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Lightships were started in 1820 as a portable lighthouse to be used as a navigational aid for ships near the coast. The Lightship Portsmouth was constructed in 1915 and served for almost five decades off the Virginia, Delaware, and Massachusetts coasts. The ship was retired in 1964 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. The ship is now a museum depicting the quarters of the ship crew, and unique artifacts related to the ship’s time in service.

Water and London Streets, Portsmouth, Virginia, 23704, Phone: 757-393-8591

Lightship Portsmouth Museum
© Sara Eser/stock.adobe.com

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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