Sen. Carper Commends the Lightship Overfalls National Historic Landmark Designation

WILMINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) celebrated the news that The Lightship Overfalls has been named a National Historic Landmark, the first in Sussex County.

The floating lighthouse was built in 1938 and was renamed when it came to Lewes, Del. to recognize the lightship station on Overfalls Shoals that marked the southern entrance to the Delaware Bay. For more than six years, Sen. Carper, along with the Lightship Overfalls Foundation, has been involved in The Lightship Overfalls Project, which through volunteer hours and federal, state and private foundation grants, has worked to maintain and restore the ship and have it designated a National Historic Landmark.

“The Lightship Overfalls is a historic gem in Delaware that has reached the important milestone of being named a National Historic Landmark, the first in Sussex County,” said Sen. Carper. “I encourage those interested in learning about our country’s rich maritime history to visit the ship, which is here today because of a joint-effort between federal and state governments, The Lightship Overfalls Foundation, and thousands of hours of work done by volunteers to overcome obstacles of a silt-filled slip and rotting hull to the beautiful ship it is today.”

The Lightship Overfalls joins 12 other National Historic Landmarks in Delaware. The Lightship Overfalls is docked in Lewes, on the south side of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal just off Pilottown Road.

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