Turkey Point Light Station
Take a leisurely 0.8 mile stroll through Elk Neck State Park all the way to the 100-foot bluff overlooking the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Here you will view this 35 foot tall lighthouse that first illuminated the Elk River entrance to the Chesapeake Bay in 1833. The purpose of this small light was to guide and allow ships' captains time to navigate their course into the newly completed C & D Canal. Owned by the Coast Guard, the light originally hosted a fourth order Fresnel lens imported from France, that was visible a remarkable 13 miles due to having the highest lantern room of the 74 Chesapeake Bay beacons. The original lantern had a panel of red glass to warn ships of the shallow water. Unfortunately, the Fresnel lens was stolen after it was removed and replaced by a modern optic in 1947. Another unfortunate event occurred in 1971 when the keeper's house was demolished due to vandalism. The Coast Guard decommissioned the light in April 2000 making its usage now as a private aid to navigation. The light is maintained by Turkey Point Light Station, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the care and restoration of the lighthouse
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