Thomas Point Park in Annapolis Neck in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 16, 2025

1. Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Marker

Inscription.

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. .

1825: The first, original granite tower is constructed on Thomas Point near this location by John Donahoo , 1840: Due to erosion, a second masonry tower lighthouse is built by Winslow Lewis near the first tower, which was demolished , 1875: After years of complaints, a new screwpile lighthouse was built at the end of the shoal, over a mile out into the bay , This third lighthouse greatly improved mariner safety , 1877: The foundation is damaged by heavy ice and the 1840 lighthouse is reactivated for two weeks , 1886: 1600 cubic yards of riprap stone is placed around the lighthouse to protect it from ice floes , 1964: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse becomes the last manned beacon on the Chesapeake Bay , 1975: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places , 1986: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is fully automated on September 5, 1986 , 1999: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is designated as a National Historic Landmark , 2004: Ownership of the lighthouse is transferred from the Department of Interior to the City of Annapolis , The lighthouse is managed by the United States Lighthouse Society and preserved by its Chesapeake Chapter , 2007: Public tours of the Lighthouse and historic interpretation by the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Chesapeake Chapter USLHS docents begin - restoration of the lighthouse continues

, . The lighthouse sits on nine cast-iron screwpiles, six of which are spaced at 60-degree intervals around the perimeter of the central piling. The piles are screwed 11 feet 6 inches into bottom of the Bay. , . The lighthouse is a 35-foot diameter, 1+1/2 story hexagonal wood structure, 48-feet tall. It was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. , . The interior of the lighthouse was designed for a principal keeper and his assistants. It has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and sitting room. There are storage areas for food, clothing, supplies and water. , . Thomas Point Shoal lighthouse was the last lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay to have a keeper and is the last cottage style lighthouse left on its original site in the Bay. , . The metal support structure received major repairs in 2019 and 2020. , . As of 2020, the lighthouse remains an Active Aid to Navigation and NOAA Weather Station.

1825: The first, original granite tower is constructed on Thomas Point near this location by John Donahoo
1840: Due to erosion, a second masonry tower lighthouse is built by Winslow Lewis near the first tower, which was demolished
1875: After years of complaints, a new screwpile lighthouse was built at the end of the shoal, over a mile out into the bay — This third lighthouse greatly improved mariner safety
1877: The foundation is damaged by heavy ice & the 1840 lighthouse is reactivated for two weeks
1886: 1600 cubic yards of riprap stone is placed around the lighthouse to protect it from ice floes
1964: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse becomes the last manned beacon on the Chesapeake Bay
1975: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places
1986: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is fully automated on September 5, 1986
1999: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is designated as a National Historic Landmark
2004: Ownership of the lighthouse is transferred from the Department of Interior to the City of Annapolis — The lighthouse is managed by the United States Lighthouse Society & preserved by its Chesapeake Chapter
2007: Public tours of the Lighthouse
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& historic interpretation by the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Chesapeake Chapter USLHS docents begin - restoration of the lighthouse continues

• The lighthouse sits on nine cast-iron screwpiles, six of which are spaced at 60-degree intervals around the perimeter of the central piling. The piles are screwed 11 feet 6 inches into bottom of the Bay.
• The lighthouse is a 35-foot diameter, 1+1/2 story hexagonal wood structure, 48-feet tall. It was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens.
• The interior of the lighthouse was designed for a principal keeper and his assistants. It has 2 bedrooms, a kitchen & sitting room. There are storage areas for food, clothing, supplies & water.
• Thomas Point Shoal lighthouse was the last lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay to have a keeper & is the last cottage style lighthouse left on its original site in the Bay.
• The metal support structure received major repairs in 2019 & 2020.
• As of 2020, the lighthouse remains an Active Aid to Navigation & NOAA Weather Station.

Erected 2020 by Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society; designed by CC-USLHS Historian Jennifer Jones.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Landmarks

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 16, 2025

2. Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Marker

If you zoom in on the photo you can make out the lighthouse in the distance (above the "l" on Shoal).

• Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 5, 1986.

Location. 38° 54.443′ N, 76° 27.62′ W. Marker is in Annapolis Neck, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It is in Thomas Point Park. It is on Thomas Point Road one mile south of Gordon Cove Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3890 Thomas Point Rd, Annapolis MD 21403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Thomas Point / Our Abundant Chesapeake (a few steps from this marker); Dino (approx. 0.3 miles away); Arundel-on-the-Bay (approx. 0.6 miles away); Dr. Mary Church Terrell (approx. 1.6 miles away); Dr. Millard R. "Buddy" Dean (approx. 1.6 miles away); Twin Oaks (approx. 1.6 miles away); Highland Beach Maryland (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named Twin Oaks (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis Neck.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Thomas Point / Our Abundant Chesapeake (was a few steps from this marker but has been

Thomas Point Shoal Light, Chesapeake Bay, near Annapolis, Maryland image. Click for more information.

Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

3. Thomas Point Shoal Light, Chesapeake Bay, near Annapolis, Maryland

replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. Thomas Point Shoal Light. Wikipedia entry:
Links to National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (Submitted on December 2, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. National Park Service profile for the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. (Submitted on November 16, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 76 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on November 16, 2025.