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 an old lighthouse located at Piney Point, Maryland on the Potomac River in Maryland. It's not far from where the river meets the Chesapeake Bay. Built in 1836, this lighthouse helped guide ships safely for many years. The United States Coast Guard stopped using it in 1964. Today, it's a popular museum where visitors can learn about its history and even climb to the top! It's sometimes called the Lighthouse of Presidents because several early U.S. Presidents visited or stayed nearby.
Contents
A Lighthouse with History
Building the Lighthouse
In 1836, the U.S. Congress provided $5,000 to build the Piney Point Lighthouse. A builder named John Donahoo constructed the lighthouse. When it was first lit, its light could be seen up to 10 nautical miles away.
Upgrades and Changes
The lighthouse received an important upgrade in 1855. Its original lamp was replaced with a special Fresnel lens. This new lens made the light even stronger, increasing its reach to 11 nautical miles.
Later, in 1880, a bell tower was added to the lighthouse station. This bell helped warn ships during foggy weather. The bell tower served its purpose for many years until 1954. That year, Hurricane Hazel caused so much damage that the bell tower could no longer be used.
Becoming a Museum
The federal government officially gave the Piney Point property to St. Mary's County in 1980. Then, in 1990, the Museum Division of St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks began working to fix up the lighthouse and its grounds. Their goal was to turn it into a museum for everyone to enjoy.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum has many interesting exhibits. These exhibits teach visitors about the lighthouse itself and the history of the United States Coast Guard. You can also learn about the Piney Point area and a fascinating story about a German submarine.
The Black Panther Submarine
One unique exhibit tells the story of the Black Panther U-1105. This was a German submarine that was sunk in the Potomac River. Today, it serves as a special shipwreck dive preserve, where divers can explore its remains underwater.
Historic Boats
In a separate building, you can find the Potomac River Maritime Exhibit. This exhibit displays four historic wooden boats. These vessels show what kind of boats were used on the river in the past.
Climb the Tower
When the museum is open, visitors have the exciting chance to climb to the top of the lighthouse tower. From there, you can get amazing views of the Potomac River and the surrounding area.
Local Connection
The Piney Point Lighthouse is so important to the area that a local school is named after it. Piney Point Elementary School is located nearby in Tall Timbers, Maryland.
See also
