Page Updated: February 08, 2024

Fort Washington Lighthouse

Fort Washington Lighthouse - Fort Washington MD

Situated on the bank of the Potomac River, the Fort Washington Lighthouse - also known as Light 80 - has interesting history. What began as a simple 18.5-foot iron light post on Diggs Point in 1857 evolved in 1870 into a 16-foot fog bell/light tower with 6th order Fresnel Lens constructed closer to the river’s edge.

The keeper of the light was assigned 21 additional lights along the Potomac plus 5 lighted buoys and required a boat house and timer dock in addition to the keepers’ quarters.

The current tower is last surviving structure of the Light Station.

Restoration for the Fort Washington Lighthouse is slated for 2023-2024.

-b&b

Fort Washington

Luray Caverns