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

Natural Highways

Photographed By Tom Fuchs, July 1, 2008

1. Natural Highways Marker

Inscription. The Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries have served as natural highways since the beginning of civilization. With the gradual development of villages and settlements along the shorelines, the waterways became the primary means of transportation and commerce for this region of the country. Vessels ranging from simple dugout canoes to shallops, steamboats and international tankers have traversed these waterways for centuries.

Beginning in the 1800's, Piney Point became a steamboat destination on the Potomac River, bringing market goods and passengers to this popular summer resort community. Local watermen capitalized on the natural bounty of these waters and shipped their harvests of fish and shellfish from the Potomac to distant markets. Today, a local company still uses this last deepwater channel off the tip of Piney Point to transport fuel and asphalt products from international tankers to the nearby storage facility.

Caption of photo on lower left side of marker
The steamship Talbot brought visitors from Washington, D. C. and Baltimore, Maryland to the Piney Point wharf.

Caption of photo on lower right side of marker
Deep water petroleum terminal dock at Piney Point, Maryland

Erected by Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.

Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 38° 8.154′ N, 76° 31.748′ W. Marker was in Piney Point, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker was on Lighthouse Road. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Piney Point MD 20674, United States of America.

We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Potomac River Military Testing (here, next to this marker); Bay Lights (here, next to this marker); Osprey (here, next to this marker); Map of Lower Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay (here, next to this marker); Piney Point Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Piney Point Lighthouse (here, next to this marker); The Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Piney Point Lighthouse (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Piney Point.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 974 times since then and 4 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 9, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.