Keepers of the Light: Great Lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay

Solomons

Natural History

Small Group

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Explore the lighthouses of Chesapeake Bay, learning the story of the people who kept them, hearing lectures by experts and discovering renowned cuisine and maritime culture.

Rating (4.86)

Moderate

Program No. 1504RJ

Length

6 days

Starts at

945

6 days

5 nights

14 meals

5B 5L 4D

Solomons, MD

Getting There

See travel details and required documents

At a Glance

The beautiful coast of the Chesapeake Bay is home to more than 30 lighthouses that tell the stories of the region’s rich maritime heritage. This adventure takes you by land and by sea to get a first-hand look at 8 of the Chesapeake’s historic lighthouses. Learn about the different styles of lighthouses typical of the region, and hear their intriguing histories and the stories of the men and the women who kept them lit. Explore Smith Island — a place that time forgot — and have lunch at the island’s famous Bayside Inn. Enjoy talks by local lighthouse experts, entertainment by maritime musicians and special behind-the-scenes explorations of local museums.

Activity Level

Moderate

Walking up to one-half of a mile on flat terrain; stairs; getting on/off boats.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 10 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you'll ...

Go on a behind-the-scenes exploration of the Calvert Marine Museum with its famous director.
Savor local fare as you dine at some of the region’s favorite seafood restaurants.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the state archaeology laboratory at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Stephen Godfrey

Dr. Stephen Godfrey, curator for paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum, is a specialist in vertebrate paleontology and a professional artist. He is also a research associate in the department of paleobiology at the National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institution. His research interests are diverse, having published on disparate groups of extinct organisms. Most of his recent works focus on describing the diversity of extinct dolphins. He also takes great pleasure in editing the Calvert Marine Museum’s Fossil Club newsletter, The Ecphora. He received his Ph.D. in vertebrate paleontology from McGill University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto.

Dave Moyer

Stephen Godfrey

Richard Dodds

Suggested Reading List

View 4 books

Forgotten beacons: the lost lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay

by Patrick Hornberger

Maryland lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay

by Ross Holland

The definitive study of bay lighthouses, with data and photos.

Women Who Kept the Lights

by Mary Louise Clifford

An illustrated history of female lighthouse keepers.

The Lighthouses of the Chesapeake

by Robert De Gast

This text features a sequence of 32 photographic essays, documenting in 170 haunting images each of the lighthouses still standing along the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay. For each lighthouse there is a photograph of the structure in its setting, a view looking out from the lighthouse, and a close-up of some singular detail of the building. The text discusses how and why the lighthouses were built, important events in their history, and in some cases the lives of their keepers. The sequence of lighthouses follows an imaginary journey around the Bay, starting at Cape Henry, site of the oldest existing light.

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6 days

5 nights

14 meals

5 B 5 L 4 D

Getting There

See travel details and required documents

DAY

Orientation. Drum Pt. Lighthouse. Behind the Scenes Tour.

Solomons, MD

Holiday Inn Select Solomons

Activity note: Walking tour of the museum, about one and a half hours, and option to walk up Drum Point Lighthouse.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Meet Lori in Calvert Marine Museum lobby. 1:45 See the Calvert Marine Museum. 3:00 pm. Check in at Holiday Inn Solomons. 5:30 p.m. Wine and Cheese under Drum Point Lighthouse.

Dinner: 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be held near the Drum Point Lighthouse which is on the premises of the Calvert Marine Museum.

Evening: 7:00 p.m. Behind the Scenes Tour at Calvert Marine Museum with the Curator of Biology.

DAY

Piney Point and Point Lookout Lighthouses.

Solomons, MD

B,L,D

Holiday Inn Select Solomons

Activity note: Touring two lighthouses will include walking to various sites and climbing stairs.

Breakfast: Complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn.

Morning: Depart Holiday Inn by Motor Coach for a tour of Piney Point Lighthouse

Lunch: Noon lunch at a local restaurant in St. Mary's County.

Afternoon: 2:00 p.m. Tour of Point Lookout Lighthouse. 3:00 p.m. Depart for Holiday Inn.

Dinner: 6:00 p.m. Dinner in CMM Lounge.

Evening: 7:00 p.m. Lecture of history of Lighthouses.

DAY

Southern Lighthouses, Smith Island, and Lighthouse History

Solomons, MD

B,L,D

Holiday Inn Select Solomons

Activity note: 44' fishing charter boat that requires climbing in and out of it for lighthouse tours. Optional walking 1 to 1.5 mile.

Breakfast: Complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn.

Morning: 8:00 a.m. Board charter boat under Drum Pt. Lighthouse for tour of Point No Point, Point Lookout, and Smith Point Lighthouses.

Lunch: Lunch at Bayside Inn Restaurant.

Afternoon: Before leaving the island visit Smith Island History Museum. Depart Smith Island at 1:30 See Solomons Lump and Hooper Island Lighthouses, return to museum at 4:30pm.

Dinner: 6:00 p.m. Dinner in CMM Lounge.

Evening: 7:00 p.m. Musical entertainment about nautical theme.

DAY

Maryland Archeological Conservation Laboratory

Solomons, MD

B,L

Holiday Inn Select Solomons

Activity note: Two hour walking tour at MAC which includes periodic seating along the tour.

Breakfast: Complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn.

Morning: Travel by motor coach to Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory.

Lunch: Picnic lunch at JPPM overlooking the Patuxent River.

Afternoon: Time to explore local area on your own

Dinner: Dinner on your own. Select from a wide array of local eateries and fine dining restaurants.

Evening: Free Evening to explore beautiful Solomons Island. Walk along the boardwalk and see the Patuxent River sunset.

DAY

Cove Point Lighthouse, Fossil hunting, cruise on a Skipjack

Solomons, MD

B,L,D

Holiday Inn Select Solomons

Activity note: Walking on uneven surface at the beach. Finish the evening by climbing aboard the Dee of St. Mary's for an 1.5 hour cruise.

Breakfast: Complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn.

Morning: 10:00am Curator lectures on Paleontology and Estuarine Biology.

Lunch: 12 noon Lunch at Kingfisher's, a local favorite restaurant.

Afternoon: 2:00 Depart for Cove Point Lighthouse for a curator lead talk and then fossil hunting on Cove Point beach. Depart Cove Point at 4:00pm.Meet under Drum Pt. Lighthouse at 4:30 for a late afternoon sail on the skipjack, Dee of St. Mary's.

Dinner: Learn how to pick blue crabs then enjoy an end of program celebration dinner Al Fresco under the Corbin Pavilion.

DAY

Lighthouse Art Workshop.

Solomons, MD

B,L

Activity note: You are free to depart after lunch.

Breakfast: Complementary breakfast at Holiday Inn

Morning: Lighthouse art workshop

Lunch: Enjoy final meal from our chef of Lotus Kitchen.

Meals

14 Meals

5 Breakfasts

5 Lunches

4 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Display

Sep 17, 2017 - Sep 22, 2017

Jun 11, 2017 - Jun 16, 2017
Jul 30, 2017 - Aug 04, 2017
Sep 03, 2017 - Sep 08, 2017
Sep 17, 2017 - Sep 22, 2017

Holiday Inn Select Solomons

5 nights

Solomons

The Holiday Inn Conference Center and Marina has full amenities, a waterfront view and includes a full service on-site restaurant and pub, fitness center, sauna, tennis courts, a junior Olympic outdoor pool and a deep water marina with transient and long-term boat slips.

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7 Reviews

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4.86 Average

Peter

Class of 2013

Fayetteville, PA

(5) 7 months ago

If you are interested in lighthouses this is the program for you.

Rita

Class of 2008

Clearwater, FL

(4) 11 months ago

I prefer large signature cities - this was a bit laid back for me but interesting.

Richard

Class of 2013

West Chester, OH

(5) 11 months ago

While the program is not awe inspiring, it was a very enjoyable and worthwhile experience. It is so much more than just lighthouses. It was a very good educational experience about the history, ecology and economy of the region. I even had the opportunity to steer the skipjack ship we sailed on the final evening. The group leaders, educational experts and support personnel were all excellent.

Carol

Class of 2016

Selinsgrove, PA

(5) a year ago

This was a fun trip. We saw 8 lighthouses and we had the opportunity to visit and learn about the Calvert Marine Museum. Most of the meals were catered, buffet style and the food was very good. The family style lunch at Smith Island was especially enjoyable. The evening cruise on the Dee St. Mary was a wonderful way to end the trip. I have never met people as passionate about what they do as the various folks who gave presentations and guided us through this program!

Jo Ann

Class of 2013

Naples, FL

(5) a year ago

If you LOVE Lighthouses this is the trip for you !!!

Carol

Union Hall, VA

(5) a year ago

If you LOVE lighthouses and fresh seafood, this is the program for you ! You'll enjoy every minute !!!

Mary

Columbia, PA

(5) a year ago

If you have an interest in lighthouses and enjoy being out in a boat to see them, then this program is for you. There are two lengthy boat trips involved to see all the lights advertised in the program. It is well worth the experience.