Baltimore Harbor Maryland
Harbour Lights #482

The construction of a Light in the Baltimore Harbour is a testament to American engineering genius! The completion of this Lighthouse was eighteen years in the making.

In 1890 the United States Congress was sent a request for a $60,000 appropriation to build a light at Baltimore Harbor. More than four years later the request was passed.

The site selected was examined by boring deep into the shoal. What was found was a 55’ layer of “semi-fluid mud” before a sand bottom was hit. The idea to build a lighthouse on a screwpile foundation had to be abandoned when in 1889 a test using an experimental disk pile failed. The Lighthouse Board came to the conclusion that to build a Lighthouse on this site would be a challenge on the $60,000 appropriated for the project. An additional $60,000 was requested with a winning approval in 1902.

In 1903, the contract went out for bid, with the only contractor submitting a bid $80,000 greater than the total appropriation. At the next round of bidding, with $180,000 in appropriations, the contract was awarded to William Flaherty and his partner, Frederick Martin Lande, experienced lighthouse builders, who were also the only bidders for the job. The Lighthouse Board had determined that a cession foundation would be necessary to secure the Lighthouse; Flaherty and Lande had the experience needed to get the job done under budget.

In September 1904, the 30’ metal cylinder, that was to serve as the foundation was ready to be towed to the site. When the caisson had been sunk approximately 8’ into the shoal, the heavy seas filled the cylinder causing it be knocked off kilter by 7’. In October, when Flaherty retuned to the site, after securing additional materials, he could only watch as a heavy storm caused the cylinder to be overturned on its side. The contractor left the site once again, this time not to return again. Flaherty’s company went into receivership making it necessary for the government to sue the bonding agent for the contractor, in order to get the job completed.

The United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company spent three years working to get the cylinder to level. By 1907, the insurance company had leveled the caisson by using 80 tons of weight and pumps to remove the mud from underneath one side and reattaching more than half of the 120 metal plates thus enabling the caisson to be sunk the 82’ beneath the high water mark.

The caisson foundation supports a two-story octagonal brick structure with a mansard roof. The first floor is the main Keeper’s quarters with sitting room and kitchen. On the second floor there are two bedrooms. Located under the mansard roof was a small watch room. An octagonal lantern room, topped with a copper roof, ventilator ball, and lightning spindle finish off the lighthouse. At long last, the Baltimore Lighthouse was commissioned on October 1, 1908, with the lighting of its fourth-order Fresnel lens.

In 1964, a 60-watt isotopic generator was installed, making the Baltimore Lighthouse the world’s first to be nuclear powered. It was said the generator would work uninterrupted for 10 years without refueling or maintenance. In 1966, the United States Coast Guard removed the generator over concerns for cost and the environmental impact.

Since no non-profit group expressed a desire for the Lighthouse, the property was auctioned. A winning bid of $260,000 was placed by BHL, LLC of Annapolis MD, a partnership of private citizens who are committed to the preservation and restoration of the Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse.

Under the terms of the sale the United States Coast Guard will be granted access to the lighthouse for occasional checkups.