"From Prison to State Park" Point Lookout State Park by grandmaR

From the point looking at Cornfield Harbor beacj

Point Lookout is on the extreme southernmost tip of St. Mary's County between the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.

It was the site of Indian raids in colonial times, and British raids during the Revolution. During the War of 1812, it served as a lookout point, which is where it got its name.

We've anchored off one of the Point Lookout beaches (Cornfield Harbor) several times.

Lighthouse from the road

In 1830, a lighthouse was built on the point, and in the 1850s it was a popular vacation destination, but it is probably best known as the location of a Union hospital and prison camp during the Civil War. A relative was held prisoner here. There is a memorial to the prisoners outside the state park, which is the only memorial ever erected by the federal government to an 'enemy'.

After the war it reverted to a resort area which included a luxury hotel. Now it is a state park. There was extensive damage done to the park during Isabel, but it has been repaired and the park is open for the summer (2004)

There is a lighthouse on the extreme end of the point, but it is not actually part of the park.

I took the top picture of the lighthouse when anchored off Point Lookout on the 4th of July in order to paint a screen.

• Pros:Boating and Camping
• Cons:Under Funded
• In a nutshell:State Park