The Elbow of Cross Ledge light was one of two lights constructed along Cross Ledge that sealed the fate of the Cross Ledge lighthouse.  The other light was the Miah Maull shoal light.  After the caisson was completed, the lighthouse, an octagonal brick two story structure was built, topped by an octagonal watch room and a round lantern room.

The Elbow of Cross Ledge lighthouse was also not one that fate would be kind to.  Several ships struck the base of the lighthouse glancing blows while trying to navigate in thick fog on the bay.  Unfortunately, the lighthouse was just too close to the shipping lane, a fact that prompted those manning the station to adopt the habbit of sleeping with life jackets on beginning in 1951.  The Coast Guard decided to automate the lighthouse that same year, which was fortunate for the men who had staffed the lighthouse.  In October, 1953 the Steel Apprentice, navigated safely past the Miah Maull shoal light only to have the Elbow of Cross Ledge light suddenly appear in front of the ship in the fog, which the ship struck hard, knocking the upper 2/3 of the lighthouse into the bay.  The remains of the lighthouse, the only brick off-shore lighthouse on Delaware Bay were demolished and replaced by the skeletal stell tower that now stands atop the caisson.