Standing along the Delaware River in Wilmington, Delaware, the Bellevue Range Rear Light was built in 1909 as part of a range light system guiding ships safely through the channel. This skeletal iron tower remains an active navigational aid operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, making it one of Delaware’s few working historic lighthouses.

The tower is not open to the public, so visitors cannot climb it, but it can be viewed and photographed from nearby roads and paths. Golden hour provides the best photography light, with the tower silhouetted against the river. Nearby attractions include Bellevue State Park, the Hagley Museum, and the Brandywine Valley’s scenic gardens and estates.

Explore Nearby

• Brandywine Creek State Park — State Park in Delaware
• Wilmington State Park — State Park in Delaware
• Wooddale Bridge — Covered Bridge in South Carolina
• Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in Delaware
• Smith’s Bridge — Covered Bridge in South Carolina