The 35-foot-tall tower was built in 1833 to direct ships along the Elk River toward the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Perched atop a 100-foot cliff, the lighthouse remains the highest beacon on the bay,supra falcon whitehttp://www.justinbiebershoesusa.com/supra-falcon-white-shoe. Its light can be seen for 13 miles.

Another thing that sets Turkey Point apart is that four of the keepers were women, which was remarkable for an era when the physical labor and extreme isolation were seen as conditions only tolerable for a man.

The last keeper, Fannie Mae Salter, was appointed after the death of her husband in 1925. In her early 40s, she initially was told she was too old for the job. It wasn't until President Calvin Coolidge stepped in that Salter was allowed to stay. She went on to serve until her retirement in the late 1940s -- a feat that earned her the title of last civilian female keeper in the country.

The light was automated in 1948 and now runs completely on solar energy,supra s1w grey whitehttp://www.suprashoes4salecheap.com/supra-s1w-grey-white-shoe. In the spring of 2007 the stairs were rebuilt in the same way they were in 1833, and visitors can climb to the top for a spectacular view,supra falcon blackhttp://www.suprashoessalecheap.co.uk/supra-falcon-black-shoe.

Getting there: There are two paths that run from the parking area to the lighthouse. A shady gravel path meanders through the woods, and another slightly more strenuous path hugs the water. Regardless of which one you choose, it is a little more than a mile and a half round trip. Flip-flops are discouraged.

Interesting fact: The cliffs around the lighthouse appeared in Clint Eastwood's 1997 film "Absolute Power."

Make a day of it: The state park includes a beach and swimming area. The nearby town of North East is home to the Upper Bay Museum, which explores the area's maritime heritage,supra falcon shoehttp://www.suprashoessalecheap.co.uk/supra-falcon.