Range Lights

Purpose: Range lighthouses are used in pairs. Each one of the pair supports a light at different heights. When the two lights are aligned, one is in the channel.

In the early 1800’s, five sets of range lights were proposed to guide vessels into port of Baltimore.

- North Point

- Brewerton

- Craighill Upper

- Craighill Lower

- fifth set never built

In 1819, funds were appropriated to build three lighthouses, one on the Bodkin and 2 on North Point at the mouth of the Patapsco.

Originally, two whitewashed masonry towers, the North Point lights were completed in1822.

When the two North Point lights lined up, mariners knew they were heading directly into the mouth of the river.
The range lights were built before a channel was dredged.
They were built poorly, maintained poorly and eventually discontinued in 1873 after the construction of the Craighill Channel Range Lights and left to deteriorate.

In 1868, the Brewerton Channel lights were lighted and put into service.

One on Leading Point (rear), the other at Hawkins Point (front).
Leading Point was a lighthouse with a keeper’s house until 1924 when it became the skeleton pipe tower that it is today.
Both lighthouse sustained damage in 1913 when the Alum Chine exploded not far from Hawkins Point Lighthouse
Hawkins Point was a rectangular screwpile structure until 1924 when an automatic light was installed on the old foundation. Today, it is a yellow beacon with solar panels in the water off of Ft. Armistead.

Craighill Channel Range Lights

Craighill Channel cuts roughly five miles off the southern approach to Baltimore, entering Brewerton Channel (the main Patapsco River / Baltimore channel). As a major segment of the approach to the commercial ports of Baltimore this was a very important channel and the need to use it at night was acutely felt. The Craighill Channel range lighthouses are really two separate sets of lights built a bit over ten years apart. The existence of four lights with the same name creates a certain amount of confusion. The lower range lights, although further north, mark the lower end, or beginning, of the channel while the upper range lights are further south. When the second set of lights come into line, a ship turns into the upper end of the channel. All four of these lights are still active navigational aids.

Craighill Channel Lower Range Front & Rear

Rear light – Pyramidal iron frame surrounding a plate-encased stairway leading to double-decked lantern. Front light – caisson with circular dwelling / tower.

Craighill Channel Upper Range Front & Rear

Rear – pyramidal iron skeleton supporting a square shaft leading to the lantern. Front – brick octagonal tower.

Timeline

In 1870, there was major dredging and enlarging of the Craighill Channel

In 1874, the lower range front light was built.

2nd oldest caisson lighthouse and 2nd oldest sparkplug tower.
Located 2.4 miles south of the rear light.

In 1875, the lower range rear light was built.

It had a temporary light in 1873 while the tower was being constructed
It’s the tallest lighthouse in MD

In 1886, Craighill Channel Upper Range Lights, also known as the Craighill Channel Cut, were constructed and lit.

The rear light is located on mainland 1.5 miles NNW from front light
The front light of the Craighill Channel upper range sits upon the foundation of the earlier North Point Light.

Ft. McHenry Range Lights

Fort McHenry Channel Range Front Light: First lit in 1913, and rebuilt in 1934
Fort McHenry Channel Range Rear Light: First lit in 1934, and rebuilt in 1963 and 2011
Picture credits: Greg Krawczyk (pronounced Kraw-chick)

Other Navigational Aids to the Baltimore Approach

Baltimore Light at the mouth of Magothy River marks the south entrance to the Baltimore channel.

Bodkin Point Light was discontinued and is now marked by Seven Foot Knoll