Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse was built in 1875. It has been a beacon on Chesapeake Bay keeping boaters safe from the Thomas Point Shoal. This iconic lighthouse is the last surviving screwpile lighthouse on Chesapeake Bay and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1999.
The lighthouse was transferred to the City of Annapolis, the United States Lighthouse Society, and the Annapolis Maritime Museum in 2004. The Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society has managed the renovation, and countless volunteers have renovated the exterior and interior of the structure to pre-1939 conditions.
The Annapolis Maritime Museum conducts tours of the lighthouse for the public throughout the summer. Each tour is led by trained and experienced docents and involves a 30-minute boat ride to gain access to the lighthouse.
The structure is showing severe deterioration, and bids are pending to complete a major restoration of the steel beams that hold up the cottage-style lighthouse. The USLHS has received a grant from the Maryland Historic Trust for $100,000, but it will not be enough to complete the restoration. Additional funds have been pledged by the Davidsonville Ruritan Club and others, as well as a private donor who has agreed to match up to an additional $50,000.
But we are still short. Thus we are doing a GO FUND ME campaign to raise additional funds. The United States Lighthouse Society is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, and all donations are tax deductible.
You can help save Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse by donating at the USLHS website.
Please help us keep this lighthouse operational and available for public tours.
John Potvin is a member of the Chesapeake Lighthouse Society as well as the United States Lighthouse Society. He has been a volunteer at Thomas Point Lighthouse for the past 4 years, as well as trained to be a docent.He was “promoted” to Preservation Foreman by Henry Gonzales this past fall, and is actively involved in coordinating the volunteer schedules and tasks, as well as involved in the bidding and specification preparation of the upcoming major rehabilitation of the lighthouse structure.