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Visit a section of river between St. Clements Island and Point Lookout, Md...
St. Clements Island, Md.
Piney Point Lighthouse
St. Mary's City, Md.
Point Lookout State Park
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The Piney Point Lighthouse is the oldest permanent lighthouse on the Potomac and one of four Potomac lighthouses still in existence. This unique brick tower lighthouse was built in 1836 for a cost of $5,000 and served until its decommissioning in 1964 when a lighted buoy in the river replaced it. When first built, the tower housed 10 oil lamps and 10 reflectors, casting a white light that could be seen for more than 11 miles. The lamps were replaced by a fresnel lens in 1855, and a stone breakwater was built to combat erosion of the point. Navigation problems because of fog prompted the installation of a bell tower in 1880 and a reed horn later in 1936.
During its heyday, Piney Point was a well-known place. The area was a social center for Washington, D.C., between 1820 and 1910. President James Monroe used a cottage known as the "Summer White House" that was built in 1820. Franklin Pierce and Theodore Roosevelt were also frequent visitors to the area, which was served by steamboat excursions bringing visitors to enjoy the beach.
The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum opened in 1994. Visitors to the site can now stroll a new boardwalk around the lighthouse that features interpretive signs explaining the history of the lighthouse and the surrounding area. The lighthouse can be visited daily from dawn to dusk. School groups or private tours can be arranged for a small fee by contacting the St. Mary’s Division of Parks at (301) 769-2222.
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