"First Stop" a Saint Clements Island Travel Page by grandmaR

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Sign about the lighthouse

When the Ark and the Dove first arrived in the Potomac, they first stopped at this island, which they named in honor of St. Clements, the patron saint of sailors. They didn't land on the mainland right away because they weren't sure if the Indians were friendly or not.

After the Indians proved to be friendly, on March 25, 1634, they erected a large wooden cross and celebrated a Catholic mass led by Father Andrew White.

In more recent times, the island was known as Blackistone Island after the Blackistone family who owned it. There was once a lighthouse on the island During WW II, the Navy used the island as part of the Dahlgren ordinance testing range.

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Looking back to Colton's Point from the water taxi

Today there is a museum depicting early Maryland settlement about a half mile away on the mainland.

See Colton's Point