First lit
1859
The lamp first shone on August 1
Fenwick Island, Delaware
The Fenwick Island Lighthouse
Visit the 1859 light station at the Delaware–Maryland line, learn how its lens guided mariners, and plan around the current seasonal schedule.
Fenwick Island Light Station, first lit August 1, 1859Photo: Sydchrismom / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
At the state line
146th St.
Near the Transpeninsular Marker
Visitor access
Seasonal
Published hours vary by month
Tower height
87 feet
A working light and museum
A light at the line
Built to keep mariners clear of Fenwick Shoals
In the mid-nineteenth century, shipwrecks near Fenwick Shoals—about six miles offshore—prompted the United States Lighthouse Board to recommend a station. Congress authorized the project in 1856, and the lamp was first lit three years later.
The station was placed just feet from the Transpeninsular Marker, the historic point that defines the Delaware–Maryland boundary. The location still gives the lighthouse a special role: it is both a maritime landmark and an easy orientation point when you are exploring the southern end of Fenwick Island.
Before you go
Plan around the light station's seasonal hours
The New Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse publish a month-by-month schedule. The State of Delaware does not allow climbing, and the site closes on rainy days.
Summer 2026
Visiting hours
| Dates | Days | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1–May 31 | Saturday & Sunday | 9 a.m.–noon | Closed Easter Sunday |
| Memorial Day weekend | Saturday & Sunday | 9 a.m.–noon | — |
| June 1–30 | Friday–Sunday | 9 a.m.–noon | — |
| July 1–August 31 | Thursday–Monday | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | — |
| September 1–30 | Friday–Sunday | 9 a.m.–noon | — |
| October 1–30 | Saturday & Sunday | 9 a.m.–noon | — |
| November 1–April 1 | Closed | — | — |
Information checked August 2, 2026. Seasonal access and weather closures can change; posted signs and official updates take precedence.
Look closer
Small details make the station memorable
Even without a tower climb, the light station rewards a slower look at its construction, lens and place in the landscape.
Detail 01
A tower within a tower
The 87-foot structure has a conical outer brick tower and an inner brick cylinder. That unusual construction is part of what makes the station distinctive.
Detail 02
A lens still at work
The official history identifies the present optic as the original third-order Fresnel lens, returned to service after the light was restored.
Detail 03
A boundary landmark
The light station sits just feet from the Transpeninsular Marker, the historic point that defines the Delaware–Maryland state line.
1856
A light for Fenwick Shoals
After shipwrecks near the shoals, the United States Lighthouse Board recommended a station. Congress authorized $25,000 for the project.
1859
The lamp begins to shine
The station was completed and its lamp was first lit on August 1. The original third-order Fresnel lens focused the beam far out over the ocean.
1978–1982
Dark, then lit again
The Coast Guard decommissioned the light in 1978. After local advocacy, the station passed to Delaware and was relit with electricity in 1982.
Quick answers
Fenwick Lighthouse FAQs
The essentials for deciding when to stop, what you can see and how to make the lighthouse part of a Fenwick Island day.
Can visitors climb the lighthouse?
No. The current official visiting-hours page says the State of Delaware does not allow climbing. Visitors should plan for a ground-level historic stop rather than a tower climb.
When is the lighthouse open?
The station publishes seasonal visiting hours from April through October. The schedule changes by month, and the site says it closes on rainy days, so check the official page before traveling.
Where is the Fenwick Island Lighthouse?
The lighthouse is at 146th Street in Fenwick Island, Delaware, close to the Transpeninsular Marker and the Delaware–Maryland line.
Is the lighthouse still a working light?
Yes. The official history lists the light as operational and describes the current use as a museum and private aid to navigation. Its beam was historically visible about 15 miles out to sea.
Keep exploring
Build a Fenwick Island history day
Connect the lighthouse with beaches, bays, shipwreck stories and the places that make Fenwick easy to linger in.
Fenwick Island
Find beach access, town rules, local shops and places to eat.
ExploreFenwick Island State Park
Pair lighthouse history with ocean beach, bay access and trails.
ExploreDiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum
Keep the maritime-history theme going with shipwreck artifacts.
ExploreMore coastal sightseeing
Explore lighthouses, boardwalks and landmarks across Delmarva.
ExploreRead the official lighthouse history for the keeper, lens and light-station story. Information and hours were reviewed August 2, 2026.