Point Lookout Light facts for kids
| Location | Point Lookout at the mouth of the Potomac River |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°02′19″N 76°19′20″W / 38.0387°N 76.3221°W |
| Year first lit | 1830 |
| Deactivated | 1966 |
| Construction | Wood, brick |
| Tower shape | Keeper's house with lantern on roof |
| Height | 41 feet (12 m) (originally 24 feet (7.3 m)) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
The Point Lookout Light is a special building that helps ships find their way. It's a lighthouse located at the very end of Maryland's western shore, where the Potomac River meets the big Chesapeake Bay. You can find it south of a town called Scotland in Saint Mary's County, Maryland, USA. This historic lighthouse is part of Point Lookout State Park. While it's an important landmark, it's not usually open for visitors to go inside.
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Building the Point Lookout Lighthouse
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Back in 1825, the United States government decided that a lighthouse was needed at Point Lookout. This was to help ships avoid dangerous shallow areas, called shoals, and to show them the entrance to the Potomac River. They set aside $1,800 for the project.
Getting the Land for the Lighthouse
The land needed for the lighthouse belonged to a person named Jenifer Taylor. The government offered him $500 for it, but he didn't want to sell for that price. He even suggested he might accept the offer if he could become the lighthouse keeper! Because of this, buying the land took a long time. Eventually, a local group decided the land was worth $1,150.
Construction Begins and the First Keeper
Since the land cost more than expected, the government approved more money, $4,500, in 1828. A builder named John Donahoo was hired in 1830 for $3,050. He started building the lighthouse even before the land deal was fully settled. Jenifer Taylor continued to discuss the land ownership with the government for about two more years after the lighthouse was already working!
The lighthouse was a story-and-a-half house. Its light was first turned on in September 1830. The first keeper was James Davis. Sadly, he passed away a few months later. His daughter, Ann Davis, then took over and kept the light shining until 1847.
Changes and Upgrades Over Time
The Point Lookout Light has changed a lot since it was first built. These changes helped it serve ships better and adapted it to new needs.
New Lens and Civil War Impact
In 1854, the lighthouse got an important upgrade: a new Fresnel lens. This special lens made the light much brighter and easier for ships to see.
Around this time, the American Civil War began, and it completely changed the area around Point Lookout. In 1862, a large hospital called Hammond General Hospital was built nearby to care for injured soldiers. The next year, in 1863, the hospital also started holding Confederate prisoners. Soon, a huge prison camp called Camp Hoffman was built. At one point, it held as many as 20,000 prisoners. Sadly, over 3,000 prisoners died there because of the difficult conditions, not enough food, and poor shelter.
Adding a Fog Bell and Expanding the Building
In 1873, a fog bell tower was added. This bell would ring to warn ships when fog made it hard to see the light.
In 1883, the lighthouse building itself was made taller, becoming two full stories. A summer kitchen and an extra bedroom were also added. That same year, a place to fix buoys (floating markers for ships) was built on the south side of the lighthouse. In 1884, a shed for storing coal was built next to the buoy repair area. The new buildings blocked the sound of the fog bell, so a new fog bell was put on the east end of the coal shed.
In 1927, the lighthouse was made even bigger and turned into a duplex. This meant it had two separate living areas. This allowed both the main lighthouse keeper and an assistant keeper to live on-site while still having their own private space.
Who Looked After the Lighthouse?
The lighthouse was cared for by both regular people (civilians) and members of the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Takes Over
In 1939, the United States Coast Guard became responsible for all lighthouses in the U.S. Lighthouse keepers were encouraged to join the Coast Guard, though it wasn't a strict rule.
Deactivation and New Ownership
In 1951, the United States Navy started buying land around the lighthouse. On January 11, 1966, the Point Lookout Light was turned off, and the buildings were given to the Navy. Civilian families continued to live in the lighthouse house until 1981. At that time, there was a problem with a broken water well, which led to the end of a long-term agreement the state had with the Navy.
Moving the Fog Bell and Restoration Efforts
The fog bell tower was moved to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in 1968, where it can still be seen today. During the 1960s, the State of Maryland bought land north of the lighthouse and created Point Lookout State Park.
In 2006, the lighthouse was finally given to the State of Maryland as part of a land exchange deal. Also in 2006, a group called the Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society was started. Their goal is to fix up the lighthouse and make it look like it did in 1927. The lighthouse is now owned by Maryland. Volunteers from the Preservation Society open it to the public one day a month from April to November, allowing visitors to learn about its history.
