Piney Point in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Military Influence
Photographed by Sean C Bath, November 28, 2021
1. Military Influence Updated Marker
Torpedoes arrive at Piney Point. In 1921, the United States Navy sent the first torpedo testing barges from Alexandria, Virginia, to Piney Point. By the onset of World War II, torpedo testing became a regular operation. The Navy purchased property, now the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum property, to moor their torpedo retrieval boats.
After fighting northwest winds and dredging the mouth of the creek three times, the Navy moved its operations one mile to the present-day site of the Paul Hall Center. In 1960, the Steuart Petroleum Company used this site for its tugboats and barges transporting petroleum to its facility in Washington, D.C. St. Mary's County Government purchased the property in 2002 to expand the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park.
"We were never allowed inside the workshop. Men with white coats came and went every day. They would just say hello and go inside. We heard rumors they were working on anti-submarine warfare."
--Warren Wince, "Plank Owner" aboard torpedo barge
Erected by Commissioners of St. Mary's County; St. Mary's County Museum Division; Friends of the St. Clement's Island and Piney Point Museums; Destination Southern Maryland; Southern Maryland Heritage Area, Maryland
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.
Location. 38° 8.23′ N, 76° 31.722′ W. Marker is in Piney Point, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It is on Lighthouse Road (Maryland Route 498) south of Hotel Cove Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 44700 Lighthouse Rd, Piney Point MD 20674, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Dory Boat (within shouting distance of this marker); Fueling Progress (within shouting distance of this marker); Potomac River Military Testing (about 500 feet away); Bay Lights (about 500 feet away); Osprey (about 500 feet away); Map of Lower Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Piney Point Lighthouse (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Piney Point Lighthouse (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Piney Point.
Other markers no longer nearby. Military Influence (has been replaced with this marker); Potomac River Dory Boat (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Piney Point Petroleum Terminal (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Natural Highways (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); Piney Point Lighthouse (was about 500 feet away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Piney Point Lighthouse (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2022, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 17 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 4, 2022, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?
