Seen here are 1880 drawings of the Blackistone Island Lighthouse located on St. Clement’s Isla

Seen here are 1880 drawings of the Blackistone Island Lighthouse located on St. Clement’s Island on the Potomac River in Maryland. The structure was built in 1851 and was once a target of a Confederate raid during the Civil War meant to prevent the lighthouse from aiding Union forces. The raid took place in 1864 and resulted in the destruction of the lighthouse lens and confiscation of the oil used to light it. The lighthouse remained in operation and was later automated in 1932. In 1956 a fire destroyed the lighthouse resulting in its deactivation. The lighthouse was left to decay with no efforts to rebuild it. In 2008 a replica of the Blackistone Lighthouse was constructed as part of local community efforts to preserve St. Clement’s Island. Want to learn more about our holdings? You can also learn more by visiting NARA’s online catalog www.catalog.archives.gov or making an appointment to view our holdings at the National Archives at Philadelphia by calling (215) 305-2044 or emailing philadelphia.archives@nara.gov. Today’s post is written by Amy Carr, Digitization and Metadata Intern at the National Archives at Philadelphia. Citation: Blackistone Island Lighthouse Plans, Blackistone Island Lighthouse; Maryland, Blackistone Island Lighthouse; Light Station Tracings and Drawings; Bureau of Lighthouses; Fifth U.S. Coast Guard District; Record Group 26: Records of the U.S. Coast Guard; National Archives at Philadelphia; Series NAID: 594403. -- source link

More pics about