Hooper Strait Maryland
Harbour Lights #461

Chesapeake Bay, the picturesque waterway that meanders from the Atlantic to divide Virginia and Maryland, is dotted with treacherous islands and outcroppings that have proved a nightmare passage for mariners over the centuries. At the top of Tangier Sound lies Hooper Strait, a narrow channel between rugged islands, and often the site of raging storms, thick fogs and more than a few mishaps.

Following a series of trial and errors to find a workable means of lighting the passage, a screwpile sentinel was successfully built and illuminated on October 15, 1879. For the next nine decades, Hooper Strait Light aided ships traversing the circuitous route to Maryland ports, but the isolation was difficult and lonely for its keepers. Two lightkeepers manned the sentinel, and each received a five day shore leave every month, with family visits to the lighthouse permitted for two weeks each summer.

In 1966, the lighthouse was deactivated and its duties replaced with new technologies. Because upkeep of the structure was prohibitive, officials planned to demolish the old beacon. Instead, it was purchased by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and moved in two sections to the museum at St. Michael’s. There it was reassembled on cement pilings.

Thanks to the dedication of the Museum and its members, a vital link in America’s lighthouse legacy has been preserved for posterity. In 2004, Hooper Strait Light observes 125 years as a symbol of maritime courage and strength… beckoning lighthouse lovers to honor its heritage.