It took a little longer than expected, but by 8:30 p.m., April 26, the historic Lightship Overfalls was back at Canalfront Park in downtown Lewes.
The historic vessel had spent the last several months at Dorchester Shipyard across the Delaware Bay in New Jersey, where it underwent routine maintenance to preserve its hull and got a new paint job.
The lightship sat just off the Lewes coast for most of the day waiting for the tide to be just right before moving in through Roosevelt Inlet and down the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal to its home at Canalfront Park.
Interested onlookers waited for hours on the beach at Roosevelt Inlet and along the canal for a rare glimpse of the Overfalls moving along the water.
Overfalls Foundation President Al Didden, standing in the shadows as the tugs and volunteers worked to line the vessel up for gangplank access, said the towing, hull work and painting cost in the vicinity of $200,000.
![The Lightship Overfalls glides down the canal toward its home at Lewes Canalfront Park. NICK ROTH PHOTO](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/image/LO1.jpg)
![The Lightship Overfalls’ return drew curious onlookers along its path back to its home. NICK ROTH PHOTO](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/LO6.jpg)
![A small group stands on the dune at Roosevelt Inlet to watch the ship come in from the bay. NICK ROTH PHOTO](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/LO4.jpg)
![A tug boat heads out of Roosevelt Inlet as the Lightship Overfalls waits for high tide to come in. NICK ROTH PHOTO](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/LO8.jpg)
![The sun sets on a beautiful day in Lewes as the Lightship Overfalls heads down the canal. NICK ROTH PHOTO](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/LO10.jpg)
![Members of the Overfalls Foundation’s Dirty Hands Gang work a stern line to help reposition the Lightship Overfalls in her Canalfront Park berth in downtown Lewes. DENNIS FORNEY PHOTO](/sites/capegazette/files/2018/04/field/gallery_large/IMG_3694 2.jpg)