Along this year's Challenge route we will also be celebrating two very special occasions - the state's 375^th Birthday, and the Chesapeake Chapter's 20^th Year!

This year's celebratory event will take participants to some of the most beautiful Chesapeake Bay locations statewide. Participants will receive a complimentary commemorative souvenir (depicting that lighthouse) at each location they visit, with a special souvenir for those who "complete the Challenge" by visiting all of the lighthouses within the allotted twenty hours (8:00 am - 6:00 pm both days). Chesapeake Chapter members will be at each Challenge location to greet and assist you, unless otherwise noted in the event brochure.

Note: The optional "2009 Bonus Lights" (Sandy Point Shoal and Blackistone Replica) do not count toward Challenge completion, but will earn participants two extra souvenirs!

NEW FEATURE THIS YEAR: "EARLY BIRD SPECIAL!"

Hooper Strait Lighthouse ONLY
For participants who want to visit and collect their event souvenir there on Friday, September 18, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. See event brochure for details!

Once again the Chapter is including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page in PDF format and in HTML format.

The brochure is available in PDF format and includes driving instructions from one light to the next (in either direction along the Bay) and other pertinent information including all anticipated fees. And, as in past years, Chapter members will receive a copy of the brochure in with their spring newsletter. For those who would like just the driving directions in Word format, click here.

Note: Three of our Challenge Lighthouses are located within Maryland State Parks--Turkey Point, Point Lookout and Sandy Point Shoal. One of our Challenge Lights, Fort Washington, is located within a National Park.

The following State Park Passes will be accepted at Elk Neck, Point Lookout and Sandy Point State Parks:
    * Golden Age Pass – for those over 62 years of age, entrance to the park is free of charge, good for the pass holder only
    * All Season Pass (2009 Maryland State Park Passport) – which can be purchased annually for $75 for MD residents and $100 for non-residents, access for up to 9 persons in that vehicle.
    * Active Military – Free access to park for military person only - ID required

For additional information regarding park passes or the Maryland State Park Disability Pass, visit www.dnr.state.md.us or call 1-800-830-3974.

The following National Park Passes will be accepted at Fort Washington National Park:
    * Interagency Annual, Interagency Senior, Interagency Access Passes (America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes), as well as the former named Federal Golden Age and Golden Access passes. Federal "Duck Stamp" does not apply. For information regarding disability or other information visit www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm or call Fort Washington National park directly at: (301) 763-4600.

The Challenge Committee has been working with area hotels/motels for a reduced rate. For more information click here. Rates are limited and reservations MUST be made early. Additional information coming soon.

For additional Chesapeake Bay travel and lodging information, visit www.baydreaming.com.

Information will be posted when available.

We welcome back Donna Elias as she celebrates the 20th Anniversary of her Great American Lighthouses Collection. Donna will be set up at the Concord Point Lighthouse grounds on Saturday and Sunday. Returning this year are The Lighthouse Hunters, Tom and Christine Cardaci. They will be set up at the Turkey Point Lighthouse both Saturday and Sunday. We welcome Harry Fahl back to the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge. Harry will have his amazing photo display set up at the Concord Point Lighthouse both days. Author Wayne Kirklin will be at the Turkey Point Lighhtouse location both days selling and autographing copies of his book Lightships: Floating Lighthouses of the Mid-Atlantic. This will be Wayne's first visit with us, and we are pleased to welcome him "aboard! Also new this year, author David Biggy will be on hand at the Calvert Marine Museum on Saturday and Sunday autographing copies of this recently released photo book entitled, Lighthouses: Maine to Florida.

Click here for further details.

Be sure to check back often leading up to the event for any late-breaking details on these and other special guests!

Attention U.S.L.H.S. Passport Holders!

There will be passport stamps available for all the Challenge lighthouses, including the Bonus Lights. Note: The passport stamp for the Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse will be available at the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse in Baltimore where you will be collecting your Sandy Point event souvenir.

For those of you not currently participating in the passport program, there will be passports available to purchase at select stops along the Challenge route.

You can learn more about the passport program at USLHS Passport Program or www.cheslights.org/passport.htm.

We are always looking for ways to improve the Challenge from year to year, so if you have any suggestions for this year’s Challenge, or comments about the 2008 event, please feel free to contact Karen Rosage at (410) 437-0741 or email her dkrosage@comcast.net. Your thoughts and ideas are always encouraged.

To date, these yearly Challenges remain an East Coast phenomenon, with the Long Island Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society and preservation groups of Long Island hosting a Long Island Challenge on May 16-17 and the New Jersey Lighthouse Society hosting their Challenge on October 17-18. Complete the 2009 Maryland and New Jersey Challenges and receive a special dual souvenir. Complete all three 2009 events and receive a special award to mark your accomplishment!

The rules are simple:
1. Obtain a Challenge brochure, or print out the driving directions/brochure in PDF format. Coming soon!
2. Visit the nine lighthouses and 1 lightship. (Or any number of them you choose to visit).
3. Collect the commemorative souvenir from each.
4. Complete the visits within the designated hours of 8 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days
5. Receive the Completion souvenir at the last location if you have visited all the others.
    AND
6. Sign the Challenge Completion Sheet.

The Chesapeake Chapter is proud to again partner with the lighthouse organizations of Maryland in hosting the 2009 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge! We would like to thank our event sponsors:

The Chesapeake Chapter would like to thank our event supporters: Donna Elias, www.donnaelias.com, Harbour Lights, www.harbourlights.com, and Forget Me Not Factory, www.forgetmenotfactory.com.

The Maryland Lighthouse Challenge is a proud Celebration 375 Partner.

We are always on the hunt for photos that folks have taken along the Challenge route—doesn’t matter what year, so if you are in the spirit of sharing, send any along to Karen electronically (300 dpi or better) at the above noted email address. Editors and writers are always looking for good photos of the lighthouses and the Challenge “in action” when promoting the event for us as well, so you just never know when you may get a call asking if you might like to see one or more of your photos in print!

Check back often for the latest updates. Feel free to contact the Event Coordinator, Karen Rosage at dkrosage@comcast.net or by phone at (410) 437-0741 with any questions.

The 2009 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge - Celebrating Maryland's 375^th Birthday is one Maryland memory you won't soon forget. We hope to see you in September!

Visit this website often for the most current updates.