Cambridge in Dorchester County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A Beacon on the Choptank
| | Choptank River Lighthouse | |
Celebrating maritime history
The Choptank River Lighthouse is a replica of the screwpile lighthouse that guided mariners near the mouth of the Tred Avon River, about 4.5 miles from here by water. That original lighthouse stood as a beacon from 1921 until 1964, when it was decommissioned. Before 1921, other beacons that site helped vessels pass safely by the shoals: A lightship was stationed there in 1870, followed by a lighthouse until it was destroyed by ice in 1918. The current structure was built in 2012 through the efforts of Dorchester County and Cambridge residents who wanted to commemorate the area's rich maritime history.
In the past, the light and fog bell of the original Choptank River Lighthouse helped oyster dredging boats, steamboats, and other watercraft navigate near dangerous hidden shoals by Benoni's Point. Many of these vessels stopped by Long Wharf, where you are now, which was once a bustling landing.
Step inside the lighthouse
The inside of the lighthouse houses a small museum, which is open 9:30am-5pm daily, May through October, and is staffed by docents on weekends. From November through April, it's open by appointment; contact [email protected]. Your self-guided tour may include a walk up to the second floor to see additional maritime artifacts and
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.
Location. 38° 34.6′ N, 76° 4.243′ W. Marker is in Cambridge, Maryland, in Dorchester County. It is on High Street north of Water Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Mill St, Cambridge MD 21613, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, 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 Launch Boat (here, next to this marker); Privy Station (a few steps from this marker); The River (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); To the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (about 500 feet away); Distinguished Service Cross (about 600 feet away); World War I Memorial (about 700 feet away); The Last Skipjack to Be Built (about 700 feet away); The Waterman's Way of Life (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cambridge.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 14, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
