Pictured above: TPSL with Jimmy Buffet’s Last Mango

By John Potvin

The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, an iconic maritime landmark that has guided mariners and recreational boaters to safety for more than a century, celebrates its 150th Anniversary in 2025.  Listed as a National Historic Landmark, this last surviving screwpile lighthouse, still active as an aide to navigation and in its original location in North America, has played a vital role in the history of Annapolis and stands as a symbol of pride for the State of Maryland.  The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is a local and national treasure that is inextricably entwined with the history of the Chesapeake Bay, the City of Annapolis, and Maryland.   The 150th Anniversary not only celebrates its storied past, it also served as a wake-up call to raise the necessary funds to ensure its legacy is maintained for future generations.

The threats to the lighthouse’s future came into sharp focus last year when Hurricane Debby barreled through taking with it the entire landing dock and its beloved static mascot Drew.  Drew and the dock recovered but the threats are real. An assessment of future sea levels indicates the lighthouse faces further rising seas which will affect the structural steel underneath by inundating it with brackish bay water and putting the base of the cottage in peril with elevated wave action.

A sea level study conducted by EA Engineering in 2024 to assess the future needs of the lighthouse estimates that by 2100 sea levels will rise by approximately 6 feet, requiring radical interventions to protect this vital piece of maritime history.

We are seeking funds to retain engineers who can determine the proper course of action to elevate the lighthouse to ensure that this historic structure will remain for our grandchildren and great grandchildren and beyond. The need to provide initial funding is critical to develop an engineering solution on how to elevate the lighthouse out of harm’s way.

Constructed in 1875, the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is the last remaining screwpile lighthouse in its original location still being used for navigational purposes on the Chesapeake Bay.  In 2004, the City of Annapolis assumed ownership of the lighthouse and the U.S. Lighthouse Society maintains the structure. The United States Coast Guard continues to maintain navigational aids at the lighthouse.  Public tours exploring the history of the light, the life of a keeper in the early days and role of the modern-day Coast Guard depart from Annapolis June through mid-October.  Over 8,000 people have taken public tours since 2007, and the tours sell out early each season

Since 2007, work at the lighthouse has been ongoing with volunteers restoring it to original standards and periods of time. Both the interior and exterior have been restored.  A major restoration of the structure was completed in 2020 through 2024 at a cost of over $600,000 to provide a new steel structure to the underside of the lighthouse. It is estimated that an engineering study and solution could cost up to $75,000.

About the Author: Captain John Potvin is Lighthouse Manager of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. After retiring from a successful career in property management, he started working as a volunteer Preservationist in 2015, then trained to be a Docent and provided guided tours to tourists during the summer. In 2017 he was promoted to Director of Preservation and in 2020 he was promoted to Lighthouse Manager and took on the day-to-day management of the lighthouse including responsibility of coordinating volunteers, scheduling, training, publicity, fundraising and grant writing to facilitate restoration of the structure. Photos by David Sites.

Join us for the 150th Anniversary Celebration!

The Lighthouse will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year with a special celebration. The Anniversary Celebration is a call to action because the lighthouse faces an existential threat from sea levels rising so let’s help raise the necessary finds to keep it “afloat”!

When:

Saturday, August 9th

6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Where:

Navy Marine Corp Memorial Stadium

Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, Md.

Cost:

Tickets $150 per person (limit 250 tickets)

-Dinner
– Door prizes
-Wine pull

Premium tickets $250 per person (limit 50 tickets)

Premium tickets all of the above and:

– Meet and greet with guest speakers
– Special VIP reception (6:00 pm – 6:30 pm)
– Early entrance at 6:00pm

With music by the incomparable Eastport Oyster Boys and a special – never seen before – screening of the iconic Jimmy Buffet performing at the Lighthouse on his last trip on the Bay!

Sponsors and ticket sales for the event will provide funding to develop an engineering solution on how to elevate the lighthouse. For ticket information –  Thomaspoint150th.com.