For Immediate Release
No. 2025 – 146
July 21, 2025, 9 a.m.
Illuminating Adventure: Celebrate National Lighthouse Weekend at St. Mary’s County Lighthouses
LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County Government’s Museum Division welcomes all community members to join in celebrating National Lighthouse Weekend on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park in Piney Point, MD. The museum and lighthouse will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for free tours.
At Piney Point, visitors can explore the museum grounds and celebrate the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac with tours of the Piney Point lighthouse tower, Keeper’s Quarters, Potomac River Maritime Exhibit featuring full sized workboats, and two floors of exhibitions in the Main Museum building. While admission and tours are offered free of charge this weekend only, donations are greatly appreciated to support the museum.
Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Blackistone Lighthouse replica on St. Clement’s Island. Blackistone Lighthouse is accessible by the St. Clement’s Island Museum Water Taxi from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., when the last boat heads over to the island. Fee is $7 per person, for all ages; visitors are encouraged to call (301) 769-2222 before visiting to ensure operation as extenuating circumstances and inclement weather can prevent cruises.
Guests can also celebrate National Lighthouse Weekend at Point Lookout State Park on Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10. Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours of the newly renovated Point Lookout Lighthouse from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a ranger-led tour offered each day at 1 p.m. There are no fees for the lighthouse tours, but all visitors must pay the park entry fee. Day-use reservations are required on weekends and holidays and can be made up to 7 days in advance online at www.parkdayuse.maryland.gov. For more information about Point Lookout State Park and the Point Lookout Lighthouse, please visit: www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/pointlookout.aspx.
National Lighthouse Day, designated by Congress on August 7, 1989, is the anniversary of the signing of the Congressional Act “for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers” and the date of the first commissioned Federal lighthouse.
For more information on Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, please call (301) 994-1471 or visit www.facebook.com/1836Light.
About the St. Mary’s County Museum Division
The St. Mary’s County Museum Division was established by the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County to collect, preserve, research, and interpret the historic sites and artifacts which illustrate the natural and cultural histories of St. Mary’s County and the Potomac River. These sites include St. Clement’s Island Museum, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, the Old Jail Museum, and the Drayden African American Schoolhouse. With this as its charter, the Museum Division serves as a resource, liaison, and community advocate for all St. Mary’s County public and private cultural assets. For more information, please visit: museums.stmarysmd.com.
