The active lighthouse and keeper’s home sit on a seven-acre point of land in one of the narrowest points of the Chesapeake Bay. It was established in 1828, making it the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in Maryland and the fifth oldest existing lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.
The light-keeper’s house was originally built in 1828, but enlarged in 1925 to make it a duplex for two keepers and their families. Now 2 ½ stories, the keeper’s duplex has been renovated from top to bottom. It has a total of six bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, two washers and dryers, Wi-Fi, brand new custom kitchens, central heat and air, a screened porch, and all the modern comforts and conveniences of home.
Visitors can rent the entire site for three, four, or seven day periods and accommodate up to 16 people; or rent just one side of the duplex and sleep up to 8 people.
Many of the home’s original features have been retained and restored, including hard pine floors, cast iron heaters, deep window sills, original doors, moldings, and eyebrow windows. The interior is decorated with a mix of old and new and includes original artwork, pieces from the museum archives, locally built furniture, as well as one-of-a-kind kitchen tables made from the reclaimed wood of the dismantled Cedar Point Lighthouse and a local general store.
The kitchen cabinets were handcrafted locally and the tile that was laid captures the character of a 1925 home. To add interest to the site, portions of the drywall have been removed to expose some of the features of the original 1 ½ story home, which were covered when it was enlarged in 1925.
Four acres of the grounds are fenced with a private entrance and direct access to the beach. In addition to the 40-foot high brick light tower, dating back to 1828, other buildings on the site include the 1901 fog bell building, a small cottage built in 1950 which is used as a visitor’s center, and a brick building housing the Coast Guard’s radio transmitter and emergency diesel generator, also dating from 1950.
The site is an idyllic place to slow down and enjoy uninterrupted time with your family and friends. The grounds have been landscaped and designed to accommodate a casual wedding, reunion, or private family event. Since this mixed-use lighthouse site is still a fully functioning site, in addition to being a vacation rental, it will continue to welcome the public for tours of the grounds daily between 1:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. May-September.
More information regarding the Cove Point Lighthouse can be found by clicking here, or you can call 410-326-2042.
