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United States lightship Portsmouth (LV-101)
Encyclopedia
The United States Lightship 101, known as the Portsmouth, was first stationed at Cape Charles, Virginia
. Today the vessel is at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
in Portsmouth, Virginia
. Portsmouth never had a lightship station, however when the vessel was dry docked there as a museum, it took on the pseudo
-name, Portsmouth.
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 dock
ed 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.
Cape Charles, Virginia
Cape Charles is a town in Northampton County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,134 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cape Charles is located at ....
. Today the vessel is at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and the associated Lightship Museum are located at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. The shipyard is America's oldest and largest naval shipyard, located on the Portsmouth Waterfront...
in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
. Portsmouth never had a lightship station, however when the vessel was dry docked there as a museum, it took on the pseudo
Pseudo
The prefix pseudo- is used to mark something as false, fraudulent, or pretending to be something it is not.-See also:*Falsehood*Pseudorealism*Deception*Mimicry*Pseudo.com*Pseudo: Blood of Our Own...
-name, Portsmouth.
History
Lightship Portsmouth (LV-101) was built in 1915 by Pusey & Jones. It first served as the Charles in the Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
outside of Cape Charles, Virginia
Cape Charles (headland)
Cape Charles is a headland, or cape, in Northampton County, Virginia. Located at the southern tip of Northampton County, it forms the northern side of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay....
, 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
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, where it was station from 1926 to 1951 as the Overfalls. In 1939 when the United States Lighthouse Service
United States Lighthouse Service
The United States Lighthouse Service, also known as the Bureau of Lighthouses, was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States from the time of its creation in 1910 until 1939...
was absorbed into the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
it became WAL 524, but still kept a station name on its hull. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the vessel was not armed
Armed
Armed was an American Thoroughbred gelding race horse. He was sired by the great stakes winner Bull Lea, which made him a half-brother to Citation...
, however many other lightships were. In 1951 LV-101/WAL 524 was reassigned to Stonehorse Shoal, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where it served until decommissioned
Ship decommissioning
To decommission a ship is to terminate her career in service in the armed forces of her nation. A somber occasion, it has little of the elaborate ceremony of ship commissioning, but carries significant tradition....
in 1963. The lightship then sat in harbor at Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, until its fate had been decided.
On September 3, 1964 LV-101 was donated to the City of Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, and became a part of Naval Shipyard Museum. The vessel was dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
ed 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
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and can still be visited today. It is $
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
3 to go into the hull of the vessel and on the same ticket visit the Naval Shipyard Museum a block down the road.
Name and station assignments
- Charles, Cape Charles, Virginia (1916–24)
- Relief, Relief 5th District (1925–26)
- Overfalls, Overfalls, Delaware (1926–51)
- Stonehorse Shoal, Stonehorse Shoal, Massachusetts (1951–63)
Other lightships of Chesapeake Bay
- Lightship Chesapeake
- Lightship Overfalls