Baltimore Harbor Light

Baltimore Harbor Light is an octagonal brick lighthouse standing at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay where the Magothy River meets the broader waterway. The tower sits on a caisson foundation and once housed a fifth-order Fresnel lens to guide ships safely into port.

The lighthouse was completed in 1908 after a construction period interrupted by severe storms that tested builders' resolve. It marked the final beacon added to the Chesapeake Bay's growing system of navigation aids.

Today, the lighthouse serves as a quiet reminder of how critical safe shipping was to the region's development. Visitors can see where mariners once looked for guidance when entering one of America's busiest waterways.

The lighthouse is accessible only by water and best reached by boat, with no direct shoreline access for walking. Visitors should check water conditions and weather before planning a visit to this exposed location.

In 1964, this became the first lighthouse powered by a nuclear device, using a radioisotope generator to convert heat into electricity. This experimental system ran for only one year before being abandoned.

Location: Anne Arundel County

GPS coordinates: 39.05919,-76.39900

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:52