Carpenter Island (Maryland) facts for kids

Carpenter Island (historical) was a small piece of land located in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. It sat at the southern end of the Chester River, which flows into the famous Chesapeake Bay. People have called it Carpenter Island or Carpenter's Island since the early 1700s.

What Was Carpenter Island Like?

This little island was a natural part of the landscape. It was once home to a simple fishing camp. There was also a small house on the island. This house was special because it was built from logs. These logs had washed ashore from the water.

What Happened to the Island?

Over many years, something interesting happened to Carpenter Island. Boats and ships would pass by on the water. Their waves, called "wakes," would hit the island's edges. These constant waves slowly wore away the land. This process is called erosion.

Because of this erosion, the island became smaller and smaller. Eventually, it turned into nothing more than a mud flat. You could only see this mud flat when the tide was low.

Is it Still an Island Today?

Even though it's mostly a mud flat now, Carpenter Island is still listed as an island. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps still show it as an island. It is also still on the List of islands of Maryland. This means it's officially recognized as a Maryland island, even if it looks different now.

Another Carpenter Island?

It can be a bit confusing because there was another place called Carpenter Island. This other island was located in St. Mary's County, Maryland. In 2005, a list of "lost islands" of the Chesapeake Bay was published. The Carpenter Island in St. Mary's County was included on that list.