"Lightship "Chesapeake" On Station" by Paul McGehee. The "Chesapeake" lightship was the floating beacon which marked the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay for many years. Built in 1930 as "Lightship 116" of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, she first served as the light for Fenwick Island Shoal on the coast of Delaware. From 1933 until the beginning of World War II she began her long career on the Chesapeake Bay. When the United States went to war in 1941 most coastal lightships were withdrawn for security reasons and were converted for wartime duties. During 1942-45 "Lightship 116" was painted gray, armed with two 20mm cannons, and used as a patrol vessel near the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal. In 1945, "Lightship 116" returned to the waters off Cape Henry, Virginia where her bright red hull, beacon light and "Chesapeake" station designation guided maritime traffic in and out of the Chesapeake Bay for the next 20 years. In 1965 the Lightship "Chesapeake" was replaced by an automated beacon. Her final days of service saw her at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, serving there until 1970. In 1971 "Lightship 116" (then in retirement) was acquired by the National Park Service. Since 1982, the ship has been part of the Baltimore Maritime Museum in the Inner Harbor of that Maryland port, where you can visit her and walk her decks. As one of the few surviving lightships, she is truly a piece of maritime history. "Lightship "Chesapeake" On Station" is faithfully reproduced as an archival-quality print from McGehee's original oil painting in a limited edition of only 500 pieces, each hand-signed by the artist. Print image size 10 1/4" x 16 1/2".