Sharps Island Light

The Sharps Island Light is a historic lighthouse located on Black Walnut Point Road in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay.

History

• The first lighthouse was built on Sharps Island in 1838, but it was moved to its current location due to erosion. A screwpile lighthouse replaced the original structure in 1866.
• The second lighthouse lasted until 1881 when it was damaged by an ice floe and forced off its foundations.
• The third light, manufactured by the Builder's Iron Company of Providence, Rhode Island, was completed in 1882.

Architecture

The current Sharps Island Light is a sparkplug lighthouse with a fourth-order Fresnel lens that was replaced with a 9.8-inch lens in 1977.

The tower includes an integral dwelling and was staffed until 1938 when the United States Coast Guard automated the light.

The structure's leaning condition, caused by ice damage in 1977, is picturesque but in poor condition.

Light Characteristics

The Sharps Island Light emits a characteristic pattern of flashes to aid navigation.

Its range is approximately [information not available].

Current Status

As of January 2010, the lighthouse was deactivated and no longer actively staffed.

The United States Coast Guard automated the light in 1938, but it has since been inactive.

Location and Accessibility

The Sharps Island Light is located on Black Walnut Point Road in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay.

Visitors can access the structure by road, but its condition may limit accessibility.

Heritage Status

The Sharps Island Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (reference # 82002821) on July 22, 1982.

It is also on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List of endangered lighthouses.

Notable Historical Events

In 1977, an ice floe caused significant damage to the structure, resulting in its current leaning condition.

The lighthouse was a candidate for sale under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act as of 2006 but was not sold.