The
Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating individuals who broke into and vandalized the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse between April 15 and 16. This national historic landmark and Maryland icon sits in the mouth of the South River on the Chesapeake Bay. At 141 years old, it is the last intact structure of its kind left in its original location.
On April 17, officers met with lighthouse caretakers who discovered the damage. The vandals could only have gotten to the lighthouse by boat so the NRP is hopeful that someone saw a boat and that witnesses will come forward.
Alice Estrada, executive director of the museum, which oversees Thomas Point lighthouse for the consortium of non-profit organizations and agencies that owns the historic structure, says the vandals did an estimated $15,000 worth of damage, smashing glass and destroying hand-shaped wooden pickets and railings on the walkway that surrounds the lighthouse. They also damaged furniture and walls and set off fire extinguishers. Volunteers had been working for the past 12 years to restore the iconic lighthouse to its 1900s condition.
Some of the volunteers who worked to restore the lighthouse are almost 80 years old and it will take countless more volunteer hours to replace the damage. Mayor of Annapolis Mike Pantelides said “I was sickened to hear about the damage to our treasured lighthouse and can’t comprehend what kind of person would carry out this despicable act.”
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="14073,14074,14075,14076,14078,14077"]
- Photos courtesy Alice Estrada, Annapolis Maritime Museum
AMM has set up a special fund to raise money for repairing the lighthouse in the wake of the vandalism. To contribute, visit the museum’s website at
amaritime.org/donate-online/donate. Be sure to choose Thomas Point Light Repairs in the window labeled Campaign. Or just send a check, made payable to the museum, and write “Thomas Point Repairs” on the front.
If you’re skilled at making repairs, you can also donate your time and efforts by e-mailing Ms. Estrada at
[email protected]. Anyone with information regarding the break-in and damage is asked to call Officer Jeff Beshore or Officer Chris Neville of the NRP at 1-800-628-9944.
Despite the vandalism, tours to the historic lighthouse will continue as planned throughout the summer/fall months. These trips will depart by boat from AMM and guests will get a rare chance to view the interior of the structure with an experienced lighthouse docent. Tours cost $70 per person and last two and a half hours. Find more info and make a reservation at
uslhs.org/about/thomas-point-shoal or at
amaritime.org.