Thomas Point Lighthouse, built of a typical Chesapeake Bay screwpile design, marked the submerged tip of a dangerous shoal south of Annapolis, Maryland. Two previous light-stations, totally land-based, were quickly moved to escape the relentless beach erosion at Thomas Point. During a span of 75 years, the seven acre nav-aid plot was reduced to two acres. The obvious solution was this well built octagonal lighthouse, once a common style on the Chesapeake Bay.
   By 1964 the Thomas Point Light Station was the only manned beacon on Chesapeake Bay. Taking some big hits from Hurricane Agnes, the Coast Guard began to rethink the lighthouse operation. The light was finally automated in 1986. To further reduce costs. their plan was to remove the upper Chesapeake Bay light-station, which was not well received by the nearby community. The furor died when the Coast Guard think-tank had a change of heart. In 2000, a consortium took over the lighthouse, with the city of Annapolis accepting ownership. The historic landmark began its conversion as part of the Annapolis Maritime Museum in 2004. Today lighthouse fans are now able to tour the authentic 1875s screwpile light-station by boat, with two daily tours several times a month (see schedule below). One of only ten in the country, the lighthouse is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

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