Piney Point Light facts for kids
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| Location | Piney Point in St. Marys County, Maryland, about 13 miles from the mouth of the Potomac River |
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| Coordinates | 38°08′08″N 76°31′47″W / 38.1355°N 76.5297°W |
| Year first constructed | 1836 |
| Year first lit | 1836 |
| Deactivated | 1964 |
| Construction | brick/masonry |
| Tower shape | conical tower |
| Height | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Original lens | fifth-order Fresnel lens |
The Piney Point Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse in Maryland. It was built in 1836. You can find it at Piney Point on the Potomac River. This is not far from where the river meets the Chesapeake Bay. The lighthouse helped ships navigate the river for many years. It stopped being used in 1964. Now, it is a museum where people can learn about its past. It's sometimes called the Lighthouse of Presidents. This is because several early US Presidents visited or stayed nearby.
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History of the Piney Point Lighthouse
In 1836, the US Congress decided to build the lighthouse. They set aside $5,000 for its construction. A builder named John Donahoo built the lighthouse. When it was first lit, its light could be seen up to 10 nautical miles away. In 1855, the lamp was updated. It received a special Fresnel lens. This new lens made the light even stronger. It could then be seen up to 11 nautical miles away.
Bell Tower and Hurricane Damage
A bell tower was added to the lighthouse property in 1880. This bell helped guide ships when it was foggy. It was used for many years. However, in 1954, a big storm called Hurricane Hazel hit the area. The hurricane damaged the bell tower so badly that it could not be repaired.
Becoming a Museum
The federal government owned the lighthouse property for a long time. In 1980, they gave the property to St. Mary's County. Then, in 1990, the county's Museum Division began to fix up the lighthouse and its grounds. They wanted to turn it into a museum.
Today, the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum has many interesting exhibits. You can learn about the lighthouse itself. There are also exhibits about the United States Coast Guard. You can discover the history of the Piney Point area. A special exhibit tells the story of the Black Panther U-1105. This was a German submarine from World War II. It was sunk in the Potomac River. Now, it is a special place for divers to explore.
In a separate building, you can see the Potomac River Maritime Exhibit. This exhibit shows four old wooden boats. Visitors can also climb to the top of the lighthouse tower. This is a great way to see the views.
The Piney Point Elementary School is nearby. It is named after this historic lighthouse. The school is located in Tall Timbers, Maryland.
See also
