Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

Historical narrative

Standing offshore in the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is one of Maryland’s most distinctive maritime landmarks. Built in 1875, it replaced an earlier land-based light and was designed using the innovative screwpile foundation, in which iron piles were screwed into the Bay’s soft bottom to support the lighthouse above the water. Unlike conventional masonry lighthouses, its open framework allows waves to pass beneath the structure—a practical solution for Chesapeake shoals. Today, Thomas Point is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It is the last surviving screwpile lighthouse of its type remaining on its original site and still serving as an active navigational aid. Its charming cottage-like architecture, weathered iron supports, red roof, and isolated setting make it an especially evocative symbol of the Chesapeake: part working lighthouse, part floating home, and part enduring memory of Maryland’s seafaring past.

Oil

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved