Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse-A Look Back and Forward

The Harbor of Refuge Light is a lighthouse built on the ocean end of the outer Delaware Breakwater at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, just off Cape Henlopen. It was built to function with the Delaware Breakwater East End Light in order to mark the National Harbor of Refuge.

On November 15, 1926, the new Harbor of Refuge light was established. This new cast-iron structure was designed to endure the most intense of Atlantic storms. The current structure of 76 feet (23 m) is a white, conical tower with a black lantern. The house itself lies on a cast-iron caisson which is built into the breakwater. The pier of the tower is lined inside with reinforced concrete, while the interior of the tower is lined with brick. All of this rests on a block of concrete within the breakwater. Originally, the tower was equipped with a four-panel fourth order Fresnel lens that flashed every 10 seconds at a 72-foot (22 m) focal point. The lens revolved on ball bearings and was driven by a clockwork mechanism driven by weights within a hollow central iron column.

On September 12, at 7 pm the Rehoboth Beach Museum will host Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse Past and Future. The Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation is an all-volunteer organization that is the caretaker of the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse. Learn about the history of the lighthouse and the restoration work being done.

Space may be limited so reservations are required. Please call (302) 227-7310 to insure your space. The program is free for members. A $5 donation is suggested for non-members. The Museum is located at 511 Rehoboth Avenue. There is free parking and the museum is handicap accessible.

Further information on this, and other programs of interest, can be found on the museum website www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org.