List of lighthouses in Maryland

Coordinates: 38°19′52″N 76°27′47″W / 38.331°N 76.463°W / 38.331; -76.463
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of all lighthouses in the U.S. state of Maryland as identified by the United States Coast Guard. There are fourteen active lights in the state as well as three automated caissons and eleven skeleton towers replacing previously staffed lights.

The first lighthouse in the state was lit in 1822 and the last in 1965 (ignoring automated towers erected later); the oldest surviving structure is the Pooles Island Light and the oldest still active is the Cove Point Light. The tallest extant tower is the Craighill Channel Lower Range Rear Light.

If not otherwise noted, focal height and coordinates are taken from the United States Coast Guard Light List,[1] while location and dates of activation, automation, and deactivation are taken from the United States Coast Guard Historical information site for lighthouses.[2] Locations of demolished lights have been estimated using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) navigational charts.

Name Image Location Coordinates Year first lit Automated Year deactivated Current Lens Focal Height
Baltimore Harbor Light Chesapeake Bay 39°03′33″N 76°23′56″W / 39.05919°N 76.399°W / 39.05919; -76.399 1908[3] 1923[3] Active Unknown 052 52 ft (16 m)
Blakistone Island Light Coltons Point
(St. Clement's)
38°12′27″N 76°44′42″W / 38.2074°N 76.7449°W / 38.2074; -76.7449 1851 1932 1956
(Destroyed, rebuilt as
a replica)
Decorative Unknown
Bloody Point Bar Light Kent Island 38°50′02″N 76°23′30″W / 38.8338°N 76.3917°W / 38.8338; -76.3917 1882 1961 Active Acrylic 054 54 ft (16 m)
Bodkin Island Light Patapsco River
(Mouth)
39°08′2.4″N 76°25′37.2″W / 39.134000°N 76.427000°W / 39.134000; -76.427000 1822 Never 1856
(Destroyed in 1914)
None Unknown
Cedar Point Light Patuxent River
(Mouth)
39°17′57.12″N 76°23′9.6″W / 39.2992000°N 76.386000°W / 39.2992000; -76.386000 1896 Never 1928
(Dismantled in 1996)
None Unknown
Choptank River Light Tred Avon River
(Mouth)
38°39′20″N 76°11′08″W / 38.6555°N 76.1855°W / 38.6555; -76.1855 1871 (First)
1921 (Last)
2012 (Replica)
Never 1964
(Dismantled)
Fifth-order Fresnel
(Inside replica)
Unknown
Clay Island Light Nanticoke River
(Mouth)
38°14′02″N 75°58′12″W / 38.234°N 75.970°W / 38.234; -75.970 1832 Never 1892
(Destroyed in 1894)
None 036 36 ft (11 m)
Cobb Point Bar Light Cobb Island 38°14′33″N 76°49′36″W / 38.2424°N 76.8266°W / 38.2424; -76.8266 1889 Never 1940
(Demolished after fire)
None Unknown
Concord Point Light Havre de Grace 39°32′27″N 76°05′05″W / 39.5407°N 76.0848°W / 39.5407; -76.0848 1827 1920 Active
(Inactive: 1975-1983)
Fifth-order Fresnel 036 36 ft (11 m)
Cove Point Light Solomons 38°23′11″N 76°22′54″W / 38.3863°N 76.3817°W / 38.3863; -76.3817 1828 1986 Active Unknown 038 38 ft (12 m)
Craighill Channel Lower Range
Front Light
Edgemere 39°11′19″N 76°23′40″W / 39.1886°N 76.3945°W / 39.1886; -76.3945 1875 1964 Active Unknown 025 25 ft (7.6 m)
Craighill Channel Lower Range
Rear Light
Edgemere 39°13′45″N 76°23′39″W / 39.2291°N 76.3942°W / 39.2291; -76.3942 1875 1923 Active Unknown 105 105 ft (32 m)
Craighill Channel Upper Range
Front Light
Edgemere 39°11′50″N 76°26′54″W / 39.1971°N 76.4482°W / 39.1971; -76.4482 1886 1914 Active Unknown 015 15 ft (4.6 m)
Craighill Channel Upper Range
Rear Light
Edgemere
(Sparrows Point)
39°12′58.32″N 76°27′45.72″W / 39.2162000°N 76.4627000°W / 39.2162000; -76.4627000 1886 1933 Active Unknown 064 64 ft (20 m)
Drum Point Light Solomons
(Originally at Drum Point)
38°19′08″N 76°25′16″W / 38.319°N 76.421°W / 38.319; -76.421(approximate original)
38°19′52″N 76°27′47″W / 38.331°N 76.463°W / 38.331; -76.463
(current)
1883 1960
(Semi)
1962
(Now a museum)
None 025 25 ft (7.6 m)
Fishing Battery Light Havre de Grace 39°29′42″N 76°04′59″W / 39.495°N 76.083°W / 39.495; -76.083 1853 1917 1921
(Replaced with
skeleton tower)
None Unknown
Fog Point Light Smith Island 38°01′48″N 76°02′30″W / 38.0299°N 76.0417°W / 38.0299; -76.0417 1827 Never 1875
(Later destroyed)
None Unknown
Fort Carroll Light Baltimore 39°12′52.92″N 76°31′11.64″W / 39.2147000°N 76.5199000°W / 39.2147000; -76.5199000 1854 (Former)
1900 (Current)
1923 1964
(Vandalized)
None 045 45 ft (14 m)
Fort Washington Light Fort Washington 38°42′44.3″N 77°2′12.8″W / 38.712306°N 77.036889°W / 38.712306; -77.036889 1857 (Former)
1901 (Current)
Unknown Active Unknown Unknown
Great Shoals Light Wicomico River
(Mouth)
38°12′51″N 75°52′46″W / 38.2143°N 75.8794°W / 38.2143; -75.8794 1882 Never 1966 None 037 37 ft (11 m)
Greenbury Point Light
(First)
Annapolis 38°58′30″N 76°27′18″W / 38.975°N 76.455°W / 38.975; -76.455 1848 Never 1891
(Eventually collapsed[4])
None 039 39 ft (12 m)[4]
Greenbury Point Shoal Light
(Second)
Annapolis 38°58′05″N 76°27′14″W / 38.968°N 76.454°W / 38.968; -76.454 1892 Never 1934
(Replaced with
skeleton tower)
None Unknown
Hawkins Point Light Baltimore 39°12′28″N 76°31′57″W / 39.2079°N 76.5326°W / 39.2079; -76.5326 1868 Never 1924
(Replaced with
skeleton tower)
None 028 28 ft (8.5 m)[4]
Holland Island Bar Light Holland Island 38°04′07″N 76°05′45″W / 38.0687°N 76.0959°W / 38.0687; -76.0959 1889 Never 1960
(Demolished)
None 042 42 ft (13 m)[4]
Hooper Island Light Hooper's Island 38°15′22″N 76°15′00″W / 38.256°N 76.250°W / 38.256; -76.250 1902 1961 Active Unknown 063 63 ft (19 m)[4]
Hooper Strait Light Saint Michaels
(Originally Hooper's Island)
38°13′36″N 76°04′32″W / 38.2267°N 76.0756°W / 38.2267; -76.0756
(Original)
38°47′15″N 76°13′09″W / 38.7875°N 76.2192°W / 38.7875; -76.2192
(Current)
1867 (Former)
1879 (Current)
1954 1966
(Now a museum)
None Unknown
Janes Island Light Crisfield 37°57′48″N 75°55′07″W / 37.9633°N 75.9185°W / 37.9633; -75.9185 1867 (Former)
1879 (Current)
Never 1935
(Destroyed by ice)
None 038 38 ft (12 m)[4]
Lazaretto Point Light Baltimore 39°15′44″N 76°34′17″W / 39.2622°N 76.5715°W / 39.2622; -76.5715 1831 Never 1926
(Demolished, rebuilt as
a replica)
None Unknown
Leading Point Light Baltimore 39°12′49″N 76°33′06″W / 39.2137°N 76.5518°W / 39.2137; -76.5518 1868 Never 1924
(Later demolished[4])
None Unknown
Love Point Light Kent Island 39°03′14″N 76°17′25″W / 39.0539°N 76.2904°W / 39.0539; -76.2904 1872 1953 1964
(Demolished)
None Unknown
Lower Cedar Point Light Potomac River 38°20′24″N 76°59′35″W / 38.340°N 76.993°W / 38.340; -76.993 1867 (First)
1896 (Last)
Never 1951
(Replaced with
skeleton tower)
None Unknown
Maryland Point Light Potomac River 38°20′58″N 77°11′51″W / 38.3495°N 77.1975°W / 38.3495; -77.1975 1892 1954 1963
(Dismantled)
None Unknown
Mathias Point Light Potomac River 38°24′18″N 77°02′34″W / 38.4051°N 77.0428°W / 38.4051; -77.0428 1876 1951 1961
(Dismantled)
None Unknown
North Point Range Lights Baltimore 39°11′38″N 76°26′31″W / 39.1940°N 76.4419°W / 39.1940; -76.4419
(Front Light)
39°11′50″N 76°26′54″W / 39.1971°N 76.4482°W / 39.1971; -76.4482
(Rear Light)
1822 Never 1873
(Collapsed, replaced by
Craighill Channel range
lights)
None 034 34 ft (10 m)[4]
(Front)
40 ft (12 m)[4]
(Rear)
Piney Point Light Piney Point 38°08′08″N 76°31′47″W / 38.1355°N 76.5297°W / 38.1355; -76.5297 1836 Never 1964 None 034 34 ft (10 m)[4]
Point Lookout Light Point Lookout 38°02′19″N 76°19′20″W / 38.0387°N 76.3221°W / 38.0387; -76.3221 1830 Never 1965 None 041 41 ft (12 m)[4]
Point No Point Light Chesapeake Bay 38°07′41″N 76°17′24″W / 38.128°N 76.29°W / 38.128; -76.29 1905 1938 Active 375mm 052 52 ft (16 m)
Pooles Island Light Aberdeen 39°16′44″N 76°16′12″W / 39.279°N 76.270°W / 39.279; -76.270 1825 1917 Active
(Inactive: 1939-2011)
Unknown 038 38 ft (12 m)
Ragged Point Light Potomac River 38°09′16″N 76°36′05″W / 38.1544°N 76.6014°W / 38.1544; -76.6014 1910 Never 1962
(Dismantled)
None Unknown
Sandy Point Shoal Light Skidmore 39°00′58″N 76°23′06″W / 39.016°N 76.385°W / 39.016; -76.385 1858 (Former)
1883 (Current)
1963 Active Unknown 051 51 ft (16 m)
Seven Foot Knoll Light Baltimore
(Originally in the
Patapsco River)
39°09′18″N 76°24′33″W / 39.1551°N 76.4091°W / 39.1551; -76.4091
(Original)

39°17′01″N 76°36′19″W / 39.2836°N 76.6054°W / 39.2836; -76.6054
(Current)
1855 1948[4] 1988
(Now an onshore
museum)
Decorative 040 40 ft (12 m)
Sharkfin Shoal Light Nanticoke River
(Mouth)
38°12′07″N 75°59′12″W / 38.2020°N 75.9868°W / 38.2020; -75.9868 1892 Never 1964
(Dismantled)
None Unknown
Sharps Island Light Saint Michaels 38°38′21″N 76°22′33″W / 38.6391°N 76.3758°W / 38.6391; -76.3758[5] 1838 (First)
1882 (Current)
1951 2010[6] 250mm 054 54 ft (16 m)
Solomons Lump Light Princess Anne 38°02′53″N 76°00′54″W / 38.04806°N 76.01502°W / 38.04806; -76.01502 1875 (Former)
1895 (Current)
1950 Active Unknown 047 47 ft (14 m)
Somers Cove Light Crisfield 37°57′59″N 75°52′39″W / 37.9665°N 75.8775°W / 37.9665; -75.8775 1867 Never 1932
(Dismantled)
None Unknown
Thomas Point Shoal Light Annapolis 38°53′56″N 76°26′10″W / 38.899°N 76.436°W / 38.899; -76.436 1825 (Former)
1875 (Current)
1986 Active 250mm 043 43 ft (13 m)
Turkey Point Light Elkton 39°26′59.578″N 76°0′30.313″W / 39.44988278°N 76.00842028°W / 39.44988278; -76.00842028 1833 1947 Active
(Inactive: 2000-2002)
Unknown Unknown
Upper Cedar Point Light Potomac River 38°24′10″N 77°04′57″W / 38.4027°N 77.0826°W / 38.4027; -77.0826 1867 1963 1963
(Dismantled)
None Unknown


References[edit]

  1. ^ Light List, Volume II, Atlantic Coast, Shrewsbury River, New Jersey to Little River, South Carolina (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2010.
  2. ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Maryland" (PDF). United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.
  3. ^ a b "Baltimore Harbor Light". Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Historic Light Station Information & Photography Maryland". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  5. ^ "Sharps Island, MD". LighthouseFriends.
  6. ^ "Local Notice to Mariners District 5 Week 02/10" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. 12 January 2010. p. 24. Retrieved 2010-12-05.[permanent dead link]