Turkey Point Light Station

Take a leisurely 0.8-mile stroll through Elk Neck State Park to reach the 100-foot bluff overlooking the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Here stands the 35-foot-tall Turkey Point Lighthouse, which first illuminated the Elk River entrance to the Chesapeake Bay in 1833. This modest beacon was designed to guide ships safely and give captains time to navigate toward the newly completed C&D Canal. Originally equipped with a fourth-order Fresnel lens imported from France, the light was visible from an impressive 13 miles away, thanks to its position in the highest lantern room among the 74 Chesapeake Bay beacons. A red glass panel in the lantern warned mariners of nearby shallow waters. In 1947, the original lens was removed and replaced with a modern optic, but sadly, the Fresnel lens was later stolen. Another loss came in 1971, when the keeper’s house was demolished due to vandalism. The Coast Guard decommissioned the lighthouse in April 2000, and it now serves as a private aid to navigation. Today, the lighthouse is maintained by Turkey Point Light Station, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to its care and restoration, preserving this historic beacon for future generations to enjoy. 

Rt. 272 Elk Neck State Park Elk Neck, MD (410) 287-8170