bay lighthouses up close. The Cape May Lighthouse is open for guided climbs through Cape May Point State Park. For the three lighthouses visible from the ferry route, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry crossing is itself the most accessible tour available.
View Iconic Delaware Bay Lighthouses from the Cape May - Lewes Ferry
Every crossing puts three historic lighthouses right in your sightline, no additional tour required. Book your trip on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and see the Breakwater East End, Harbor of Refuge, and Cape May Lighthouses for yourself today!
