| Thomas
Point Shoal Lighthouse
Moving Closer to National Historic Landmark Status |
| by Henry Gonzalez |
| Our very "own" Thomas
Point Shoal was unanimously recommended for designation as a National
Historic Landmark at an October 7th meeting of the Landmarks Committee
of the National Park System (NPS) Advisory Board. The next step will be
approval by the full board, and based on their recommendation, final designation
by the Secretary of the Interior. The presentation was made by Kevin Foster,
Chief of the NPS National Maritime Initiative (NMI). Also in attendance
at the meeting were Ralph Eshelman, primary author of the nomination and
President of the National Lighthouse Museum Steering Committee; Candace
Clifford, consultant/lighthouse project coordinator for the NPS National
Maritime Initiative; and myself, representing the Chapter and the USLHS.
National Historic Landmark status is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a historic property, and only 6 other lighthouses have received that honor to date. As I reported in the last newsletter, Cape Hatteras and Ponce de Leon Inlet were approved earlier this year. Grosse Point lighthouse also received a positive recommendation for designation at the October 7th meeting. Thomas Point Shoal is the only intact cottage-type screwpile lighthouse in the country that remains in its original in-water location, and is therefore very unique as a historic property. We should all be very proud of the very special status that is being bestowed on our Chapter’s symbol and one of the best loved lighthouses in the Bay. Well done to Ralph and Candace for their thorough research, and to Kevin for an excellent and convincing presentation. |
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Chesapeake Chapter, USLHS. All rights reserved.
