Have You Ever Climbed Inside a Lighthouse?
Today, I did—for the first time! I’ll admit, I was a little scared. After the winding stone steps, there’s a narrow ladder with small metal rungs that feels more like climbing into a ship’s crow’s nest than strolling through a historic site.
I visited the Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace, Maryland—one of 13 lighthouses built by John Donahoo, a Harford County resident. Donahoo, who married in June 1812, served as a sergeant in the Maryland Militia just four months later. He later played a role in rebuilding the town after it was burned during the War of 1812.
The lighthouse was constructed to aid the navigation of fishing boats and other vessels. In May 1822, the federal government purchased the land, awarding Donahoo the construction contract for $3,500. Built of granite, it was originally lit with nine whale-oil lamps. Its first keeper was John O’Neill.
Across the street from the lighthouse park is the Keeper’s House, now a museum featuring lighthouse artifacts, historic household furnishings, and other pieces tied to its long history.
Nearby, on the corner of Concord Street, stands the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and Environmental Center. While the lighthouse and Keeper’s House have free admission, this museum charges $5. Inside, visitors can explore the rich maritime heritage of the area, including a boat shop on the ground floor and a large navigation fog bell—once used to warn vessels when the lighthouse’s light was obscured by fog. The museum also houses artifacts, along with miniature and life-size models of historic Chesapeake Bay boats.
The exhibits also highlight the people who shaped Havre de Grace, from the Susquehannock people who traded with Europeans, to figures like William Still, known as the “Father of the Underground Railroad” for his role in helping enslaved people escape and for keeping meticulous records of their stories. There are also displays about freedom songs and spirituals—some with hidden messages—sung by enslaved people. One featured song is Amazing Grace, written by John Newton, a former slave trader turned Anglican priest after surviving a violent storm. The collection of spirituals, compiled by Diana Harris, a Harford County Community College student and intern, adds a poignant human connection to the history.
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