LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOS
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Sandy Point Lighthouse - Courtesy Evan Wegenheim
Sandy Point Lighthouse, Maryland; dated 3 July 1885; no photo number; photo by Major Jared A. Smith
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Annapolis, Maryland, USA
Designated Waterway: Chesapeake Bay
The Sandy Point Shoal Light in it's original location. The lighthouse is located in the Chesapeake Bay, southern mouth of the Magothy River (north of Annapolis, MD off Sandy Point State Park).
In 1883 the Sandy Point Shoal caisson with a 37-foot Empire-style eight-sided, red brick tower with a white roof and black lantern housing a 4th order Fresnel lens was built. This caisson replaced an earlier Sandy Point Light that had been built on land where Sandy Point State Park is located now. It was an on shore brick tower constructed in 1858 that was situated in a poor location.
Sandy Point Shoal Light has a wooden caisson foundation supporting a round 35-foot-diameter cement-filled cast-iron cylinder on which a 2 1/2-story octagonal brick structure rests. The structure is 24 by 24 feet with truncated corners giving it an octagonal shape. Although not originally painted, the brick portion of the structure is now painted red. The wooden third story mansard roof is painted white, the lantern is painted black, and the gallery deck is painted a dark red/brown. The first two stories were used as living quarters, the third level as the watch room, and the lower level within the cast iron cylinder, as a storage area for water, coal, and oil.
It was electrified in 1929 and fully automated in 1963.
The privy, once located on the southwest side and overhanging the lower gallery deck, was removed sometime since 1989. A pair of davits and a landing ladder once existed on the east side. Another pair of davits and a single loading davit once existed on the west side. The landing ladder on the west side is still used.
The lighthouse is situated in 5 to 7 feet of water approximately 1000 yards east from the beach at Sandy Point State Park and approximately 1 1/2 miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Because of its location, the lighthouse was open to vandalism and in 1979 the Coast Guard discovered that someone had completely smashed the handmade 19th century crystal Fresnel lens, apparently with a baseball bat. It has been replaced with an acrylic lens. Major restoration work was undertaken by the Coast Guard in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
This light is visible from both the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and from the shore of Sandy Point State Park. The original, land-based, lighthouse is no longer standing.
From US Route 50, just west of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and about 6.7 east of Annapolis, Exit at Interchange 32 and go north on State Route 908 (State Park Road) following the signs to Sandy Point State Park.
Turn right onto South Beach Road, still following the signs for the park and go 0.9 miles to the parking lot at the end of the road.
The lighthouse is located about 3,000 feet east of the beach in the Chesapeake Bay.
| Location Type |
Offshore |
|
Construction Type |
Caisson |
| Original Optics |
Fourth-order Fresnel lens |
| Current Optics |
Fourth-order Fresnel lens |
| Year Built |
1883 |
| Builder: |
|
| Operational: |
Yes |
| Date Deactivited: |
|
| Automated: |
Yes |
|
Markings: |
Caisson with octagonal, brick, dwelling / tower |
| Shape: |
|
| Height: |
51 feet |
| Focal
Plane Height: |
|
| Range: |
9 Miles |
| Sound
Signal Building: |
No |
| Sound
Device: |
Foghorn |
| Existing
Keepers Quarters: |
|
| Current
Use: |
Active USCG ATON |
| Current
Owner/Manager: |
USCG |
| Open to
the Public: |
No |
| Web
Site: |
Sandy Point Shoal Light |
National Register Status:
Lighthouse was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 December 2002.
Miscellaneous
The first lighthouse marking Sandy Point Shoal in the Chesapeake Bay was land based. Congress appropriated $8,000 for its construction in 1854. However, issues procuring the land delayed construction until mid-1857. The construction contract was awarded to W. J. Humes and the resulting light consisted of a 1 ½ story brick Victorian dwelling with the tower rising out of the roof. It was a much more ornate structure than the lights built under the earlier administration of Stephen Pleasonton. The light was exhibited through a fifth order Fresnel lens in early 1858 and stood 50 feet above mean high water (35 feet above the ground). A fog bell tower was added in 1863. In the decades following construction of the land-based Sandy Point Shoal Light the shoal grew and maritime traffic, particularly to the ports of Baltimore, increased. Mariners increasingly found the light severely lacking because of its distance from the shoal and the new shipping channel. In 1882 Congress appropriated $25,000 for construction of a new light. Initially a second light of the screw-pile design was proposed to mark the Sandy Point Shoal. However, a number of recent ice flow related accidents with screw-piles in open waters caused the Lighthouse Board to reconsider. Additional funds were sought for a caisson light, but were not received. So, the current light is somewhat of a compromise – The proposed caisson foundation was built and sunk. However, a smaller, less expensive, brick tower was built upon it. Construction progressed without undue mishaps and a fourth order Fresnel lens was exhibited on October 30th 1883. The earlier land-based light was discontinued at that time.
Researched and written by Matthew B. Jenkins, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Light House Society.
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