Cove Point Light

Cove Point Light is a brick lighthouse in Maryland that rises 16 meters above the Chesapeake Bay and uses a special lens to warn approaching ships. The site includes the tower, the historical keeper's residence, and a visitor center that explain the role this light played in bay navigation.

Congress approved construction in 1828 to warn ships of a dangerous shoal in the Chesapeake Bay that had caused many wrecks. The lighthouse was built during an era when bay shipping was becoming one of the nation's major trade routes.

The keeper's house shows how families lived and worked at this remote location during the 1800s, with rooms arranged around the needs of operating the light. The buildings reveal what daily life looked like for those responsible for guiding ships safely through the bay.

The site is open Wednesday through Sunday from May through September, with guided tours running from 1 PM to 4 PM. Because it sits right on the water, wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for changing weather as you explore the grounds.

The keeper's house now serves as a rental property where up to 16 guests can stay overnight. This unusual arrangement lets visitors spend the night at the lighthouse and experience the bay from the same spot where keepers lived two centuries ago.