Scotland in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Light's On at Point Lookout

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 11, 2026

1. Light's On at Point Lookout Marker

Inscription.

Light's On at Point Lookout. . , Like all other lighthouses, Point Lookout's light required around-the-clock staffing. To save funds, the light tower was combined with a house. Keepers lived in the home below and spent their days cleaning the lens, checking the oil supply, maintaining buildings, and keeping a close eye on the weather. in 1884, new tasks were added. Point Lookout became a coal storage and distribution depot and a buoy repair station., Emergencies sometimes interrupted the Point's quiet life. Records show that Point Lookout keepers came to the aid of drowning victims, a grounded schooner and even a 1913 plane crash.,

"Keepers must read, write, keep accounts, do manual labor, pull and sail a boat, make minor repairs to premises and keep them whitewashed. A keeper who allows the light to go out is dismissed without regard to excuse." , Report of the Lighthouse Board, 1894

, [Timeline:] ,

1830: Point Lookout's light is illuminated. , 1857: Point Lookout is upgraded to a fourth-order Fresnel lens. , 1872: Fog bell and original free-standing tower is added. , 1883-1884: Point Lookout becomes a coal storage and buoy repair station. The lighthouse residence is raised to two full stories. , 1889: Second fog bell tower replaces original. , 1928: The house is converted to today's duplex, housing two families. , 1939: The U.S. Coast Guard takes over all u.S. lighthouse operations. , 1965: An automated light is built on a sandbar off Point Lookout. , 1966: The light is extinguished for the last time on January 11, 1966. Point Lookout Light Station is turned over to the U.S. Navy. , 2006: Light station is turned over to the State of Maryland. The Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society is founded. , 2019: Point Lookout Light Station is renovated to preserve its history.

, [Captions:] , Keeper George Willis and his family in 1924 , Willis was one of 17 head keepers and Point Lookout's second-longest serving. Many keepers depended upon their families for help with the light and maintenance, and to prevent loneliness., Plans showing the expanded lighthouse following an 1883 renovation , The renovation raised the second floor to two full stories and added a summer kitchen to the rear.

Like all other lighthouses, Point Lookout's light required around-the-clock staffing. To save funds, the light tower was combined with a house. Keepers lived in the home below and spent their days cleaning the lens, checking the oil supply, maintaining buildings, and keeping a close eye on the weather. in 1884, new tasks were added. Point Lookout became a coal storage and distribution depot and a buoy repair station.

Emergencies sometimes interrupted the Point's quiet life. Records show that Point Lookout keepers came to the aid of drowning victims, a grounded schooner and even a 1913 plane crash.

"Keepers must read, write, keep accounts, do manual labor, pull and sail a boat, make minor repairs to premises and keep them whitewashed. A keeper who allows the light to go out is dismissed without regard to excuse."
Report of the Lighthouse Board, 1894

[Timeline:]

1830: Point Lookout's light is illuminated.
1857: Point Lookout is upgraded to a fourth-order Fresnel lens.
1872: Fog bell and original free-standing tower is added.
1883-1884: Point Lookout becomes a coal storage and buoy repair station. The lighthouse residence is raised to two full stories.
1889: Second
Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online
fog bell tower replaces original.
1928: The house is converted to today's duplex, housing two families.
1939: The U.S. Coast Guard takes over all u.S. lighthouse operations.
1965: An automated light is built on a sandbar off Point Lookout.
1966: The light is extinguished for the last time on January 11, 1966. Point Lookout Light Station is turned over to the U.S. Navy.
2006: Light station is turned over to the State of Maryland. The Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society is founded.
2019: Point Lookout Light Station is renovated to preserve its history.

[Captions:]
Keeper George Willis and his family in 1924
Willis was one of 17 head keepers and Point Lookout's second-longest serving. Many keepers depended upon their families for help with the light and maintenance—and to prevent loneliness.

Plans showing the expanded lighthouse following an 1883 renovation
The renovation raised the second floor to two full stories and added a summer kitchen to the rear.

Erected by Maryland Park Service; Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

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

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 11, 2026

2. Light's On at Point Lookout Marker

• Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 11, 1966.

Location. 38° 2.334′ N, 76° 19.334′ W. Marker is in Scotland, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It is on Point Lookout Road (Route 5) 2.3 miles south of 3rd Way, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10350 Point Lookout Rd, Scotland MD 20687, 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 Wharf (a few steps from this marker); The Buoy & Coal Sheds (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to Point Lookout (within shouting distance of this marker); Point Lookout Radio Room (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bay Is a Sunken River (within shouting distance of this marker); From Buoys to Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); The Wooden Spar Buoy (within shouting distance of this marker); New Buoy Technology (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scotland.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Let There Be Light (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 14, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.