Lewes, Delaware has many historic callouts and claims to fame. Not only is it renowned for being “The First Town in the First State,” but it also happens to be home to an array of antiquated buildings, heritage sites, and nautical novelties. For instance, the ever-popular Cape May-Lewes Ferry is one of the town’s most boast-worthy boating highlights, but there is another one to discover here as well—Lightship Overfalls.
A permanently docked vessel spanning close to 115 feet in length, perhaps you’ve even seen it before from afar at Canalfront Park—distinguishable by large white lettering that reads “OVERFALLS” on the side. Yet this still doesn’t shed any light on the now-stagnant ship or offer any insight into its unique backstory. That’s why, in this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m offering a brief recounting of the lesser-known story behind Lightship Overfalls.
Some General Lightship History
Most folks today have a pretty good sense of what a lighthouse is. What is perhaps less familiar, however, is the concept of a lightship. Alternately known as “lightvessels,” lightships were more or less large boats stationed out in the water, serving the same primary purpose as their lighthouse counterparts on the shore. The earliest forms of lightships/lightvessels can be traced back to Ancient Roman times when fire beacons were placed on ships. But the very first modern incarnation of such came about in the 1730s, invented by David Avery and Robert Hamblin and placed at the mouth of the Thames River in London, England.
Lightships first appeared in American maritime history starting in 1820, when the United States commissioned them. Their first presence was in the Chesapeake Bay, although their variability grew to 56 different locations by 1909. Eventually, there would be a grand total of 179 lightships built to serve 116 different coastal light stations across the United States, including those on the Great Lakes.
The very first American lightships were smaller, made out of wood, and lacked propelling power. Most vessels, however, were eventually built to exceed 400 tons with a capacity to travel at an average speed of just over 10 miles per hour. Because their primary function was to signal incoming ships to avoid trepid areas, lightships would transmit beams of light from a beacon situated atop a 30-foot mast. They also sounded loud, carrying foghorns in the event of reduced visibility and/or inclement weather.
Life on a Lightship
Lightships were typically manned by crews of around 14, who were sent several miles offshore to their assigned water locations. The duration of their duties usually lasted two weeks at a time, and life onboard was rough with men living in cramped and confined quarters and often exposed to the harsh elements of torrential sea weather. It was a perilous profession, to say the least, and many lost their lives. In some instances, entire lightships were even lost at sea.
The Story of the Overfalls
Of all the United States lightships ever established, one in particular stands out—the Lightship Overfalls. Originally known as “LV-118,” it was the very last lightship ever constructed under the United States Lighthouse Service. Built in Maine to replace the hurricane-damaged LV-44, LV-118 was launched on June 4, 1938, and commissioned on September 11 that same year. Following the Lighthouse Service’s merger with the United States Coast Guard, it was renumbered “WAL-539” in 1939.
Oddly enough, the LV-118/ WAL-539 never actually served at the Overfalls Station with which it is now synonymous. It did, however, serve at various other locations before its decommissioning in 1972. These stations included Cornfield Point (Connecticut) between 1938 and 1957, Cross Rip (Massachusetts) from 1958 to 1962, and Boston (Massachusetts) between 1962 and the early 1970s. On one other interesting note, unlike many of the lightships that were around during the World War II era, WAL-539 stayed put and stationed throughout the fighting.
Retirement and Restoration
After sustaining significant storm damage in December 1970, the lightship was officially decommissioned on November 7, 1972. In 1973 the United States Coast Guard donated it to the Lewes Historical Society in Delaware. It was to be put on display at the historic Overfalls Station—the very last active station in Delaware waters, which ended all operations in 1961. Again, this ship never served at the Overfalls Station but was painted over with the words “Overfalls” and made into a display model for a traditional lightship.
Despite the best attempts at preserving it, the ship’s condition continued to deteriorate over the years. But with the approach of the 21st century, it found new life and promise, with the formation of the Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation. They ended up taking the wheel in further maintenance and restoration efforts and the eventual founding of what would go on to become the Overfalls Lightship Maritime Museum.
Housed within the old ship, the museum is open to the public seasonally on weekends throughout the summer months. Off-season touring can be arranged privately, and there are some special events held here even when the museum is not in regular operation.
Led entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers, the objective of the Overfalls Lightship Maritime Museum is to both honor Lightship history, and to educate folks on their legacy and the fascinating function they once served. Museum visits welcome guests to tour above and below decks, hear real-life stories, discover the Delaware Maritime Hall of Fame, and more. There’s even an awesome onsite store to check out, laden with books, memorabilia, clothing, jewelry, artwork, and other great finds.
The Overfalls Lightship—now the Overfalls Lightship Maritime Museum—is an incredible site to visit. It doubles as a timeless maritime marvel and a one-of-a-kind gateway to the past.
You will find the Overfalls Lightship Maritime Museum permanently docked at Canalfront Park at 219 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delaware 19958. To learn more, go to the website at www.overfalls.org.