Cape Henlopen Lighthouse was constructed on the north side of the Great Dune to obtain additional height. Mariners from Philadelphia lobbied for the construction of a lighthouse, and many ships had fallen victim to the dark waters around the cape, necessitating construction of such a lighthouse. The land was donated by Thomas and William Penn. It was completed in 1767 and first lit in 1769. In 1777, during the American Revolution, the lighthouse was almost completely destroyed by the
British. The
wardens repaired the damage and it was relit by 1784. In 1897, the sand dune surrounding the tower was reported to be steadily blowing away at a rate of per year. In 1905, several tons of brush were placed about the tower and oil house to prevent the foundations and brick walls from being undermined by the drifting away of the sand. Before the structure's collapse in 1926, though, the tower had been discontinued as a lighthouse. Earlier in 1924, the lens was removed from the light for refurbishing and to be placed on display. With the building of the Brandywine Light, waiting areas were no longer needed behind the breakwaters, so the light was disabled. All measures to protect the tower failed and in April 1926, a storm undermined the tower, causing it to fall seaward. Another light also once stood on Cape Henlopen. In 1824, the
Cape Henlopen Beacon was constructed on a tower about a mile north of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse. Before the Beacon was assigned a keeper, the keeper of the Henlopen Light was in charge of maintaining the Beacon. == Replicas and representations ==