Piney Point Lighthouse, Piney Point, Maryland

By John Cowgill

The Chesapeake Bay area has many coves and rivers that feed into its waters.  Amongst these is the Potomac River, which divides the states of Maryland and Virginia.

Lighthouses

Alongside either side of the river are many rivers and creeks that circulation into it, and most of the early settlers arrived by boats to settle amongst these waterways.  As time went on, lighthouses have been constructed to assist boats and ships navigate the waters to keep away from operating aground.  Certainly one of these lighthouses was inbuilt 1936 on Piney Level on the Maryland facet of the Potomac River.

The Piney Level Lighthouse was erected to assist information the ships as they have been heading as much as the ports of Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, which was at one time the fifth busiest port within the colonies.  There was a lightkeeper who stored the sunshine burning, notably at night time and through foggy situations.

Lightkeepers

The lightkeeper lived in a home that was near the lighthouse itself.  Some lived alone, whereas others had households who assisted in retaining the sunshine shining.  With the erection of the beacon (which have been locations within the waterway itself), many of the lighthouses turned out of date.  With much less ship visitors going to Washington and Alexandria, as an alternative going to the ports of Baltimore and Norfolk, the Piney Level Lighthouse was placed on the listing of out of date lighthouses.

At present, you possibly can go to the Piney Level Lighthouse, which has not been moved from its unique location.  You may climb the lighthouse, which is simply two tales excessive.  (It isn’t wheelchair accessible.)  You may stroll via the lightkeeper’s home (additionally not wheelchair accessible) and see the place the lightkeeper lived.  One of many nice issues about being at a lighthouse is the views of the water There’s a pier that guests can stroll onto (wheelchair accessible) and see what the lightkeeper would have seen.

Visiting the Lighthouse

The previous lightkeepers didn’t have the chance to go to the Potomac River Maritime exhibit, however you possibly can.  (It’s wheelchair accessible.)  Guests can see how the individuals on the waterways of Southern Maryland (and components of Virginia) lived, and may learn into the harvesting of oysters, which remains to be a giant trade within the area right now.  Guests can see 4 boats and two skipjacks.  (Skipjacks are picket crusing boats that are widespread in Maryland, primarily within the Chesapeake Bay.)

Guests may also see a small museum, the place they’ll look into the lighthouse and study in regards to the function of the U.S. Coast Guard within the area and examine a German submarine that was sunk within the space.

The Piney Level Lighthouse is owned and operated by Saint Mary’s County, Maryland and is a county website.  It’s positioned at 44720 Lighthouse Street in Piney Level, Maryland, off Maryland Route 249.  (Comply with the indicators from Maryland Route 5.)  The lighthouse is on a peninsula surrounded by water, and you’ll need to move via the city of Piney Level to entry the lighthouse.  (Velocity restrict is 25.)  Admission is required to enter the lighthouse, lightkeeper’s home, and museum.  Parking is on website.  You may study extra in regards to the Piney Level Lighthouse and the hours at stmarysmd.com/recreate/PPL/.

The Piney Level Lighthouse is a good place to go to.  Guests will benefit from the historical past and the wonder the lightkeepers loved.  If you do go to, know that they are going to go away the sunshine on… for you.

The view from the lighthouse

John Cowgill writes about regional locations for Prince William Residing.