Return to By Era

The Lighthouse Service

The government assumed responsibility for safety of navigation in Federal waters
This included a system of buoys to mark navigable channels and dangers
Early vessels used to maintain the system were chartered private vessels
Most of these early records were lost
Records pick up in the late 1800s

Sunrise Class (Unknown Rig)
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT Sunrise 1867 – 1875
USLHT Sunset 1867 – 1875
USLHT Susan 1867 – 1875

135′ Verbena Class (Unknown Rig)
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT Alanthus 1870 – 1882
USLHT Verbena 1870 – 1911

45′ Lyra Class (Unknown Rig)
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT Lyra 1872 – 1875
USLHT Arcturus 1872 – 1875
USLHT Orion 1872 – 1875
USLHT Polaris 1872 – 1875

156′ Holly Class Side-wheeler
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT Holly 1881 – 1931
USLHT Jessamine 1881 – 1921

155′ Lilac Class (Unknown Rig)
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT Lilac 1892 – 1927
USLHT Columbine 1892 – 1924 CGH

69′ Snowdrop Class (Unknown Rig)
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT Snowdrop 1897 – 1922
USLHT Water Lily 1895 – 1929

173′ Magnolia Class
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Picture
USLHT/USCGC Magnolia 1904 – 1945 Rammed and sunk by SS Marguerite Lehand CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Ivy 1904 – 1940

190′ Manzanita Class
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Picture
USLHT/USCGC Anemone 1908 – 1946
USLHT/USCGC Cypress 1908 – 1946 CGH
USLHT/USCGC Hibiscus 1908 – 1946 CGH
USLHT/USCGC Manzanita 1908 – 1946
USLHT/USCGC Kukui 1908 – 1946 CGH
USLHT/USCGC Orchid 1908 – 1945 To the Philippines
USLHT/USCGC Sequoia 1908 – 1946 To the Philippines
USLHT/USCGC Tulip 1908 – 1945

200’ Cedar Class
Largest tender ever built for the LHS (1,970 tons)
Model: Yes

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT/USCGC Cedar 1917 – 1950

160′ Oak Class
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Picture
USLHT/USCGC Hawthorn 1921 – 1964 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Oak 1921 – 1964 To the Smithsonian CGH

172′ Speedwell Class (Ex-Army Speedwell Class Mine Planter)
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Picture
USLHT/USCGC Acacia
(ex USAMP General John F. Story
1927 – 1942 Sunk by U-Boat
The only buoy tender lost to enemy action
CGH
USLHT/USCGC Ilex
(ex USAMP General Edmund Kirby)
1922 – 1946
USLHT/USCGC Lotus
(ex USAMP Colonel Albert Todd)
1924 – 1946 CGH
USLHT/USCGC Lupine
(ex USAMP Gen. W. P. Randolph)
1927 – 1947
USLHT/USCGC Speedwell
(ex USAMP Col. John V. White)
1923 – 1947
USLHT/USCGC Spruce
(ex USAMP General Garland N. Whistler)
1923 – 1946

173′ Violet Class
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Picture
USLHT/USCGC Lilac 1933 – 1972 Donated to Harry Lundberg Seafarers International Union School
USLHT/USCGC Mistletoe 1939 – 1968
USLHT/USCGC Violet 1930 – 1962 CGAA

80′ Althea Class Tenders
Bay and sound tenders built for shallow near shore waters
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT/USCGC Althea 1930 – 1962 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Poinciana 1930 – 1962

121′ Linden Class Tenders
Bay and sound tenders built for shallow near shore waters
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT/USCGC Columbine 1931 – 1965
USLHT/USCGC Linden 1931 – 1969
USLHT/USCGC Wisteria 1933 – 1966

91′ Jasmine Class Tenders
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT/USCGC Jasmine 1935 – 1965
USLHT/USCGC Blue Bonnet 1939 – 1965

175′ Hollyhock Class
Last vessels designed by and delivered to the Light House Service
The third of the class, Fir, was delivered to the Coast Guard
Fir reigned as Queen of the Fleet from 1988 to 1991
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Picture
USLHT/USCGC Hollyhock 1937 – 1982 Sunk as reef off Florida CGH
USLHT/USCGC Walnut 1939 – 1982 To Honduras CGH
USLHT/USCGC Fir 1940 – 1991 Designed by LHS – Delivered to CG
Entire career in the Pacific Northwest
Queen of the Fleet 1988 to 1991
To Liberty Marine Maritime Museum in Sacramento, CA
CGH

103′ Goldenrod Class Tenders
River tenders
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT/USCGC Goldenrod 1938 – 1973
USLHT/USCGC Poplar 1939 – 1973 Donated to National Science Foundation

122′ Maple Class Tenders
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT/USCGC Narcissus 1939 – 1971 To Guyana CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Zinnia 1939 – 1972 To USAF
USLHT/USCGC Maple 1939 – 1973

177’ Juniper Class
Last vessel designed by USLHS
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USLHT/USCGC Juniper 1940 – 1975

Misc One-of-a-Kind Tenders
The LHS often purchased existing vessels rather than build new
This saved money, but made for a long list of one-of cutters
Moldel:
Beech: Yes

Designation Name Rig Service Comments Pictures
USLHT Active 1856 – 1866
USLHT Aguacate 1901 – 1901
USLHT Alert Schooner 1855 – 1862
USLHT Arbutus 125′ 1871 – 1875
USLHT Arbutus 153′ 1879 – 1924
USLHT Armeria 201′ 1890 – 1914
USLHT Arum 25′ 1893 – 1908
USLHT Aster 179′ 1908 -1908 Never built
USLHT Atlantic 1873 – ????
USLHT Azalea 154′ 1891 – 1933
USLHT Bache 81′ 1869 – 1869
USLHT Belle 88′ 1863 – 1874
USLHT Birch 40′ 1917 – 1930
USLHT Bluebelle 25′ 1889 – 1910
USLHT Bluebelle 42′ 1922 – 1936
USLHT Bowen 77′ 1853 – 1872
USLHT Bramble 1897 – 1905
USLHT Buttercup 25′ 1922 – 1936
USLHT Cactus 140′ Side-wheeler 1865 – 1909
USLHT Challenge
(later Lamplighter)
Schooner 1856 – 1857
USLHT Chaos Schooner 1865 – 1866
USLHT Chase 1861 – 1866
USLHT Clover 1907 – 1911
USLHT Clover 126′ Schooner 1889 – 1890
USLHT Coeur de Leon 100′
(former Van Santwoort)
1860 – 1866
USLHT Colonel Hodgson 115′ 1922 – 1925
USLHT Corinne 42′ 1868 – 1879
USLHT Cosmos 75′ 1919 – 1936
USLHT Crocus 35′ 1894 – 1978
USLHT Dahlia 141′ 1874 – 1909 First LHT built specifically for the Lakes
USLHT Daisy 54′ 1895 – 1938
USLHT Daisy 91′ 1873 – 1885
USLHT Dandelion 132′ 1872 – 1878
USLHT Dandelion 140′ 1917 – 1926
USLHT Delaware
(later Wave)
Schooner 1856 – 1879
USLHT Drift 80′ 1984 – 1918
USLHT DuPont 1862 – 1870 Seized CSA vessel
USLHT Eliza 53′ 1853 – 1857
USLHT Elizabeth 1854 – 1855
USLHT Elm 101′ 1919 – 1932
USLHT Essayons 42′ 1855 – 1859
USLHT Fairy 1854 – 1854 Lost in storm
USLHT Fern 160′
(later Gopher)
1872 – 1905
USLHT Firefly 75′
(later Jasper)
1852 – 1857
USLHT Forget-me-not 41′ 1910 – 1933
USLHT Franklin Pierce 1853 – 1891 Sank
USLHT Gardenia 117′ 1888 – 1919
USLHT General George Gibson 1922 – 1927
USLHT General Hodgson 1925 – 1926
USLHT General Ludington 1925 – 1927
USLHT General Poe 1870 – 1871
USLHT General Putnam 1965 – 1891
USLHT George Steers 63′ 1854 – 1861
USLHT Geranium 128′ 1865 – 1909
USLHT Goldenrod 150′ 1888 – 1924 CGH
USLHT Gopher (160′
former Fern)
1905 – 1919 To the Navy
USLHT Governor Aiken 1855 – 1858
USLHT Grace Darling 77′
(later Rose)
1883 – 1892
USLHT Granite 1860 – 1865
USLHT Haze 1867 – 1905
USLHT Hazel 1893 – 1901
USLHT Helen 1858 – 1863 Burned by CSA
USLHT Heliotrope 134′ 1865 – 1881
USLHT Heroine 1853 – 1855
USLHT Howell Cobb 1857 – 1861 Seized by CSA
USLHT Iris 83′ 1865 – 1892
USLHT Iris 153′ 1899 – 1934 Saw duty with the Army and Navy in WWII
USLHT Ivy 60′ 1870 – 1875
USLHT Ivy 100′ 1881 – 1888 Crushed in collision
USLHT J. N. Seymour 120′
(aka Seymour)
(ex USS I. N. Seymour)
(later Tulip)
1867 – 1869
USLHT Jasper 75′
(former Firefly)
1857 – 1861 Seized by CSA
USLHT John Rodgers 160′ 1883 – 1921
USLHT Joseph Henry 180′ Side Paddle wheeler 1880 – 1904
USLHT Juniper 95′ 1903 – 1932
USLHT Lamplighter Steamer 1874 – 1874
USLHT Lamplighter
(former Challenge)
Schooner 1857 – 1862
USLHT Larch 63′ 1926 – 1935
USLHT Laurel 1891 – 1898
USLHT Laurel 104′ 1915 – 1930
USLHT Laurel 134′ 1976 – 1909
USLHT Leal 1894 – 1907
USLHT Lehua 38′ 1922 – 1936
USLHT Lenox 1856 – 1857
USLHT Lilac 1903 – 1904 Name may have been changed – no records
USLHT Lily 178′ 1875 – 1911 Sank in Missouri River
Hull silted and formed Lily Island
USLHT Lookout 1853 – 1858
USLHT Lotus 1907 – 1923
USLHT Lotus 40′ 1880 – 1899
USLHT Madrona 32′ 1896 – 1907
USLHT Madrona 180′ 1885 – 1927
USLHT Maggie 95′ 1868 – 1879
USLHT Magnolia 97′ 1871 – 1882
USLHT Manzanita 152′ 1880 – 1905 Sank
USLHT Maple 164′ 1893 – 1933
USLHT Marguerite 35′ 1910 – 1923
USLHT Marie 1875 – 1875
USLHT Martha 1962 – 1964 Captured by the Confederacy
USLHT Martha Washington 1867 – 1869
USLHT Mary 1870 – 1887
USLHT Mary Ann 1809 – 1809
USLHT Mignonette
(former Narragansett)
1871 – 1887 Sank in 1877
Raised and returned to service
Sank in 1887
USLHT Minnie 1871 – 1875
USLHT Minot 1858 – 1960
USLHT Mistletoe 137′ 1872 – 1921
USLHT Myrtle 140′ 1872 – 1922
USLHT Narragansett
(later Mignonette)
1862 – 1871
USLHT Nettle 58′ 1879 – 1911
USLHT North Wind 1855 – 1861 Seized by CSA
USLHT Oleander 188′ 1903 – 1928
USLHT Pansy
(later Mayfair) 152′
1878 – 1933 To private owner as Mayfair To USCG as Mayfair
USLHT Pharos 1854 – 1907 Last sailing tender in service
USLHT Pharos 1872 – 1873
USLHT Pine 1918 – 1939 CGAA
USLHT Pink 1878 – 1881
USLHT Pink 1898 – 1923
USLHT Poinsettia 50′ 1917 – 1928 Destroyed by fire
USLHT Poppy 1923 – 1938
USLHT Primrose 43′ 1922 – 1936
USLHT Putnam 120′ 1865 – 1891
USLHT Pyxie 89′
(ex USAMP General A.B. Ayers)
Army Mine Planter 1922 – 1923
USLHT Ranger 1857 – 1865
USLHT Rose 64′ 1870 – 1878
USLHT Rose 92′
(former Grace Darling)
1892 – 1899
USLHT Sharpie 40′ 1885 – 1907
USLHT Shubrick 140′ 1857 – 1886 First steam LHT and first on West Coast
USLHT Skylark (later Watchful) 1856 – 1857
USLHT Spray Schooner 1853 – 1879
USLHT Sumac 168′ 1903 – 1937
USLHT Sunbeam 1852 – 1870
USLHT Sundew 110′
(ex USAMP Captain Edwin C. Long)
Army Mine Planter 1922 – 1939
USLHT Thistle 59′ 1927 – 1935
USLHT Thistle 60′ 1890 – 1912
USLHT Tulip 120′
(ex USS Isaac N. Seymour)
(former J.N. Seymour
(aka Seymour))
1869 – 1881 To the Philippines
USLHT Two Myrtles (later Clover) 1908 – 1935
USLHT Van Santvoort 100′
(later Coeur de Leon)
1857 – 1960
USLHT Vigilant 1856 – 1866
USLHT Violet 107′ 1871 – 1910
USLHT Warrington 260′
(aka Henry Warrington)
1871 – 1910
USLHT Watchful
(former Skylark)
1857 – 1967
USLHT Wave 65′ 1853 – 1861
USLHT William R. King 1858 – 1863
USLHT Wisteria Steamship 1882 – 1911 To Public Health Service
Sank at Key West, Artificial Island (Christmas Island)
USLHT Woodbine 95′ 1914 – 1933
USLHT Yerba Buena 42′ 1907 – 1933
USLHT Zinnia 161′
(later USS Adario)
YNT 1888 – 1924
USLHT/USCGC Amaranth 166′ 1892 – 1945 CGH
USLHT/USCGC Arbutus 174′ 1933 – 1967 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Aspen 125′ 1906 – 1948 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Azalea (Lilac) 173′ 1933 – 1972
USLHT/USCGC Beech 101′ 1928 – 1963 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Birch 72′ 1939 – 1963
USLHT/USCGC Camellia 116′ 1911 – 1947 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Cherry 86′ 1932 – 1964 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Cottonwood 151′ 1939 – 1946
USLHT/USCGC Heather 178′ 1903 – 1940 To the Army
USLHT/USCGC Hemlock 174′ 1934 – 1958
USLHT/USCGC Hyacinth 160′ 1903 – 1945 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Hydrangea 164′
(former Mayflower)
(former USS Suwanee)
1897 – 1945 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Kickapoo 157′ 1919 – 1945
USLHT/USCGC Mayflower 164′
(ex USS Suwanee)
(later CGC Hydrangea)
1897 – 1945
USLHT/USCGC Mangrove 164′ 1897 – 1946 CGH
USLHT/USCGC Rose 127′ 1916 – 1947 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Shrub 107′
(ex USS F. Mansfield)
1920 – 1947
USLHT/USCGC Alder 1924 – 1948
USLHT/USCGC Aster 1922 – 1946 CGH
USLHT/USCGC Crocus 1905 – 1946 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Dahlia 1933 – 1964
USLHT/USCGC Elm 1938 – 1969
USLHT/USCGC Greenbrier 1924 – 1947 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Hickory 1933 – 1967
USLHT/USCGC Larkspur 1903 – 1946 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Locust 1931 – 1954
USLHT/USCGC Marigold 1891 – 1945
USLHT/USCGC Minneapolis
(ex USA Minneapolis)
(later Azalea)
1940 – 1942
USLHT/USCGC Myrtle 1932 – 1963 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Palmetto 1917 – 1958 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Rhododendron 1935 – 1958
USLHT/USCGC Sunflower 1907 – 1946 CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Tamarack 1934 – 1970
USLHT/USCGC Wake-robin 1937 – 1948 Last sternwheeler built for USLHS
To US Army Corps of Engineers
CGAA
USLHT/USCGC Willow 1927 – 1945 To Army COE CGAA

Lightships (Light Vessels (LV))
Lightships were used to mark the entrances to major US ports
or to mark dangers to navigation
The first US lightship location was Willoughby Spit
It was manned in 1820 by the third US lightship to be built (LV C)
The last station to be discontinued was Nantucket Shoals
The last US lightship left station in 1983
Over the years 4 lightships were lost to storms
and one was rammed by RMS Olympic
One was lost to a German u-boat in WWI
Model: Yes

Designation Name Class Hull Service Comments Pictures
LV A 1820 – 1852 Early lightships were controlled by the Lighthouse Establishment.
A list of these vessels can be found at this Link.
They are Lightships A through ZZ
Yes
USLHT LV-1 LV 1 1852 – 1939 In 1852 the Lighthouse Service was established
replacing the Lighthouse Establishment
The Service began numbering lightships from LV-1
A complete list of these vessels can be found at this Link
Yes