The United States lightship ''Barnegat'' (LV-79/WAL-506), is located in
Camden,
Camden County,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, United States. The
lightship was built in 1904 and was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
on 29 November 1979.
History
''Barnegat'' was built in 1904 by the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden. The vessel served from 1904 to 1924 as the
lightship for Five Fathom Bank, which is located from the
Cape May Lighthouse.
The vessel was then used as a relief for the next two years. In 1927 the vessel was assigned to the
Barnegat Lighthouse
Barnegat Lighthouse or Barnegat Light, is a historic lighthouse located in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, in the borough of Barnegat Light, Ocean County, New Jersey on the south side of Barnegat Inl ...
station. In 1942 the vessel was withdrawn from the Barnegat station to serve as an
examination vessel
An examination vessel is a vessel used to inspect ships and boats entering a port during wartime.
An examination vessel would typically be responsible for examining and verifying all merchant ships and small craft entering or departing a port. T ...
at
Edgemoor, Delaware. ''Barnegat'' would inspect all vessels entering the
Delaware River until 1945.
The vessel returned to the Barnegat station, where it served until it was
decommissioned on 3 March 1967. ''Barnegat'' was then donated to the
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in
Saint Michaels, Maryland. The museum was unable to keep up with the maintenance of the vessel and sold the vessel to the Heritage Ship Guild in 1970 to be displayed at
Penn's Landing
Penn's Landing is a waterfront area of Center City Philadelphia along the Delaware River. Its name commemorates the landing of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania in 1682. The actual landing site is farther south in Chester, Pennsylvani ...
.
Status
''Barnegat'' is now docked at Pyne Poynt Marina in Camden. Attempts at maintenance and repair work were unsuccessful and the ship is considered to be in threat of loss due to deterioration. In early 2020, the Barnegat Light Historical Society purchased and removed the ship's bell from the deck with hopes of restoring and eventually displaying the bell somewhere in the vicinity of Barnegat Light. In June 2020, the restored bell was unveiled and put on permanent display at the Seventh Street bay side pavilion park in Barnegat Light.
See also
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Camden County, New Jersey
*
List of museum ships
References
External links
United States Lightship Barnegat LV-79at Abandoned
View of Barnegat LV 79/WAL 506via
Bing Maps
Buildings and structures in Camden, New Jersey
1904 ships
Lightships of the United States
Ships of the United States Lighthouse Service
Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey
National Register of Historic Places in Camden County, New Jersey
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Museum ships in New Jersey
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