The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Station was established in 1825 with a 30 foot tower on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay south of Annapolis. This light was threatened by shore erosion and was relocated and rebuilt to 33 feet in 1840. Neither shore based tower proved adequate to properly warn mariners of the shoal obstructing shipping off Thomas Point. By 1872 the second tower was in need of extensive repair and the Lighthouse Board opted to replace it with a light directly over the shoal. The existing hexagonal 2 story wooden cottage was built atop a screw pile foundation anchored to the shoal and stands 43 feet above mean high water. This new lighthouse was completed in 1875 and remained staffed for the next 111 years. Originally equipped with a fourth order Fresnel lens and a fog bell, the lighthouse now has an automatic fog horn and modern optic. In 2004, ownership was transferred from the US Coast Guard to the City of Annapolis and the light is now managed by a public-private partnership organization named Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. They intend to restore the lighthouse to its US Coast Guard appearance circa 1950 and plan to provide public access tours in the near future.

The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse continues to be an active aid to navigation and is the only screw pile lighthouse that remains at its original location in the United States. The white cottage with red roofs, black lantern and green trim shows a white flash with a red sector every 5 seconds visible for 11 miles. The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1999 was also designated as a National Historic Landmark, one of only 9 US lighthouses to receive this top historical honor

November 2004 Issue, Thomas Point Gets New Owner , "In the ceremony conducted under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 ownership was transferred from the Coast Guard to the City of Annapolis. Immediately thereafter the City signed the papers to lease the lighthouse and all aspects of its preservation and operation to the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society". Please go to the Lighthouse Digest Magazine Archives for the full article. Lighthouse Digest magazine not only keeps the history of our lighthouses alive both in print and on line, but it is the best single source to keep current on all aspects of lighthouse preservation, news and events

The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is located off shore on the Chesapeake Bay east of Thomas Point. The best view is by boat but a distant view is available from Anne Arundel County's Thomas Point Park.
Directions: From US Route 50 / 301 / State Route 2 (John Hanson Highway) take exit 24 onto State Route 70 (Rowe Blvd.) south east into Annapolis. After crossing the Severn River, bear right and continue on Rowe Blvd when SR 70 goes straight. In one block continue south east on Northwest St. at a 5 way intersection. Northwest St. ends at a traffic circle. Enter the circle and take the 4th right turn onto Duke of Gloucester St. Bear right onto Compromise St which becomes 6th St as it crosses the Severn River. Turn right onto Baybridge Avenue and then continue on Baybridge Road. Turn right onto Arundel on the Bay Road. Bear right onto Thomas Point Road and continue to the end in the county park. The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is visible on the Chesapeake Bay east of the park

Please Visit the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse web site. A partnership of the City of Annapolis, Annapolis Maritime Museum, Anne Arundel County, Chesapeake Chapter of the US LIghthouse Society and the US Lighthouse Society, this organization is working hard to restore and preserve this historic lighthouse. They provide news and photos of their progress as well as historical information and photos of the lighthouse.  

For more photographs and history of the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, you can visit the:

United States Coast Guard Historians' Official Web Site

Lighthouse Explorer Database