The newly constructed Choptank River Lighthouse — The Chesapeake Bay’s newest lighthouse — will be dedicated on Saturday, September 22 in Cambridge, Maryland. The lighthouse will be open to the public on Sunday, September 23, 12-5pm, during the annual Dorchester Center for the Arts Showcase, an outdoor arts and crafts festival on High Street.
What is the Choptank River Lighthouse?
The Choptank River Lighthouse is a replica of a lighthouse that once guided mariners along the Choptank River. The replica lighthouse is located on Pier A at Long Wharf Park in Cambridge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The original lighthouse was located about 12 miles away near the mouth of the Tred Avon River.
Why build a replica lighthouse?
The lighthouse is designed to honor Dorchester County’s maritime heritage. The county has been a shipbuilding hub, an oyster packing powerhouse, and home to generations of watermen harvesting oyster, crab, and fish from local waters. The lighthouse is seen as an economic development tool, drawing new visitors and tourists to the area. The U.S. Lighthouse Society estimates the Choptank River Lighthouse could draw 20,000 visitors annually. The lighthouse will also serve as the dockmaster’s office for the adjoining Cambridge Marina, as well as a mini-museum for visitors.
How did it happen?
The idea to build a replica lighthouse began more than 20 years ago when a group of local citizens decided to pursue building a lighthouse as a waterfront attraction. Through the hard work and persistence of a small group of volunteers through the years, sufficient funds were raised for construction.
For more information, see the Website or Facebook page.
//essay-writ.org”;.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.