lightship overfalls

When visiting Lewes or staying in the area on your vacation, the Lightship Overfalls should be added into your agenda of "things to do" in Lewes. A visit to the Overfalls will give you information on how the lightships were used in the Atlantic Coast area by taking a tour of the ship. Then visitors can use this spot as the starting point of self guided historic tour of Lewes. There is a path along the canal and go up to the town. There are plenty of historic things to see and learn along the path. At the end, stop to eat at restaurants in town. There are many of them (no fast food places in the city of Lewes). Plenty of parking (fee and non-fee).

Visitors have the chance to learn a lot about the life and work of the light ship staff that protected the maritime traffic along the mid-Atlantic Coast.

Here you can learn about the use of lightships in the Atlantic- tour the ship and see a life saving cottage from the shore.The ship is in the canal front park of Lewes- a lovely town to visit- many great restaurants and next to Cape Henlopen Park!

Interesting piece of history very well restored, worth a look at. The people poured a lot of heart and soul into the restoration and it shows.

I had thought that I wouldn't have time to get here, not realizing it was less than a five minute walk from the center of town. As it was, I didn't have time for the tour, so I had to settle for an exterior self-tour (Free). The site is well laid out and on-shore interpretive information was very good. The staff was very helpful and friendly. It's nice to see an historic attraction you can visit easily, without necessarily taking the full tour.

We had a wonderful tour of this lightship. The Overfalls was a lightship used in New England waters to warn ships away from dangerous waters. Everything is well presented and you really get the feel of what it was like to serve on these floating lighthouses. Our guide was very knowledgeable and it was obvious the love that he had for the history represented by the ship and the pride that the foundation has in maintaining and showing off the ship. The ship is not air-conditioned and on a hot day it can be uncomfortable below-decks. Visiting Overfalls was a worthwhile and informative experience.

I finally got to see the inside of this ship & take the tour. It is closed in the off season & certain days. Well worth the money & the volunteer guide knew his stuff. I would not recommend taking children & there were steep steps. Lots of interesting history.

wish we could have gone up it like last time, but maybe next year.They have tours, we just didn't time it right.

I would recommend this as a cultural, historical experience for families or adults touring on their own. Knowledgeable volunteer decents provide 30-45 min tour of the ship and offer history and background on the use of the ship when it was in commission. Small donation of $5 per adult, children free. Adds to the growing tourism flavor of Lewes, a nice experience for a non-beach day, which is why we chose to do this.

This ship is similar to one named the Overfalls that stood watch off near the mouth of the Delaware Bay warning of the local "Hens and Chickens" shoal. It has been painstakingly refurbished and kept in excellent condition for tours as a museum that shows how life was aboard the vessel for the men that stood watch while it was at it's duty station. Photographers can have a field day with both the interior of the ship as well as evening shots from the nearby Canal Front Park.

Congrats to all the volunteers that have turned a rust bucket into a shinning red ship! The tours, ship's store, community involvement are all an anchor of the Lewes canal.

coming from a naval and maritime family, we grew up with ships and the ocean always with us and we appreciate when naval and maritime history and traditions are mantained and kept alive. On our recent visit to Lewes, DE to see some navy buddies, we found out of the Lightship Overfall and I made a little research on that and I was looking forward to touring her as it was my first ship of that kind. Having toured any kind of ship from small tug boats to huge carriers, from submarines to ferries, from tall ships to auxiliary ships and museum ships, I really appreciate the efforts people put in restoring and keeping a ship alive so next generations can appreciate naval history.I appreciate the tour, and the kindness of the guide, and the ship store next to the ships with tall the souveniers ,There is a good parking area, a nice park for kids and the centre of the town is not too far so if your kids and wife are not into ships they can walk to town whilst you tour the ship but it will not take long time to tour her unless ye are a maritime nutty and want to see everything.I must thank the lad who toured us, I reckon a retired US Navy CAPT, not sure about that and I also appreciate the fact that there is a nice Irish pub on the other side of the canal, Irish Eyes Pub where ye can sip a good pint of local brewery after the tour. The ship is well preserved and she gives you some of history of Lewes....and I am sure we ll pay her another visit as I want to buy one of the ship s ballcap as the store had none left that day .#

Interesting restored light ship, on the canal and at a park so nice place to take a break with some interesting things to see. Gives you some of history of Lewes.

Ok, once you know the story and the work that went behind the restoration of this historic ship its just simply cool to see it and go on it for a tour. Its right down town (basically), so there's not reason not to go and see it and support the effort to continue to save it. :)

We had a wonderful tour of this remarkably preserved lightship. Everything is well presented and you really get the feel of what it was like to serve on these floating lighthouses. Our guide was very knowledgeable and it was obvious the love that he had for the history represented by the ship and the pride that the foundation has in maintaining and showing off the ship.