Point Lookout State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Point Lookout State Park
View north from the lighthouse at Point Lookout
Point Lookout State Park Location in Maryland
Location	11175 Point Lookout Road, Scotland, Maryland
Nearest town	Lexington Park, Maryland
Area	1,083 acres (4.38 km2)
Designation	Maryland state park
Established	1964
Administrator	Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Website	Point Lookout State Park

Point Lookout State Park is a cool place in Maryland where history and nature meet! It's located at the very tip of a piece of land called Point Lookout. This spot is special because the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River meet right here.

The park is famous for two main things:

• It was once a large American Civil War prisoner of war camp.
• It's home to the Point Lookout Light, a lighthouse built way back in 1830.

This park is the southernmost point on Maryland's western shore. It's a great place to explore history, enjoy the outdoors, and maybe even spot some wildlife!

Exploring Point Lookout's Past

Point Lookout has a long and interesting history, going back hundreds of years. It has played a part in many important events for Maryland and the United States.

Early Explorers and Settlements

In 1608, a famous explorer named Captain John Smith visited Point Lookout. He was mapping out the Mid-Atlantic region for the British king. Smith loved the area, noting its rich wildlife, good fishing, and fertile soil. He also saw how important its location was, overlooking the meeting point of several rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. He thought it would be a perfect spot for a new British colony.

The first settlement in Maryland began in 1634, not far from Point Lookout in St. Mary's City. Point Lookout then became part of a large estate owned by Leonard Calvert, who was the first governor of colonial Maryland.

Because of its important location, British forces attacked Point Lookout during the American Revolution.

Point Lookout in the War of 1812

Royal Marines were stationed at Point Lookout during the British occupation in 1814.

British Colonial Marines were also at Point Lookout in 1814.

The name "Point Lookout" actually comes from its use during the War of 1812. People used this spot to "look out" for British ships!

The Chesapeake Bay was a major route for British warships during this war. The British even set up a base on Tangier Island in Virginia. From there, they attacked towns and farms along the bay. They even burned Washington, D.C. in 1814!

Watching for British Ships

During the War of 1812, a local group of citizens in St. Mary's County secretly watched British ships from Point Lookout. They even created a secret system to send messages at night to Washington, D.C. This way, President James Madison could stay updated on British movements. The roads were rough, so they used a relay system, passing messages from one rider to the next over 80 miles!

British Takeover

The citizen militia worked secretly for over a year. But then, the British landed and took over Point Lookout. The militia couldn't stand up to the large, experienced British troops. This made it harder for American leaders to know what the British were doing. Some people think this contributed to the British burning Washington, D.C., in August 1814.

Point Lookout During the Civil War

Camp Cross, a Union Army camp at Point Lookout, Maryland from 1863–1864

In 1862, during the American Civil War, Point Lookout became a very busy place. It turned into a temporary city with many buildings. These included a large hospital for the Union Army and a military base called Fort Lincoln. Most importantly, a large prisoner of war camp was built here to hold captured Confederate soldiers.

Life in the Prison Camp

Sidney Lanier, a famous poet, was a Confederate prisoner at Point Lookout.

A historical marker at the site of the prison camp.

After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, Union forces captured thousands of Confederate soldiers. Point Lookout was one of the places quickly set up to hold them. The prison camp was officially called Camp Hoffman. It was about 40 acres and surrounded by a 15-foot tall wooden fence. Guards watched from the top of the fence.

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, about 50,000 soldiers were held at the camp. They all lived in tents. Nearly 4,000 prisoners died there. While this sounds like a lot, the death rate (8 percent) was actually less than half the death rate for soldiers fighting in the field. The camp was built for 10,000 men, but sometimes it held between 12,000 and 20,000 prisoners. This led to very crowded conditions, with up to sixteen men sharing one tent. The camp became known as one of the toughest Union-run prisons.

Remembering the Past

Point Lookout State Park also has a special area to remember the soldiers who died there.

A Mass Grave and Memorial

There is a mass grave at the park where 3,384 Confederate prisoners of war are buried. A tall pillar marks the grave, with the names of the dead soldiers carved into its base. Next to the cemetery is the Confederate Memorial Park, which is three acres large. A United States flag flies in front of the memorial, and a Confederate flag is also flown nearby to honor the Southern soldiers.

Lost to the Bay

Over the last 150 years, the Chesapeake Bay's water has caused a lot of erosion. Because of this, about half of the original prison camp site has been washed away by the bay.

Point Lookout State Park Today

Today, Point Lookout State Park is a fun place for everyone! You can still see the Point Lookout Light, the original lighthouse built in 1830. The park also has:

• A fishing pier
• Boat launch areas
• Public beaches
• Overnight camping spots
• Remaining Civil War historical sites

Some people even say the park is home to ghosts!

Notable People Connected to Point Lookout

• Sidney Lanier: A famous poet, musician, and professor who was a Confederate prisoner of war at Point Lookout.

Point Lookout in Pop Culture

• The 2008 video game Fallout 3 has an expansion pack called Point Lookout. It's set in a world after an apocalypse, in a version of Point Lookout and the areas around it.

Images for kids

• 

  View north from the lighthouse at Point Lookout

• 

  Royal Marines were stationed at Point Lookout during the British occupation in 1814.

• 

  British Colonial Marines were also at Point Lookout in 1814.

• 

  Camp Cross, a Union Army camp at Point Lookout, Maryland from 1863–1864

• 

  Sidney Lanier, a famous poet, was a Confederate prisoner at Point Lookout.

• 

  A historical marker at the site of the prison camp.