History:

04.06.1938 launched

24./25.08.1938 sea trails

11.09.1938 delivered Staten Island, NY

25.04.1939-1943 placed on Cornfield Piont (CT)

1943 fitted with detection radar

1943-1957 Cornfield Point (CT)

1958-1962 Cross Rip (MA)

1962-1972 Boston station (MA)

05.10.1972 withdrawn from Boston station (MA)

07.11.1972 Decommissioned

09.08.1973 donated to Lewes Hostorical Society (DE)

1988 the lightship has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places

07.12.2001 transfer of ownership of the Overfalls (LV118) from the Lewes Historical Society to the Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation

October 19th, 2005 Senator Tom Carper and Congressman Mike Castle today announced that the Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation has been awarded a $275,000 grant from the Save America’s Treasures (SAT) program. The grant money is slated to be used for the preservation and repair of the Overfalls Lightship. The vessel is currently sitting on land in Lewes, DE, where repair efforts have been underway since 1999. The grant money will be used in part to place the ship into a dry-land cradle to make it more accessible for workers to begin the much-needed hull restoration process.

Today museum vessel marked OVERFALLS (although never assigned to that station), afloat and on display at Lewes (DE)

October 14th and 15th, 2008 The lightship was towed from Lewes, DE, down to the Colonna Shipyard in Norfolk, VA, where she will undergo major renovations - especially to the hull. There were ten volunteers that traveled onboard for the entire trip. They provided monitoring of the ships condition and were available for a three-part plan in the event any significant leaks should spring up. They had excellent weather and water conditions and only very minor leaks were noted and none of those required action. The lightship will stay at the wharf until April 2009. At the web site there are quite a few picture there of this most recent aspect of the restoration project. Meanwhile the most significant task for the Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation (OMMF) is the construction of a permanent berth on the Lewes canalfront for the lightship. They will not be able to bring the lightship home until that berth is completed. They are over half way to the $700,000 cost and welcome donations or ideas on fund raising.

May 31st, 2009 Today the lightship returned back home to Lewes in Delaware after six months of repairs at Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk. The new slip is not yet completed, but nevertheless the Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation has decided to bring the lightship back home and open her for the summer season. A wonderful idea to cllect more money for the new slip.

Opening times:
June thru October:
Monday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - self-guided tour
Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - self-guided tour
Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - guided tour
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - guided tour
Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - guided tour

Thursday (July/Aug. only) 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - guided tour

Entrance fees:
Adults: 2 $
Children (under 12): 1 $

Visitor address:
Lightship Overfalls, Lewes, Delaware, USA

For more information:
http://www.overfalls.org

 

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