St. Clement’s Island – By Land, By Sea, By Water-Taxi
Boaters long ago discovered St. Clement’s Island State Park, a small jewel of an island in the Potomac River and a popular destination for lighthouse aficionados, boaters, day hikers, picnickers and historians.
The island in the lower Potomac River is situated at the mouths of Breton and St. Clements bays. It is known unofficially as the Plymouth Rock of Maryland, named St. Clement’s by the English colonists who arrived March 25, 1634 and settled.
The 40-acre island has two piers. The longer pier, 200 yards, juts northeast toward St. Clements Bay and extends beyond the shoals surrounding much of the island. The shorter pier is located on the south of the island.
A full-scale replica of Blackistone Lighthouse, the original built in 1851, is open for visitors during the summer season. The lighthouse is unusual. Rather than the traditional conical style, Blackistone Lighthouse consists of a two-and-a-half story residence with a short central tower.
Lighthouse tours allow visitors to climb to the top of the lighthouse which during the summer can prove a great deal warmer than the keeper quarters below.
The original lighthouse was decommissioned in 1932 and a fire destroyed the structure in 1956. Local citizens with the support of the State of Maryland established a fund to build the exact replica.
Well tended walking paths lead visitors around the island which in addition to the lighthouse holds a memorial cross commemorating the first English settlers.
On the “mainland” the St. Clement’s Island Museum focuses on the region’s history and in season serves as the landing site for the water taxi to the island.
The water taxi service to the island is available weekends beginning June 4, 2013 and running through September 30, 2013. Please call ahead for hours of operation and weather conditions at 301-769-2222. The water taxi may be chartered by groups during the week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and lighthouse tours may be arranged as well. To learn more about the opportunities call 301-769-2222 or 301-769-4723.
St. Clement’s Island State Park is about 50 miles south of Washington D.C. making a pleasant day trip from the Baltimore-Washington corridor to St. Mary’s County Maryland.
Volunteers are recruited to maintain the property situated on what is now St. Clements Island State Park and volunteers are involved in touring opportunities when the lighthouse is opened during the summer months.
For more information about visitation details click here.
To volunteer contact Beverly Wood at 301-481-4335.
