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The Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society and lighthouse organizations of Maryland invite you to JOIN US! on September 15 and 16, 2007 for the 5th Anniversary Celebration of the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge. Visit the state’s land-accessible lights: Turkey Point, Concord Point, Seven Foot Knoll and the Lightship Chesapeake, Hooper Strait, Cove Point, Drum Point, Piney Point, Point Lookout and Fort Washington and receive a commemorative souvenir at each. A special completer souvenir will be awarded to those who visit all ten Challenge stops within the allotted twenty hours!
This year we have added an optional “Bonus” Kick-Off Cruise on Friday September 14 to help celebrate the milestone event. The cruise will depart from America’s sailing capital and home to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, and will cruise past National Historic Landmark and Chesapeake Bay icon Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse-the only remaining screwpile lighthouse in its original bay location. You will also cruise past caisson style Sandy Point Shoal and Baltimore Harbor Lights, which are representative of others that remain at offshore locations around the bay. You will be able to get some great water views and photo opportunities of these distinct bay structures. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a special tri-light souvenir to commemorate your afternoon out on the bay.
Look for door prizes, special raffles and a chance to celebrate with Chesapeake Chapter members as well as fellow Challengers. It has long been a goal of the challenge committee to get folks out on the bay during their Maryland Lighthouse Challenge adventure and this bonus cruise offers just such an opportunity. Note that this cruise does not count towards completion of the challenge. It is strictly an optional “bonus” attraction.
Special guests to this year’s event will be Bill Younger, founder of Harbour Lights. Mr. Younger will be at the Calvert Marine Museum (schedule TBA). Bob Trapani, lighthouse author and Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation will be appearing at the Concord Point location both days. He will be featuring and autographing copies of his books, including “Lighthouses of Maryland and Virginia: History, Mystery, Legends and Lore.” Tom and Christine Cardaci, the Lighthouse Hunters will be at the Turkey Point location, as will lighthouse photographer, Harry Fahl. Coastal artist Donna Elias will be featured at the Seven Foot Knoll location where she will be introducing a new print this year commemorating the event’s 5th Anniversary. Jeff Gales, Executive Director of the U.S. Lighthouse Society will be making an appearance at several of the lighthouses over the course of the weekend. We are honored to have these extra special guests be part of the event’s 5th Anniversary Celebration and thank them for their participation and support. Check the chapter’s website www.cheslights.org for other special guests as they are added to the roster and for any further developments as they occur.
It is such a pleasure each year for the Chapter to showcase its beautiful bay beacons in this venue. It cannot be overstated how important this event is in increasing awareness and visitation to the Chesapeake Bay lights, while promoting their preservation as well. All in all, during the course of the weekend, participants will visit some of
the most scenic spots in Maryland as they explore the historic and varied reminders of the state’s maritime past. Each light station has a history all its own and a story to tell
and Challenge weekend, we intend to tell it! The goal of event organizers is to make the event as educational as it is fun, and as memorable as it is challenging! This year, being the 400th Anniversary Celebration of the first permanent English settlement in America, makes it the perfect time to be visiting the Chesapeake Bay region, long dubbed “The Land of Pleasant Living” – and with good reason!
To date, lighthouse challenges remain an East Coast phenomenon. As in the past, anyone completing all three 2007 east coast events: Long Island (May); Maryland (September); and New Jersey (October) will receive a Triple Crown of Lighthouses Certificate in recognition of their accomplishment. A “dual” Challenge souvenir will be awarded to anyone completing both the Maryland and the New Jersey events.
You can learn more about the event on the Chapter’s website at www.cheslights.org or by phone at (410) 437-0741. Bonus Kick-Off Cruise tickets can be purchased at (410) 268-7601, ext. 107, (www.watermarkspecialevents.com).
This story appeared in the
July 2007 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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