For auction: A historic lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay

Aug 27, 2022
Aug 27, 2022
4

A historic lighthouse in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay can be all yours. The 1902 Hooper Island Light Station in Maryland is being auctioned by the General Services Administration with the required starting bid at $15,000. All bids must be submitted by Sept. 21 at 12:03 p.m. Click here for more details.

hooperlight12.jfif — In 2006, the Hooper Island Lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay was deemed excess property by the Coast Guard. In May 2009, the deed for the lighthouse was given to the U.S. Lighthouse Society.

General Services Administration

In 2006, the Hooper Island Lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay was deemed excess property by the Coast Guard. In May 2009, the deed for the lighthouse was given to the U.S. Lighthouse Society.

General Services Administration

hooperlight11.jfif — On Aug. 8, the General Services Administration opened an online auction for the lighthouse with the starting bid at $15,000.

General Services Administration

On Aug. 8, the General Services Administration opened an online auction for the lighthouse with the starting bid at $15,000.

General Services Administration

hooperlight10.jfif — The lighthouse sits in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, with St. Mary’s County, Md., to the west and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to the northeast.

General Services Administration

The lighthouse sits in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, with St. Mary’s County, Md., to the west and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to the northeast.

General Services Administration

hooperlight9.jfif — The lighthouse features four living levels, with the kitchen on the first level. The other levels served as bedroom, office, and living space for the keepers, according to the lighthouse society. The living levels are lined with white glazed bricks. There’s also a watch room level and lantern level.

General Services Administration

The lighthouse features four living levels, with the kitchen on the first level. The other levels served as bedroom, office, and living space for the keepers, according to the lighthouse society. The living levels are lined with white glazed bricks. There’s also a watch room level and lantern level.

General Services Administration

hooper8.jfif — Hooper Island Lighthouse is one of only five lights constructed in the Bay during the 1900s, according to the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s Chesapeake Chapter. The light’s height is about 63 feet above the water, with the deck about 18 feet above the water level.

Hooper Island Lighthouse is one of only five lights constructed in the Bay during the 1900s, according to the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s Chesapeake Chapter. The light’s height is about 63 feet above the water, with the deck about 18 feet above the water level.

hooper7.jfif — Only the structure will be conveyed in the sale. No land will be conveyed. The underlying submerged land will remain in the ownership of the U.S. government.
General Services Administration

Only the structure will be conveyed in the sale. No land will be conveyed. The underlying submerged land will remain in the ownership of the U.S. government.
General Services Administration

hooperlight6.jfif — Hooper Island Lighthouse is the only cast-iron caisson lighthouse in Maryland with a watch room and lantern surmounted on the tower.

General Services Administration

Hooper Island Lighthouse is the only cast-iron caisson lighthouse in Maryland with a watch room and lantern surmounted on the tower.

General Services Administration

hooperlight5.jfif — Inspection of the structure must be done from a safe distance. Tying off to, climbing, anchoring to or trespassing on the Property is strictly prohibited due to safety concerns.
General Services Administration

Inspection of the structure must be done from a safe distance. Tying off to, climbing, anchoring to or trespassing on the Property is strictly prohibited due to safety concerns.
General Services Administration

hooperlight4.jfif — So far, the lighthouse has no bids.
General Services Administration

So far, the lighthouse has no bids.
General Services Administration

hooperlight3.jfif — “The original 1902 lens was a fourth-order Fresnel manufactured by F. Babier & Company, Paris, in 1888. In 1904, the light was changed to a fixed white with an eclipse every 15 seconds,” the lighthouse society says on its website. The light was automated in 1961 and the keepers removed. In 1976 the fourth-order Fresnel lens was stolen and the Coast Guard replaced it with a solar optic.

General Services Administration

“The original 1902 lens was a fourth-order Fresnel manufactured by F. Babier & Company, Paris, in 1888. In 1904, the light was changed to a fixed white with an eclipse every 15 seconds,” the lighthouse society says on its website. The light was automated in 1961 and the keepers removed. In 1976 the fourth-order Fresnel lens was stolen and the Coast Guard replaced it with a solar optic.

General Services Administration

Hooper Island Lighthouse is the only cast-iron caisson lighthouse in Maryland with a watch room and lantern mounted on the tower, according to the lighthouse society.

General Services Administration

(4) comments

Bonita Cubow Aug 30, 2022 2:00pm

What a crying shame that it wasn't even minimally kept up over the years. That foundational crack alone is scary, & the fact that one isn't even allowed to inspect it in person except from the outside due to safety concerns tends to make me think that they are not going to get any bidders.

Paul Blumstein Aug 29, 2022 8:12am

A lighthouse is one thirds the calories of a regular house :-)

Alexander Cadiz Aug 28, 2022 2:50pm

Thanks John, I was thinking the same thing. $15K seems like a cheap opening bid until you realize you’ve spent $15K for something that is in terrible shape and sits in a Navy danger area.

John Fleming Aug 28, 2022 12:26pm

No doubt, Lighthouses are cool and fun to photograph, visit, and even fantasize about owning one. The Hooper Light is in a gorgeous spot to boot. Fished around that shoal since I was a kid. Many great memories from that area. Would I like to own it. Not a chance. Most of the Chesapeake lights with a few exceptions have been allowed to age with no maintenance the last 75 years. If the federal, state, county governments, preservationists, and salvagers arent interested that says an awful lot in my opinion. Several of these lighthouses off land in the Bay have been purchased by private individuals and have gone back on the market in a few years. One was turned into a BnB and was for sale a few summers ago. Not sure if it ever sold. Not for me.