A relic of maritime history, USCG Lightship Chesapeake (LV116) once served as a floating lighthouse, standing guard at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay through storms, hurricanes, and wartime patrols. Built in 1930 for the U.S. Lighthouse Service, this 133-foot lightship was one of the most advanced of its time, equipped with powerful beacons, radio signals, and foghorns to safely guide vessels along the treacherous East Coast.

During World War II, Chesapeake was armed with 20mm cannons and painted battleship gray to serve as a patrol and inspection vessel. After the war, she returned to her role as a navigational aid until technology rendered lightships obsolete. Decommissioned in 1970 and preserved as a museum ship since 1982, she now rests in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Visitors can explore her tight living quarters, stand beneath the towering beacon, and learn about the daring crews who endured isolation at sea to keep the coastline safe.