Name and Location

Piney Point Lighthouse, located at 44701 Lighthouse Road, Piney Point, St. Mary's County, Maryland 20674, USA (coordinates: 38°08′07″ N, 76°31′47″ W).

Construction and History

Erected in 1836 under the direction of John Donahoo, the oldest surviving lighthouse on the Potomac River guided mariners roughly 14 river-miles upstream from the Chesapeake Bay into the busy St. Mary's County waterways. It was decommissioned circa 1963 and transferred to St. Mary's County in 1964.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features early-19th-century Federal/vernacular maritime architecture, with load-bearing brick walls (stuccoed and whitewashed) and wood-framed keeper's quarters. The tower is a conical brick structure rising through the keeper's house roof.

Light and Navigation

The original system used multiple oil lamps with parabolic reflectors. Records suggest replacement with a 4th-order Fresnel lens in the mid-1800s, although the exact date is uncertain. Historically reported at roughly 45–50 ft above mean high water, the light was visible for approximately 8–10 nautical miles.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is now part of the St. Clement's Island–Piney Point Museum Complex, which includes a museum (restored keeper's quarters with period furnishings) and outdoor exhibits on oyster harvesting, maritime trade, and Native American history. Visitors can explore the complex from mid-April through October, Wednesday-Sunday.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding area offers stunning views of the lower Potomac River, as well as access to St. Clement's Island State Park (site of Maryland's first colonial landing, 1634) and Blackistone Lighthouse replica.

Anecdotes and Folklore

While no specific stories are documented about this lighthouse, visitors can explore the complex's exhibits on maritime history and enjoy the scenic views along the Potomac River.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was never automated and discontinued as an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation in 1963. The exact light characteristic (flash pattern, period) and precise range are not documented in the public record consulted; information above is drawn from general 19th-century lighthouse practices.

Further Information

For more information on the lighthouse's history, architecture, and current status, visit the St. Mary's County Department of Recreation & Parks or consult the National Register nomination at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/106778300">https://catalog.archives.gov/id/106778300.