Point Lookout State Park

Point Lookout State Park is a natural area of more than 600 hectares at the tip of a peninsula where the Potomac River flows into Chesapeake Bay. The site offers sandy beaches, forest paths, campsites, and a long pier that extends into the water.

Between 1863 and 1865 the site served as a prison camp for more than 52,000 Confederate soldiers under difficult conditions. After the war ended the facility was abandoned and decades later opened to the public as a park.

The museum displays objects and records from the daily routine of prisoners and guards who lived here between 1863 and 1865. Visitors see uniform fragments, personal letters, and tools that reconstruct the rhythm of camp life during the Civil War.

The park offers more than 140 shaded pitches for campers and tents in different setups. The pier extends more than 200 meters into the water and suits anglers hoping to catch fish from Chesapeake Bay.

The lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula dates from 1830 and is considered the oldest structure of its architectural type in the entire country. John Donahoo, who designed it, created several similar towers along the Atlantic coast.

Location: St. Mary's County

Inception: 1963

Operator: Maryland Park Service

Address: 11175 Point Lookout Road Scotland, MD 20687

Website: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/pointlookout.aspx

GPS coordinates: 38.06440,-76.33440

Latest update: December 19, 2025 23:44