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The gigantic 2500-pound lens from Virginia’s Hog Island Lighthouse may soon come out of storage if all moves according to plan.
The 10-foot high lens from the lighthouse was loaned to the City of Portsmouth, VA some 30 years ago and has been sitting in storage since.
Plans call for a large replica of the lantern room to be constructed at an exhibit pavilion. The lens will be installed in the replica lantern room and will rest on a small rotating mechanism. The cost of the pavilion to display the historic lens is estimated to be $600,000. The money will come from the Portsmouth Museums Foundation.
The real shame here is that the public has not been offered the opportunity to view the lens for 30 years. Hopefully this planned exhibit will become a reality. The foundation has also pledged $600,000 toward the restoration of the Portsmouth Lightship.
This story appeared in the August 2002 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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