At one time there were quite a few screw pile lighthouses such as this scattered around the Chesapeake Bay area.  They offered inexpensive construction well-suited to the shallow waters of the bay.  Drum Point, which was once stationed nearby, was beautifully restored in 1962 and put on display at Calvert Marine Museum.

This light was constructed in 1883 and came equipped with a fourth-order Fresnel lens.  The light glowed red to warn approaching vessels of the dangerous shoals near the mouth of the Potomac River.

Calvert Marine Museum contains many outstanding exhibits pertaining to the history of the Chesapeake Bay.  For example, there are a number of boats and other nautical items on display that illustrate how commercial fishing has been a way of life on the Bay since Colonial times.

The lighthouse itself is open for tours. The keeper's quarters are furnished with early 1900's period pieces. There is a small admission fee.

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