Craighill Channel Range Lights

Craighill Channel

The Craighill Channel starts at the mouth of the Magothy River and extends to the southern end of Belvidere Shoal a distance of approximately five miles. This channel forms the first leg of the maintained channel to the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor. The channel was named after William Price Craighill, a major in the Army Corps of Engineers and a member of the Lighthouse Board (the branch of the US Government responsible for lighthouses), who supervised the surveys for the widening and deepening of the channel. On November 10, 1865, Maj. William P. Craighill became the Baltimore District Engineer. Maj. Craighill had more influence than any other person in shaping the city's harbor. He was the District Engineer for 30 years before becoming a brigadier general and the Army's Chief of Engineers in 1895. Craighill's first order of business was to survey the Brewerton Channel to determine the presence of any shoaling. He was alarmed to find that the lower portion of the channel had become very shallow due to the conflicting currents from the Susquehanna and Patapsco Rivers. To prevent this from happening in the future, Craighill proposed a new cut that would alter the existing channel. The new channel would no longer go straight out into the Bay but would run due south for 3 miles and then turn to the southeast. The plan was approved and the new 200-ft-wide by 22-ft-deep channel was dredged and ready for navigation by late 1869. The channel was dredged 169 feet wide and generally 21 feet deep, but the growing importance of Baltimore as a port persuaded Congress to appropriate $50,000 in 1870 to widen the channel to 500 feet and deepen it to 22 feet. In 1872, both Congress and Baltimore City provided more funds for waterway improvements and by 1874, a 24-ft-deep and 250 to 400-ft-wide Federal channel to Baltimore Harbor was completed. The channel continued to be improved; between 1881 and 1884, the Federal channel to Baltimore Harbor was authorized and deepened and widened to 27 ft deep and 600 ft wide. Unlike the Brewerton Channel, which then intersected the Craighill Channel about a mile northeast of Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, Craighill had no lights to aid night navigation. The Lighthouse Board stated in 1871 that:

“this channel has the advantage of saving about five miles in distance to large vessels bound to Baltimore from the lower bay; avoids much, if not all, of the dangers usually experienced from the accumulation of ice in the lower part of the Brewerton Channel during the winter; is much easier navigated, or would be if range beacons were established.”

Future

I'm sure everyone wants to know what we plan to do with the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Lighthouse! We submitted an extensive and detailed plan to the National Park Service as part of our application under the NHLPA process. In addition, an accomplished and top notch lighthouse restoration expert is volunteering his time to examine the lighthouse and provide us with a detailed restoration plan.

The first order of business is to seal and repair extensively damaged portions the lighthouse so that no further damage is caused by the elements or vandals while we secure the funds to perform a proper restoration and preservation of the light station where it sits, approximately two miles offshore from North Point State Park. Once emergency repairs are made (to the roof, for example), we will then hire a marine architect to design a dock for the light station so that boats can safely dock at the structure and provide a staging area for supplies. Eventually, this will allow public tours as well!

We envision restoring the lighthouse to the late Victorian era, in line with when Bayshore Park was in its prime (now North Point State Park). Furnishings will be provided to match the time period, as well as displays showing what life was like for a lighthouse keeper and pertinent Chesapeake Bay and Craighill Channel historic facts.

Once the restoration is complete and safe access to the lighthouse is available, we will work in cooperation with a charter service to provide public tours every other weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Due to the size of the lighthouse, these tours will be small groups. The Victorian Society at Falls Church will also hold occasional re-enactments at the light station and afternoon teas. We will also make the lighthouse available for educational tours for children. In addition, we are working on making the light station "green" and self-sufficient, including electricity. Stay tuned for more information on that!

Become a Member! (members have early access as volunteers)
Get your autographed copy of the visual history Maryland's Lighthouses authored by HPP's president, Cathy Taylor
Donate to the Dock On The Bay fund!
Keep Current with the Keeper's bLog! <--Up To Date Activities Here

This site is part of a project to support the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front lighthouse and promote the histories and preservation of the other Craighill Range lights by Historical Place Preservation, Inc. (HPP), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (EIN 14 - 1885135). After a three year application process with the federal government under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000, the organization successfully acquired stewardship of the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Beacon (the caisson off North Point). None of the other lighthouses in the Upper or Lower range have become available under the NHLPA program yet.

HPP's efforts to raise funds, volunteers, and local support will sustain the restoration and preservation of initially the front beacon and ultimately allow the light to be opened to public tours. The goal is to bring about more education and awareness of these pillars of history which are becoming quickly obsolete in the age of GPS and guidance devices. Many lighthouses across the US are deteriorating rapidly due to lack of attention and funds. We want to reverse that and have these lights shine where they stand in all their former glory! Click the "Read More" link for more information on this website and the range lights.

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