Point Lookout State Park, Md.: Part 1: Civil War's Hammond Hospital

In October, we visited Maryland's Point Lookout State Park and in the next couple of blogs we'll talk about the war-related buildings, the civil war prison, the haunted lighthouse, and the former resort (now gone). In this blog you'll explore the Civil War Hospital and many things to do at the park.

ABOUT THE PARK - Point Lookout State Park is a Maryland state park occupying Point Lookout, the southernmost tip of a peninsula formed by the confluence of Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River in St. Mary's County, Maryland.

Hospital looks like spokes on a wheel

CIVIL WAR'S HAMMOND GENERAL HOSPITAL -  In 1862, after the start of the Civil War, the U. S. government leased the land to build a military hospital for war casualties according to Waymarking.com. The hospital was constructed on pilings and had 16 buildings arranged like the spokes of a wheel with four small buildings in the center. 
 It was completed in the spring of 1863. Hammond Hospital could handle 1,400 patients. Union casualties were transported by water on steamers.  

After the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, the federal government set up a POW camp on the same peninsula. Hammond started taking in injured and sick Confederate prisoners in addition to Federal soldiers, and the hospital soon became overcrowded.

The location

HOSPITAL TORN DOWN 3 YEARS LATER - After the Civil War ended, the government closed Hammond Hospital in 1865. The buildings were demolished or sold. Today, a monument marks the general location of Hammond Hospital. It is in the middle of the traffic circle at the end of Point Lookout State Park near the lighthouse. To the east of the monument across the road, there is a historical sign with the history of Hammond Hospital and a single piling, the only evidence a huge war hospital once existed here.

Spending A Day At Point Lookout

Beach Picnic Area - Open daily (6 a.m. – Sunset) starting Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Open year round with pedestrian access only during the winter season from sunrise to sunset.

Pavilion/Shelter - The pavilion contains a large open grill and picnic tables. Water and electric are available. The pavilion is located in the Beach Picnic Area with the swimming area and a small playing field nearby.

Park Store - The park store is open May - September. The park store offers snacks, ice cream, drinks, bait, ice, souvenirs and boating, picnicking and camping supplies.  

Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center - located within the Campground. Open to the general public, day visitors as well as campers. Museum and Nature Center are open seasonally, closed during the winter.  

A panoramic shot we took of the road to the lighthouse. 

Boating - A boat launch facility and fish-cleaning station are available for boaters. Canoe rentals and supplies are also available at the camp store.   

Fort Lincoln - Open year round sunrise to sunset (self-guided). Re-enactments and special events are held at Fort Lincoln throughout the year.  

Lighthouse - Open for tours the first Saturday of each month from April-November  

Hunting - There are 200 acres set aside for deer hunting.

Hiking - Periwinkle Point Trail, a self-guided nature trail located at the back entrance of the Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center.

For the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Park Webpage:
http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/pointlookout.aspx 

NEXT: The Civil War Prison and ties to Tom's family