Like lighthouses and buoys, lightships were navigational aids that began service on America's coasts in the early 1800s. The lights atop their masts were similar to those in lighthouses, but their portability made them more versatile in helping mariners avoid dangerous shoals or while entering harbors at night. Typically, the ship anchored at a strategic location at sea and remained there for months at a time.
The Lightship Portsmouth was built in 1915 and served for 48 years off the coasts of Virginia, Delaware and Massachusetts. In 1964 it was retired to Portsmouth and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. Now a museum, the ship's quarters are fitted out realistically and filled with artifacts, uniforms, photos, and models.
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