Piney Point Light
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| Piney Point Light | |
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 Piney Point Light |
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| Location: | Piney Point in St. Marys County, Maryland, about 13 miles from the mouth of the Potomac River |
| Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS) |
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| Year first lit: | 1836 |
| Deactivated: | 1964 |
| Construction: | brick/masonry |
| Tower shape: | conical tower |
| Height: | 35 ft |
| Original lens: | fifth-order Fresnel lens |
The Piney Point Light was built in 1836 located at Piney Point on the Potomac River in Maryland just up the river from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The Coast Guard decommissioned it in 1964 and it has since become a museum. It is known as the Lighthouse of Presidents because several early US Presidents visited or stayed on the grounds.
[edit] History
Congress appropriated $5000 to build the lighthouse in 1836. The lighthouse was built by John Donahoo and had a range of 10 miles. The lamp was replaced in 1855 with a Fresnel lens upgrading the range to 11 miles.
A bell tower was added in 1880 and was in service until 1954 when Hurricane Hazel damaged it beyond repair.
The federal government deeded the property to St. Mary's County in 1980 and in 1990 the Museum Division of St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks began to renovate the grounds. There is a small museum and gift-shop. In addition, tourists can go on tours up into the lighthouse.
There is an elementary school named for the lighthouse up the road in Tall Timbers, MD.
[edit] References
- Maryland Light Stations. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- Piney Point Lighthouses Museum. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
- Piney Point Lighthouse.
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