Southern Maryland is surrounded by water. The Chesapeake Bay, the Patuxent River, the Potomac River, and the St. Mary's River all bound the tri-county area. The Chesapeake Bay is still a major navigable route for freight ships to and from the port of Baltimore. Likewise, ships still navigate the Potomac to and from Washington, D.C. For this reason, the area is rich in lighthouse history, both active and inactive.
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Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Park
Piney Point,
MD
20674
301-994-1471
301-769-2222
Unique in its classic tower design, the Piney Point Lighthouse, constructed in 1836, became part of the St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks Museum Division in 1990. Using a fixed beacon which was visible for over 11 miles, the lighthouse is one of only four in existence today on the Potomac River. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk viewing exhibit panels on the history of the area. The grounds of this six acre park are open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. The museum offers exhibits related to the history of the lighthouse; area life in the early 1900s; and a temporary exhibit pertaining to the U-105, the "Black Panther" German submarine which is Maryland's first underwater park, a mile off-shore. For more information, please call the St Clement's Island-Potomac River Museum at (301) 769-2222.
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Cedar Point Lighthouse
http://photos.somd.com/showgallery.php/cat/2
The lighthouse used to stand on Cedar Point on the lands of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. What remained of the Cedar Point Lighthouse was salvaged in October of 1996 and delivered to Calvert Marine Museum. In place of the century-old crumbling lighthouse, a radar reflector now stands.
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Cove Point Lighthouse
http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/200/Cove-Point-Lighthouse
3500 Lighthouse Boulevard
Lusby,
MD
20657
410-326-2042
FAX: 410-326-6691
TTY: 1-800-735-2258
View Map via:
Google Maps :
The lighthouse is located at Cove Point on the Chesapeake Bay, just north of Solomons Island in Calvert County. It is currently a functioning navigation aid and it is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. However, it is owned by the Calvert Marine Museum. Tours and access to the lighthouse are only available through the Museum.
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Drum Point Lighthouse
http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/199/Drum-Point-Lighthouse
14200 Solomons Island Road
P.O. Box 97
Solomons,
MD
20688
410-326-2042
FAX: 410-326-6691
Contact via E-Mail
View Map via:
Google Maps :
Climb up through the hatch of the Drum Point Lighthouse. Constructed in 1883 at Drum Point to mark the entrance to the Patuxent River, this screwpile, cottage-type light is one of the only three remaining from forty-five that once served the Chesapeake Bay at the beginning of the twentieth century. Decommissioned in 1962, the lighthouse fell victim to vandals until moved to its present site in 1975. Beautifully restored, complete with furnishings of the early twentieth century, it has become the waterfront's main attraction.
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Point Lookout Lighthouse
Point Lookout State Park
Scotland,
MD
20687
The lighthouse is located at Point Lookout-where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Point Lookout is a Maryland State Park. However, the lighthouse property is currently owned by the U.S. Navy. Immediate access to the lighthouse is not possible due to a high chain link fence (which also makes getting quality photos difficult).
The lighthouse is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Civil War prisoners who died at the prison camp that was located there. There is even an annual ghost walk. There are many websites dedicated to this theory. You can start with the one provided by the Maryland DNR.
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Point Nopoint lighthouse
Point Nopoint lighthouse is in the Chesapeake Bay off of the western shoreline of Maryland near Point Lookout. It is called Point Nopoint because it is not located on a point of land as is the case with most lighthouses. The lighthouse is currently an operational navigation aide. It is powered by solar energy.
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