Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse

To visit the Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse, take US-50 west from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to exit 32 and continue north on 908. Follow the signs to Sandy Point State Park. There is an admission fee of $1 (April 2003) to enter the park. Once inside the park, drive down to the parking lot closest to the water's edge and the lighthouse can be clearly seen about mile out in the water.

The Chesapeake Bay has long been an important avenue for transporting goods into and out of the inland ports located along its waters. As the level of shipping increased, more and more vessels were being lost on the shifting sandy shoals that lie just underneath the surface of the water. One of the locations is Sandy Point Shoal, just outside of Skidmore, MD.

Once it was evident that a marker was needed to guide shipping around the shoal, the US Lighthouse Board built an onshore light station in 1858. This light station proved to be ineffective, and in 1883, a caisson style lighthouse was built on the outer edge of the shoal. The foundation was constructed of stone and secured by concrete, making a solid thirty-five foot base, allowing a two-story living quarters to be built. On top of the living quarters, a lantern room was constructed, raising the height of the light so that it can be seen from a greater distance. The lighthouse remained in operation, being cared for by the

keepers who lived a solitary life in the tower, until the light was automated in 1963.

Today, the lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation. Although the lighthouse is closed to the public, visitors can get a good view of the lighthouse from Sandy Point State Park. The park also offers a great place to have a pic-nic lunch or just relax and enjoy the view of the Chesapeake. Be sure to watch for deer and other wildlife that live in the park.