Thomas Point Shoal Light facts for kids
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 Thomas Point Shoal Light
Location in Maryland
Thomas Point Shoal Light
Location in the United States
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| Location | off Thomas Point at the mouth of the South River in the Chesapeake Bay |
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| Coordinates | 38°53′56″N 76°26′10″W / 38.899°N 76.436°W |
| Year first constructed | 1875 |
| Year first lit | 1875 |
| Automated | 1986 |
| Foundation | screw-pile |
| Construction | cast-iron/wood |
| Tower shape | Square lantern on hexagonal house |
| Markings / pattern | White with red roof and black lantern |
| Focal height | 43 feet (13 m) |
| Original lens | fourth-order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 9.8 inches (250 mm) solar-powered lens |
| Range | White 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) Red 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) |
| Characteristic | _Red_Sector_11-51.5_and_96.5-202.gif){kind=small} Flashing white 5 sec, with two red sectors |
| Fog signal | Horn: 1 every 15 sec |
| Admiralty number | J2204 |
| ARLHS number | USA-845 |
| USCG number | 2-7760 |
The Thomas Point Shoal Light is a famous lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay. It is found on the east coast of the country. Many people think it is the most well-known lighthouse in Maryland.
This lighthouse is special because it is the only screw-pile lighthouse in the bay that is still in its original spot. A screw-pile lighthouse stands on long metal poles that are screwed into the seabed. The Thomas Point Shoal Light looks like a small, hexagonal wooden house with a light on top. It also has a foghorn to warn ships when it's foggy.
The Lighthouse's Story
The first lighthouse near Thomas Point was made of stone in 1825. It was built on the shore. Another stone tower replaced it in 1838. However, the land at Thomas Point was slowly washing away. This erosion eventually caused the lighthouse on the point to fall down in 1894.
Because of this problem, the U.S. Congress decided in 1873 to build a new lighthouse. They wanted a screw-pile structure out in the water. Congress set aside money for the project. In 1875, with more funds, the new lighthouse was built. It started working in November of that year.
Building it was a big job! About 30 workers were needed to set each of the strong cast-iron beams. These beams, each about 12 feet (3.7 meters) long, were screwed deep into the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.
Ice was always a danger to screw-pile lighthouses in the Chesapeake Bay. In 1877, big chunks of ice floating in the bay shook the lighthouse. This caused the original light lens to fall and break. Workers quickly replaced the lens. They also placed more poles and piles of rocks around the base to protect it from future ice.
By 1964, the Thomas Point Shoal Light was the last lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay that still had people living and working in it. It wasn't until 1986 that the lighthouse was automated. This means machines took over its operation. Today, it is the only screw-pile lighthouse of its kind still standing in its original spot in the Chesapeake Bay.
Keeping This Special Place Safe
People wanted to make sure this important lighthouse was protected. So, in 1975, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places that are important to American history. In 1999, it was given an even higher honor: National Historic Landmark status.
In 2004, the city of Annapolis, Maryland took over ownership of the lighthouse. Now, several groups work together to take care of it. These groups include Anne Arundel County, Maryland, the Annapolis Maritime Museum, and the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.
In 2019, a spokesperson for the Lighthouse Society shared some news. The metal frame underneath the lighthouse, which was last replaced in the 1980s, was very rusty. It needed about $300,000 worth of repairs. Luckily, the strong metal poles that are screwed into the bay bottom are still in great shape. The Baltimore Sun newspaper reported that these poles were "as good today as they were 144 years ago."
The United States Coast Guard still helps keep the lighthouse's navigation lights working. You can even visit the lighthouse! The old living quarters for the lighthouse keepers are open to the public for three months each year. You can take organized boat tours that leave from Annapolis.
Images for kids
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The Thomas Point Shoal Light in 1999.
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The Thomas Point Shoal Light Station.
