Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2001

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse is located within Fort Constitution in New Castle, NH.

The station was established in 1771 and was the 10th of 11 light stations established prior to the American Revolution. The first tower was a shingled wooden structure with an iron lantern and copper roof. Its light source was three copper oil lamps.

The first tower was replaced in 1804 by an 80-foot octagonal wooden tower approximately 100 yards east of the 1771 tower. In 1851, twenty years after the establishment of Whaleback Lighthouse, the tower was shortened to 55 feet. Three years later, in 1854, the tower was fitted with a Fourth Order Fresnel Lens.

In 1878, a new 48-foot cast-iron, brick-lined lighthouse tower was erected on the same foundation as the 1804 tower. When the new tower was completed, the surrounding remains of the 1804 tower were removed.

The current light is a fixed green signal that is visible for 12 nautical miles. The light is made green by an acrylic cylinder that surrounds the lens.

Other structures at the light station that are still standing are the 1903 oil house (restored in 2004) and the 1872 keeper's house (currently United States Coast Guard offices).

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2001

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Oct 2001

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Nov 2001

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Nov 2001

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Aug 2002

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2002

Part of five lighthouses tour on the M/V Thomas Laighton

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2007

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2007

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2007

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2007

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Sept 2007

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, July 2010

Whaleback Light visible in back

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, July 2010

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, July 2010

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, July 2010

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, July 2010

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, July 2016

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse is located within Fort Constitution in New Castle, New Hampshire, USA.

The station was established in 1771 and was the 10th of 11 light stations established prior to the American Revolution. The first tower was a shingled wooden structure with an iron lantern and copper roof. Its light source was three copper oil lamps.

The first tower was replaced in 1804 by an 80-foot octagonal wooden tower approximately 100 yards east of the 1771 tower. In 1851, twenty years after the establishment of Whaleback Lighthouse, the tower was shortened to 55 feet. Three years later, in 1854, the tower was fitted with a Fourth Order Fresnel Lens.

In 1878, a new 48-foot cast-iron, brick-lined lighthouse tower was erected on the same foundation as the 1804 tower. When the new tower was completed, the surrounding remains of the 1804 tower were removed.

Photo 77

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse

July 2016

Photo 90

Top of lighthouse, lens

July 2016

Photo 95

Top of lighthouse, lens

July 2016

Photo 96