Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse

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Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse

(Chesapeake Bay, Near Skidmore, Maryland)

Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse is located about one and one-half miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and about 1000 yards off the shore from Sandy Point State Park. It is the second lighthouse to have been built in the area.

The first lighthouse was built on land at Sandy Point. It was commissioned in 1858 and a fog bell was added in 1863. Unfortunately, within a short period of time the shoal extended into the bay and the lighthouses became inadequate fo signal the dangers of the shoal. A new lighthouse was needed.

After repeated recommendations the Lighthouse Board finally received an appropriation of $25,000 in 1874. This however was not sufficient for the proposed lighthouse design and more money was requested. When the additional funding was turned down the Lighthouse Board went ahead with an alternate design – a caisson type lighthouse.

The caisson base was 35 feet in diameter and 32 feet, six inches tall. Work began in August of 1883. The caisson base was built, positioned, and sunk into the sandy bottom. On top of the caisson base was constructed a three story brick lighthouse. The house was 24 feet square with truncated corners giving it an octagonal shape. The first and second levels were living quarters and the third level was a watch area. Below the living quarters, within the caisson itself, was an area used for storage of coal, oil, water, etc. Work was completed and the light commissioned on October 30, 1883.

The lighthouse was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The original characteristic was a flashing white light at six-second intervals. This was changed in 1890 to a fixed white light. The light is positioned 51 feet above mean high water.

The light was electrified in 1929 and fully automated in 1963. As was the case with many unmanned lighthouses it quickly fell pry to vandals. An inspection by the Coast Guard in 1979 found the lighthouse greatly damaged, including the Fresnel lens. Apparently, someone had smashed it with a baseball bat and it was beyond repair. The lens was replaced with an acrylic lens.

During the 1980s and 1990s major repairs have been made to the lighthouse structure by the Coast Guard. Although more work needs to be done, it looks today very much like it did in the late 1880s.

Directions: Being out in the Chesapeake Bay, the Sandy Point Light is best viewed by boat, however, it can be seen from land at the Sandy Point State Park. Watermark Cruises in Annapolis, MD has lighthouse cruises that visit Thomas Point Shoal Light, Baltimore Harbor Light, and Sandy Point Shoal Light. More information may be found on their web site at: http://www.watermarkcruises.com.

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