Price’s Creek Light
The Price’s Creek Lighthouse, is the last of eight lighthouses along the Cape Fear River authorized by Congress in 1848. Though it is in ruins it is still partially standing. With it’s brick exterior, the light was needed to illuminate a 25-mile stretch of the Cape Fear River, between Oak Island and Wilmington.
The Price’s Creek Lighthouse, is only 20 feet tall, it was the smaller two lights at Price’s Creek. During the Civil War, Price’s Creek Lighthouse served as a Confederate signal station, aiding blockade runners in navigating the river and being identified to the shore batteries. Most of the river lights were destroyed by the Confederates as they lost control of the Cape Fear River. By destroying the lights, they were trying to prevent or hinder navigation along the river by the Union troops.
All of the river lights had been replaced by unattended beacons by the late 1880’s. The Price’s Creek Lighthouse currently sits on private property and is not open nor accessible to the public. The owner has repaired the Civil War cannon damage and some of the structural decay, but the lighthouse is still missing its glass and iron lamp top. It is visible (about 200 yards away) from the ferry between Fort Fisher and Southport as the ferry approaches or departs the Southport landing.
Loading ...
