Lightship Portsmouth

Does anyone have directions to the Lightship Portsmouth. I have been unsuccessful in finding any. Thanks

I don't know if I can be much help to you since I'm not well aquainted with the city of Portsmouth but I can tell you this....its located on Water Street which runs parallel to the downtown waterfront. The problem is that you can just about ride by it and not even know that you did. The ship is situated perpendicular to the street inbetween two buildings...one existing building and one that is presently under construction. I was there a month ago, and drove by it three times before seeing it. However, its well worth the effort. 'Hope this was of some help to you.

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Brent

Depends on which way you're coming from, but take London Blvd or High St downtown till you get to either Crawford or Water St. Ask anyone for directions to Portside and then you can't miss it.

Mike

Lightship Portsmouth is part of the Portsmouth Museums. My daughter & I were there again last summer, and the poor lightship is not only parked in cement, it is getting literally built in. High rise to one side & they are constructing another right next to it! I have brochure from there I will try to scan & send, but it is in red so it may be a bit of a challenge.

Get a map of Portsmouth area, and here are the directions from the brochure:
"From VA Beach: Take I-44/I-264 west thru Downtown Tunnel to Portsmouth. Take first (hard) right out of tunnel following signs to Crawford Pkwy.
From Richmond: From I-64, take exit I-664 to Monito/Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. After tunnel, take Route 164 and follow signs to Downtown Portsmouth via High St."

Map shows the lightship at the foot of London Blvd (this intersects Crawford Pkwy. Will need to turn right, towards the Elizabeth River.)

Only cost a buck to visit, and it is a nice visit. Ship is well taken care of. Unfortunately they only allow visitors on main deck.

Hope this helps. Don't forget to view Newport News Middle Ground, Thimble Shoals, Cape Henry & Old Pt Comfort in the Tidewater area! Also an interesting museum in VA Beach - The Old Coast Guard Station.

Dave





[This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 02-24-2000).]

Moved this thread from the General Forum

While you are in that area, you may want to visit the Mariner's Museum in Newport News. Its one of the finest of its type in the United States. It also has a beautiful first-order Fresnal Lens located to the left at the first exhibit when you go in. Its well worth the visit...nice gift shop, too!!

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Brent

While you're there, please do take a nice overall photo of Portsmouth (side view). I'm still looking for one for the Lightships area:

www.harbourlights.com/lightships/

Thanks,

John

John,

You cannot get a broadside view of Portsmouth unless you use a wide-angle lens. This is due to the close proximity of the neighboring buildings. Here's my best shot:

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=42289&a=282977&p=10900040&Sequence=1[/img]



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-Art

Thanks Art...

I was expecting a wide angle lens would be needed -- and perhaps the photo might be shot from one of the towering buildings and looking down on the lightship?

Thanks for all the kind help. The directions will really come in handy. We are leaving in AM for Cape Hatteras and North Carolina, so hope to make a stop and see the lightship too. Thanks again!

You want to see a display of lenses, probably the best as far as variety of sizes and types is at the Coast Guard Reserve Training Center at Yorktown. Every size but a 3 1/2, have both behive and clam shell versions. Not too far from the Yorktown NP Visitor Center.

John, Going to need a lense in the 19-24 mm range to have any chance. The building already there is apartments. Not sure what the other will be. Figure not too much chance of getting a pic from there.

Dave

One more thought on the photo...

If I recall correctly, (big 'if')there is a chain link fence surrounding the lightship. If you *can* get far back enough to get a good shot, that eyesore of a fence would detract terribly from the shot. But don't let me discourage anyone from looking for a better angle. I'd love to see someone else's photo prove me wrong.

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-Art

I agree, Art. Anyway you look at it....its definitely a challenge. I don't know what time of the day that you took your photo but its a nice "shot"!

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Brent

Brent,

The photo was taken around 4:30 in the afternoon of May 25, 1999. I know we arrived just before closing time, which is at 5:00 p.m.

I also visited Middleground and the Mariners' Museum. The Museum is highly recommended. You might want to try a safer approach to the lighthouse than what I did.

If you want to read of my adventure (couldn't imagine why), here 'tis:
http://216.46.163.97/forums/Forum15/HTML/000051.html

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-Art

I just completed your narrative on the trip you and your family took last year (I'm still learning my way around this site) and found it to be exhilarating, to say the least. Getting back to the lightship "Portsmouth" your photo is about the closest thing to the best angle that can be taken as well as the "time of day" at that time of the year. Thanks. ....B

We did get to see the lightship. The building that is under construction is going to be a hotel. There may be hope then if you get a good room with a view you could take a really nice shot of the lightship. It is sad that it is sitting in concrete. My son decided that the Lightship Huron was better as it was in water and you could go up on deck. No chance of getting a picture from the apartments or the attached garage area as security was patrolling it diligently and will not let you trespass for "picture-taking" purposes. We did have a great time though and visited all of the Outer Banks lights again. The directions were really great, and without them we probably would never have found the lightship. Thanks again!

First of all, I don't know how long ago you were at the Huron Lightship but.....

It sure looks like it isn't in the water when I took this picture in June of 1997. We were at Portsmouth Lightship the very first part of June last year. There is a very, very nice museum on board the lightship that I spent a more than an hour going through on board the ship. They have several Fresnel lens; it looks like it is ready to go to sea below decks. They must have closed it right after I was there Dave, because I think you were only a couple of weeks behind me on your tour through the same region. I could add some interior pictures I shot but upon leaving the ship I noticed a no taking pictures in the ship sign so......

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

Paul,
Main deck is the museum deck for all practical purposes. It is a well done and well preserved effort. Looking down the hatch the engine room looks in great shape, but they won't let you below. Also will not allow you topside, out into the open. Too bad because the ship has been so well cared for it would be most enjoyable.

Did you look up the inside of the mast, where someone could get to the top of the mast in all weather? (Think that was on the Portsmouth)Had to be a pretty skinny person- don't think I could have made that squeeze even in my better days!

Dave

I was there at Pine Grove Park in Port Huron the day they moved the Huron from a dock on the Black River to the 'dry dock' in the park on the St. Clair River. I can't recall the date, but it was probably 25 or more years ago.

A tug nudged the Huron into place and the pilings were replaced on the water side. The Lightship HURON is land-locked, but has the best view of the very busy Great Lakes traffic. When the HURON is open, freighters often toot to salute. The inside is a very interesting museum.

I have a pretty decent picture that shows the Huron from the water side. I shows just how far above the water line it is actually setting.

While I don't have a scan of the photo, John, I sent you a copy of it a few years ago. Still got it lying around anywhere??? LOL

-Todd

My apologies. The Lightship Huron is not IN the water, but BY the water (as opposed to sitting in concrete). Both lightships are very interesting to visit and should not be missed.

Being a long-time resident of Virginia (but born & raised in Michigan) I have a love for both Lightships, however, there's no doubt about it....the birthing design that the planners did up in Port Huron was ingenious. When you approach the vessel from the park-side you get the impression that "she's" in the water, but, without the maintenance headaches associated with actually being in the water over the long term. 'A very nice "setting"!

With the help of my new digital camera, which arrived today, I took a shot of my Huron photo showing it from the water side.

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=45392&a=337168&p=17763476[/img]

Hope this helps show the position a little better.

-Todd