Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse — Local services in Paulsboro

This is the Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse. It is still in operation. It uses a fixed red light with a strength of 500,000 candlepower. There once was another lighthouse in Paulsboro which was located just South of Fort Billings Park. There are now lights on top of a steel tower that serve as the front range lights at this same location which is on refinery property but can be seen from the beach at Fort Billings Park.

Front and rear range lighthouses guide sailors who, by aligning the two lights and keeping one light on top of the other, stay in its center to avoid obstacles. The Tinicum lights mark Little Tinicum Island (Essington Pa. across the river) as they travel upstream.

Tinicum Island Range Lights were activated on New Year’s Eve 1880, with Joseph H. Preston serving as keeper of the front light and Benjamin D. Hannold as keeper of the rear light. The keeper’s dwelling for the rear range stood about twenty-three feet north of the tower on a stone wall foundation. (see pictures).

Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse was automated in 1933, but John Birch, its last keeper, continued to live at the light as a custodian until 1945. The residence at the rear range light was removed sometime in the 1950s after it had fallen into disrepair.

A sports complex, consisting of three baseball diamonds and a soccer field, now surrounds the...

One of the greatest things about visiting lighthouses is meeting the volunteers that keep these amazing historic places open and well cared for. Tinicum Lighthouse was no exception! Great group of people! Walt was our guide inside. He’s very knowledgeable and, since we opted not to climb the 112 steps, we spent quite some time with him chatting, not only about the lighthouse, but history. His knowledge of events, people, places is extensive and it was a pleasure to speak with him! The lighthouse is not accessible, with stairs leading to the inside and, of course, 112 steps up to the top. Open only on the 3rd Sunday, April thru Oct. small donation at entry - and they will stamp your passport and have cool pins for sale. Parking available right outside the fence. Make a note on your calendar - it’s a great way to spend a 3rd...

We finally had the chance to come out here and visit this old, lonely girl. She is certainly something to see. Built in 1880, she stands 85 feet tall. Her fixed red light is for "aiming her little sister front range light," the Billingsport Front Range Light one half mile away in the Delaware shallows. Her lantern house stands at 109 feet above sea level and her 1,000 watt lamps project with 500,000 candle power. Her lamps are visible out to 8.5 nautical miles....