If you are someone who loves all things nautical, then checking out these Maryland lighthouses is a must on an MD itinerary!
Lighthouses carry a lot of history and significance in the area, once representing one of the most crucial aspects of going to sea.
Nowadays, they are historical sites that you can often visit to get better views of the surrounding area. Many also contain museums that will allow you to learn more about their history.
And these are the most iconic lighthouses in Maryland – let us know if we have missed any!
Best Lighthouses in Maryland
1. Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse
Located right off the I-95, exit 89 between Maryland and Philadelphia, the Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse measures 36 feet tall with a focal plane of 32 feet.
The lighthouse construction was finally completed in 1827, initially funded by Havre de Grace resident John Donahoo.
The lighthouse was upgraded with a Steamer’s lens in 1855, and a larger Fresnel lens was installed in 1891.
Throughout its history, it has served many purposes such as a rooming house, a restaurant, and a bar!
You can visit the lighthouse for free if you are 42 inches or taller on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm and between 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays.
For physical activity levels, please note that you will be taking a ladder and steps to get to the top of the lighthouse.
Address: 700 Concord St, Havre De Grace
2. Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse
Located east of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, right on Pier 5 is the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, famous for its extensive exhibit of artifacts and information on lighthouses around the Chesapeake region.
You can view over 50,000 objects, photographs, and documents that all tell the story of different, brave sailors who worked at the lighthouse.
It’s one of the oldest-standing lighthouses in the harbor, initially built in 1856 and 40 feet tall, and its focal height measuring 56 feet tall!
The Knoll Lighthouse is famous for its stunning view of Baltimore Harbor, which many tourists enjoy. You can enjoy guided tour programs, Maritime Macabre Tours, and even overnight adventures.
Visiting hours and admission costs vary depending on the activity and day you’d like to see, so check out specific info on the official website.
Address: Pier 5, Baltimore
3. Choptank River Lighthouse
Guiding mariners along the Choptank River for generations is this very same lighthouse called the Choptank River Lighthouse.
It was initially built in 1871 at Baltimore’s Lazaretto Lighthouse Depot but was demolished by an ice floe in 1918. A replica was then constructed and completed in the fall of 2012, and today it stands at an overall height of approximately 40 feet.
You can see the lighthouse near the water, visible from the U.S. Route 50 Choptank River bridge and the nearby city.
A museum is included in the lighthouse that showcases exhibits of the lighthouse’s original history and the area’s maritime heritage.
Since it is located in Dorchester country, tourists can take advantage of the boating and outdoor recreation activities. Visiting hours range from 9 am to 6 pm and are generally accessible.
Address: Long Wharf Park, High and Water St, Cambridge
4. Turkey Point Lighthouse
This particular lighthouse, Turkey Point, was constructed around 178 years ago along the Chesapeake Bay banks and was a prominent landmark for boaters, hikers, and tourists.
It is located on four acres of ground in the Elk Neck State Park and is nearly 100 feet tall! The lighthouse overlooks the Elk and North East rivers in the upper area of the Bay.
It was initially intended to guide and give ships’ captains time to change their navigational course into the mouth of the newly completed C & D canal.
Like most lighthouses, visitors today come to this spot to gaze away at the stunning views, stare at sailboats silently navigating away, and even watch the geese and swans fly overhead.
Visiting hours run from May to October, opening its doors from 10 am to 2 pm.
There is no fee for entering from the lantern room, and the staircase in the lighthouse is open to climbers who can reach the metal handrail.
Address: Turkey Point Lighthouse Trail, North East
5. Bethel Bridge Lighthouse
The Bethel Bridge Lighthouse was originally built to warn ships in the Chesapeake Bay of the various locks and bridges along the fourteen-mile-long channel.
A fun fact is that in the 1600s, a Dutch cartographer and envoy suggested digging the waterway across a narrow piece of land to link two important bodies of water, thus cutting the travel distance from Philadelphia to Baltimore by 300 miles.
This waterway was eventually completed in 1829 by 2,600 laborers when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was finally able to fund the project.
The Army Corps of Engineers operates a canal museum at the old pump house in Chesapeake City to interpret the waterway designated a Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
You can visit this museum for free and see the original waterwheel and pumping engines installed in the 1800s. Today’s replica of the lighthouse is approximately 30 feet tall and fitted with a red oil lamp.
It was eventually rendered unnecessary when the C&D canal was upgraded in 1927.
Address: Chesapeake City, MD 21915
6. Drum Point Lighthouse
Drum Point Lighthouse was officially built on August 3, 1854, when the Lighthouse Board urged the board to initiate the building of a lighthouse near Solomons Island.
The Drum Point light station was initially to be located on land.
After going through various ordeals, complications, and even considering the termination of the project, the lighthouse was eventually built.
The light of this beauty was first exhibited on August 20, 1883, and the fixed red light was visible thirteen nautical miles in clear weather.
From a height of 15 feet, its fog bell would ring a double blow every fifteen seconds in poor visibility.
Visitors can enter the lighthouse year-round except when the museum is closed on certain holidays.
Ticket prices, as well as visiting hours, vary, so it’s recommended you check the admissions deck in advance.
Address: 14150 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons
7. Pooles Island Light
The island where the Pooles Lighthouse was initially used for bombing and shelling practice from 1918 through the early 1960s means this place is unfortunately off-limits for visitors!
It is dangerous for one to visit since there are unexploded bombs and shells all over the island.
The lighthouse was authorized to be built in 1824 and was eventually completed in 1825, being the 4th oldest on the Bay behind Cape Henry, Old, and New Point Comfort.
It is the oldest lighthouse still standing in Maryland!
The tower’s base is around 18 feet, and the interior spiral staircase is made from solid-cut granite.
A full restoration of the building was completed in 1997 by the Directorate of Safety, Health, and Environment at Aberdeen Proving Ground with various volunteers.
Getting so close to the tower is challenging without causing danger to yourself.
The nearest point to seeing the light is from the land area to the Northwest, but it is part of the Edgewood Arsenal, and this may cause difficulty for a visitor getting onto a military base.
If you want a clear view of the lighthouse, try looking up the Bay to the northwest at a distance of 4.3 miles.
Address: Chestertown, MD 21620
8. Cove Point Lighthouse
Sitting on seven acres of land and standing 45 feet tall is the beautifully restored and repurposed active lighthouse, located on one of the narrowest parts of the Chesapeake Bay.
The keeper’s house, which is also stunning, can be rented as a vacation home and sleeps up to 16 guests.
Cove Point Lighthouse was built in 1828, and at that time, the light beacon was only visible for 12 nautical miles.
A museum called The Calvert Marine Museum opened later on in 2002, where one can explore how the prehistoric past, natural environment, and maritime heritage come together to explain everything about the Chesapeake Bay.
The lighthouse grounds and visiting center is open to the public on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm from May through September.
Address: 3500 Lighthouse Blvd, Lusby
9. Hooper Strait Lighthouse
Sometime before 1855, this lighthouse “Hooper Strait” was anchored west of the islands to warn mariners of shoals that extended for some distance into the Bay.
Unfortunately, it was destroyed and demolished during the Civil War, sunk by the insurgents.
A replacement was, however, placed back on duty in 1866, and it was built off the southern ends of the islands to mark the passage between the Chesapeake Bay and Tangier Sound.
Today, the Hooper Island Lighthouse is located in approximately 18′ of water, around three miles west of Hooperville, Upper Hooper Island.
The height of the light above the water is 63 feet!
The tower is unfortunately closed for visiting. However, you can view it from the water on the shore.
There are tours in the area that visit this lighthouse. Some you can book by Sawyer Charters.
Address: 213 N Talbot St, St Michaels
10. Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse
The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse was built in 1875 and remained an active Beacon of Navigation in Maryland, the most recognized lighthouse in Maryland.
It is one of twelve Maritime National Historic Landmarks.
The first time the light was seen from the lighthouse was in 1875, flashing a rather annoying red light every 20 seconds.
It also had an automatic bell striking three times once every 30 seconds!
The machinery and the bell were located right near the bedrooms of the keeper, which did disturb people and caused sleepless nights.
The historic lighthouse stands almost 50 feet tall and is open to the public for visits.
Boat rides among the lighthouses are offered, costing around $90 per person.
There are three different tours offered each day, the first starting at 9 am, the second at 11 am, and the third at 1 pm.
You must note that since it’s highly requested, you must book a while in advance as tickets do tend to sell out very fast!
Address: Thomas Point shoal, Annapolis
Did we miss any of the best lighthouses in Maryland? Let us know in the comments!
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she has lived all around the world (including Germany, Finland, Norway, etc) but her heart always finds its way back to Virginia. This blog is to help encourage travelers to explore the great state of VA… and its wonderful neighbors! Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, the New York Times, and more. She has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries… and wholeheartedly believes that Brunswick Stew is probably the greatest food to ever exist.