Maryland Point Light

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Maryland Point Light
Maryland Point Light
Locationoff Maryland Point in the Potomac River, East of Fairview Beach, Virginia
Coordinates 38°20′58″N77°11′51″W / 38.3495°N 77.1975°W / 38.3495; -77.1975 Coordinates: 38°20′58″N77°11′51″W / 38.3495°N 77.1975°W / 38.3495; -77.1975
Tower
Foundation screw-pile
Construction cast-iron/wood
Shapehexagonal house
Light
First lit1892
Automated1954
Deactivated1963
Focal height13 m (43 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Lensfourth-order Fresnel lens
Characteristic FI W 6s, R sector  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Maryland Point Light was a screw-pile lighthouse located in the Potomac River.

Contents

History

A light was first proposed for the shoal at Maryland Point in 1887, but an appropriation was not made until 1890. The original proposal was to construct a caisson light, but tests of the bottom convinced the engineers that a screw-pile structure could be made to work. The house was assembled at the Lazaretto Depot in the fall of 1892, and the light was first exhibited in December of that year.

The light was automated in 1954 and dismantled in 1963.

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