The Breakwater East End Light Is The Most Famous Delaware Lighthouse

One of the most important waterways in the world is right here in Delaware. Cape Henlopen and the Delaware Bay lead up to the port of Philadelphia, which is one of our country’s busiest shipping ports. For decades, mariners and sailors have made their way between Cape May and Cape Henlopen, and a series of lighthouses that keep them safe up and down the coast. Delaware’s most famous lighthouse may be no longer be warning sailors of the dangers near the shores of Cape Henlopen, but it’s still one of the most recognizable landmarks on the East Coast.

Construction began on the Breakwater East End Light in 1885 and was quickly completed to help keep mariners safe. The original Fresnel lens is still in the tower today.

Flickr / m01229

For generations, the Breakwater East End Light was the most important lighthouse in Delaware. When the Harbor and Refuge Light was built, though, the importance of the East End Lighthouse was diminished.

Flickr / Mr. T in DC

Though it was decommissioned in 1996, this famous Delaware lighthouse has been preserved, protected, and restored.

Wikimedia Commons / Smallbones

It’s easily the most recognizable lighthouse in the state, and many of us consider it to be the most iconic landmark around.

Flickr / William Spinrad Jr.

Not only is the Breakwater East End Light the most photographed landmark in the First State, but it’s also one of the most photographed lighthouses on the East Coast.

Flickr / Kathy1006

History buffs, nature lovers, and anyone with a penchant for nautical decor falls in love with the lighthouse at first sight, and it’s in the perfect location to take a gorgeous seascape photo.

Flickr / Michele Dorsey Walfred

The silhouette of the most famous Delaware lighthouse is sure to be a familiar sight - this First State landmark has a place in our hearts and in our photo albums.

Wikimedia Commons / 57RRoberts

You can read more about the history of the Breakwater East End Light on the American Lighthouses website, right here.