(Located at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum)
The
entrance to Tangier Sound was marked with a lightship from 1827 or 1828
to 1845. The first lighthouse was constructed in 1867 and destroyed by ice
during the winter of 1877.
The second screwpile lighthouse was constructed in 1880. The structure was designed and built in Baltimore, then dismantled and re-erected at the site in October of that year. It had a fifth-order fresnel lens. Keepers were not allowed to have family living at this lighthouse. Water for drinking, bathing and cooking was collected from the roof's rain gutters, groceries were rationed and arrived once a week from the mainland, and the bathroom facilities were located outside on the deck.
The lighthouse was slated for destruction in 1966 when it was acquired by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. The move required the lighthouse being was cut from its original pilings and cut in half befor being transported up the Bay to its new site in November of that year. It is open to the public.
The Museum is open daily year-round. Hours vary by season.
Spring: March 1 to May 30, 9 am-5 pm
Summer: June 1 to September 30, 9 am-6 pm
Fall: 9 am-5 pm
Winter: 9 am-4 pm
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days
$10.00 Adults; $9.00 Seniors over 62; $5.00 Kids 6-17;
Kids under 6 are free!
Members are always admitted free.
Discounts are available for AAA, active duty military, and
students with IDs.
From Baltimore, MDTake I-97 South or Route 2 South to Route 50 East.
Follow Route 50 through Annapolis and across the Bay Bridge. Continue on Route 50 East until you get to Easton (you will see signs to Easton).
Just after passing the Easton airport on your right, exit right onto the Easton By-pass/Route 322 South. You will see signs to the Museum and to St. Michaels.
At the fourth traffic light, turn right onto Route 33 West to St. Michaels.
After about 9 miles Route 33 becomes the main street of St. Michaels.
About half a mile into St. Michaels you will see a Museum Entrance sign on the right.
Driving time: Approximately 1.5 hours.
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2001(c) Chesapeake Chapter, USLHS. All rights reserved.
