COOL FACTS

The original tower had a panel of red glass to warn ships they were approaching shallows.

The keepers house was torn down in 1972. It decayed and was in very bad condition.

Owned by U.S. Coast Guard, the lighthouse tower is maintained by the Turkey Point Light Station, Inc.

It is now situated in Elk Neck State Park at the mid point of a scenic, 2 mile, loop trail.

The Turkey Point Light was featured in the movie, Absolute Power, starring Clint Eastwood.

Turkey Point Lighthouse had more women lighthouse keepers than any other lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.

In fact, Mrs. Fannie Mae Slater was the last woman lighthouse keeper in the United States. She worked here from 1925 -1947. The light was fully automated in 1947 and a keeper was no longer needed.

Before the station was electrified, Fannie would fill and light one of the two lamps at dusk, climb the tower and place the lamp within the lens, then recheck it about one hour later, and again at 10 pm before going to bed.

From her bedroom in the keeper's quarters she could see if the light was functioning properly and would immediately awake if the light ever went out.

One night when the fog bell did not work and a steam ship was heading for the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in a fog, Fannie rang the fog bell four times a minute for 55 minutes until the steamer had safely passed. 

It was 14 miles over poor roads to the nearest store. The station families typically raised fruits, vegetables, chickens, turkeys, sheep, and pigs.