Piney Point Lighthouse 

Piney Point Lighthouse, also know as the "Lighthouse of Presidents" because of the many presidents that have visited and stayed on the grounds, is a squat masonry tower in the form of a cone that was built by John Donahoo in 1836. The lighthouse is located in Piney Point on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, 14 miles upstream of the mouth of the river on the Chesapeake Bay. It is the oldest of 11 lighthouses built on the Potomac River, and is one of only 3 still standing. Congress appointed $5000 for the building of this lighthouse, intended to take the place of a lightship in operation since 1821. A bell tower was built next to the lighthouse in 1880 to warn mariners of fog. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel destroyed the bell tower and it was never rebuilt.

The lighthouse stands only 34 feet high, has a five-foot high doorway, 3 windows, and a floor constructed of brick pavers. The diameter of the lighthouse, at ground level, is only 13 feet, and only 7 feet below the lantern. The tower is painted white and has a black lantern. The original keeper’s house was one-story, measuring 30 feet by 20 feet. The house was enlarged with a second story in 1884 (as seen in the photo). In 1930, the Light-House Service estimated the value of the buildings and land at over $240,000.

The U.S. Coast Guard deactivated the lighthouse in 1964, after 125 years of service. The Museum Division of the St. Mary's County Department of Parks and Recreation restored and renovated the lighthouse and outbuildings in 1990.  The lighthouse is now under the jurisdiction of the St. Clements Island-Potomac River Museum.  The grounds of the lighthouse station, except for the living quarters (which is now privately rented), is open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. Visitors are only able to climb the lighthouse during scheduled times, one of which is always in May during the Annual Piney Point Celebration.  The grounds have beautifully displayed exhibit panels, a park, a view of the Potomac River, and a small museum gift shop.  The museum gift shop is open May - October, Monday - Tuesday & Thursday - Sunday from 12pm - 5pm.  Call the Potomac River Museum for further information on visiting this lighthouse.  The Piney Point Lighthouse is also home to the first Maryland  Historic Shipwreck Preserve, U-1105 Black Panther, a German Submarine that was sunk in 90 feet of water in the Potomac River off Piney Point.