Cove Point Light facts for kids
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| 1991 | |
| Location | on Cove Point just south of Calvert Cliffs State Park |
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| Coordinates | 38°23′10.5″N 76°22′54.3″W / 38.386250°N 76.381750°W |
| Year first constructed | 1828 |
| Automated | 1986 |
| Construction | brick |
| Tower shape | conical tower |
| Focal height | 45 feet (14 m) |
| Original lens | fourth-order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 16.5 nautical miles (30.6 km; 19.0 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing white, 10 sec. |
The Cove Point Light is a famous lighthouse on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, Maryland. It has been helping ships navigate safely for a very long time. This historic lighthouse is located on Cove Point.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
Building the Light
The Cove Point Light was built in 1828. A man named John Donahoo constructed it. He used a design with a brick tower that was shaped like a cone. He had used this same design for other lighthouses in the Chesapeake Bay area.
Before building at Cove Point, Congress had planned a light at Cedar Point. That spot was about four miles south, near the mouth of the Patuxent River. However, after thinking more about it, they decided Cove Point was a better place. It would help mark a dangerous shallow area that stuck out into the bay. New money was approved in 1828, allowing the lighthouse and its keeper's house to be built that same year.
Changes Over Time
The original lamps used in the lighthouse were called Argand lamps. In 1855, these were replaced with a newer type of lens called a fifth-order Fresnel lens. This lens was then upgraded again in 1857 to an even better fourth-order lens.
To help ships in foggy weather, a fog bell was added in 1837. This bell was moved several times over the years. It was placed on both wooden and iron towers. Eventually, it ended up on the roof of a wooden shed built in 1902. This shed was made to hold a foghorn. In 1950, the foghorn equipment was moved to a separate brick building. However, the old fog bell still remains on the shed today.
Protecting the Shoreline
Erosion was a big problem at Cove Point. This means the land was slowly being worn away by the water. To stop this, a seawall was built in 1892. This wall was made stronger and improved in 1913 and again in 1993. These efforts helped to protect the lighthouse from the bay's waves.
Homes for the Keepers
The house where the lighthouse keepers lived was made bigger in 1881. It was changed into a duplex, which means it had two separate living spaces. This allowed two keepers and their families to live there. In 1925, inside kitchens were added to the house. Later, in 1950, a separate small house was built. This provided a home for a third keeper and their family.
Cove Point Today
The Cove Point Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. Lighthouse keepers continued to live and work there until 1986. That year, the light was finally automated. This means machines took over the job of keeping the light running.
In 2000, the lighthouse was given to Calvert County. At that time, the lighthouse was in great condition. Many of its original parts and equipment were still there. Since then, the Calvert Marine Museum has managed the lighthouse. During the summer months, visitors can go inside the lighthouse and explore the grounds.
Cove Point Light is still an active aid to navigation. It continues to guide ships safely through the Chesapeake Bay. It is also the oldest lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay that has been working continuously since it was built.
