Ragged Point Light

Ragged Point Light is a hexagonal lighthouse standing in the waters of the Potomac River, built from cast iron with wooden components and fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The structure was designed to guide vessels safely through treacherous shoals in this part of the river.

The lighthouse was built in 1910 as the final lighthouse constructed in Maryland waters, remaining active for maritime guidance until deactivation in 1962. Its construction marked the end of a lighthouse-building era in the region.

Ragged Point Light represents Maryland's maritime heritage and navigation technology development through the early twentieth century.

The lighthouse sits in hazardous waters between Piney Point Light and St. Clements Island, making its location inherently difficult to access. Visitors should know that its remote river setting was historically reachable only by boat.

During the early 1960s, Navy pilots from Patuxent Naval Air Station mistook the lighthouse for an abandoned structure and used it for strafing practice. This unusual episode shows how quickly an active navigation aid could become overlooked after deactivation.

Location: St. Mary's County

Inception: 1910

GPS coordinates: 38.15448,-76.60124

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:46