United States lightship Chesapeake ( LV - 116 ) United States lightship " Chesapeake " ( LV - 116 / WAL - 538 / WLV - 538 ) is owned by the National Park Service and on a 25 - year loan to the Baltimore Maritime Museum in Baltimore , Maryland . Since 1820 , several lightships have served at the $ 3 lightship station and have been called " Chesapeake " . It was common for a lightship to be reassigned from one Lightship Station to another and thus " renamed " and identified by its new station name . Even though the " name " changed during a Lightship ' s service life , the hull number never changed . The United States Coast Guard assigned new hull numbers to all lightships still in service in April 1950 . After that date , Light Ship / Light Vessel 116 was then known by the new Coast Guard Hull number : WAL - 538 . In January 1965 the Coast Guard further modified all lightship hull designations from WAL to WLV , so " Chesapeake " became WLV - 538 . " Chesapeake " had many redundant systems in order to maintain her position through most storms . The main anchor was backed up by a second 5000 pound anchor attached to the side of the ship . The 30 , 000 candela main light was also backed up with a secondary lamp and the Radio Locator Beacon also had a backup system . On more than one occasion ( in 1933 , 1936 , and 1962 ) the main anchor chain snapped during violent storms and the ship had to use her engines to stay in place and drop her second anchor . History . Built in 1930 at Charleston Drydock & Machine Co in Charleston , S . C . for $ 274 , 434 . 00 , " Chesapeake " took on the name of whatever station where she was anchored . The ship was also absorbed into the Coast Guard in 1939 , as were all vessels in the United States Lighthouse Service . Service in the US Coast Guard meant a pay cut for the sailors aboard " Chesapeake " and other Lightships , as well as the requirements for the crew to pass Coast Guard physical exams and wear uniforms . Coast Guard officers , usually a Warrant Bos ' n , were also placed in command of the lightships , which meant a more efficient , orderly and strict operation . It did also , however , mean better supplies and training reached the crew . During WWII , " Chesapeake " was based out of Sandwich , Massachusetts , where she served as an examination and guard vessel at the north entrance of the Cape Cod Canal and helped protect the important port of Boston . In the 1960s with the introduction of automated buoys as well as permanent light stations , the lightship fleet was slowly mothballed . " Chesapeake " left her station at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in September 1965 when she was replaced by a large , manned light tower similar to an oil rig . This station was helicopter accessible and was easier to maintain than a lightship . Eventually the light tower was fully automated . Eight lightships were built after " Chesapeake " . " Chesapeake " s last tour of duty was at the mouth of the Delaware Bay from 1966 to 1970 where she was named " DELAWARE " . A large 104 ton buoy beacon replaced her at this station in 1970 . After leaving Delaware Bay , " Chesapeake " was moored in Cape May , New Jersey until her decommissioning on 6 January 1971 . She was then transferred to the National Park Service and used as a seagoing environmental education classroom until she was handed over to the city of Baltimore in 1982 . In 1988 " Chesapeake " became part of the Baltimore Maritime Museum , now the Historic Ships In Baltimore museum and is moored at Pier 3 in Baltimore ' s Inner Harbor . She is open for touring after a paid admission to the Museum . " Chesapeake " was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 1 August 1980 and was designated a National Historic Landmark on 20 November 1989 . " Chesapeake " and her companions are major contributing elements in the Baltimore National Heritage Area .