Piney Point Lighthouse

Established in 1836 on the Potomac River, just west of Piney Point in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, this historic lighthouse is a 35-foot conical brick structure, painted white with black trim. Known as the “Lighthouse of Presidents,” it originally housed a fourth-order Fresnel lens and was automated in 1939. The light was deactivated in 1964, and the lens was subsequently removed. The surrounding grounds feature a keeper’s quarters, oil house, interpretive boardwalk, picnic area, and pier facilities, offering visitors a scenic and educational experience. Though the light remains inactive, it now serves as a museum and public park managed by the Department of Recreation and Parks, Museum Division, and is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A highlight of the museum is the exhibit on the U-1105 Black Panther, a revolutionary German submarine from World War II, notable for its stealth technology that rendered it invisible to sonar detection of the time. 

44720 Lighthouse Road Piney Point, MD (301) 994-1471