on the east end of the coal storage shed. In 1927, the lighthouse was converted to a duplex, more than doubling the size of the building. The duplex allowed for a keeper and assistant keeper to live on-site and still have some privacy. The light was served by civilian and Coast Guard keepers. In 1939, the United States Coast Guard took over control of all U.S. lighthouses, and the keepers were pressured, but not required, to join the Coast Guard. In 1951, the United States Navy began buying property around the light. On January 11, 1966, the light was deactivated and the structures were turned over to the Navy. Civilians continued to live in the house until 1981, when a dispute over a failing well led to the revocation of a 99-year lease that the state had with the Navy. The fog bell tower was moved to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in 1968. Throughout the 1960s, the State of Maryland purchased land north of the lighthouse and carved out the Point Lookout State Park. In 2006, the light was turned over to Maryland as part of a land-swap deal. Also in 2006, the Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society was founded to restore the lighthouse complex to the 1927 era. The lighthouse is owned by Maryland and is accessible one day a month from April to November by volunteers of the Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society. The group also holds night time "paranormal investigations" to raise funds for preservation and restoration activities. The haunted reputation is a dual-edged sword, and has caused severe damage to historically significant parts of the lighthouse due to vandals breaking into the lighthouse. While unusual things have happened at the lighthouse, it is unclear who, how or why the lighthouse is referred to as the most haunted lighthouse in America. Several television shows have dedicated segments to the lighthouse, including Mystery Hunters, Weird Travels and Haunted Lighthouses. Sources Point Lookout Light, from the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society Point Lookout Lighthouse, from Lighthousefriends External links Point Lookout Lighthouse Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society, Inc. Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Project - Point Lookout Light Lighthouses completed in 1830 Houses completed in 1830 Lighthouses in St. Mary's County, Maryland Potomac River Lighthouses in the Chesapeake Bay Reportedly haunted locations in Maryland 1830 establishments in Maryland