PINEY POINT, Md. — Tourism leaders, local officials and community partners gathered Tuesday morning at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum to launch the Maryland Tourism Coalition’s annual “Maryland in a Day” road trip, marking the start of National Travel & Tourism Week with a focus on the state’s role in America’s 250th anniversary.
The kickoff event highlighted St. Mary’s County’s place in early American history as a starting point for a statewide tourism journey — beginning at the southernmost point of the state and moving north through its history.
Organized by the Maryland Tourism Coalition, the “Maryland in a Day” initiative highlighted historic landmarks, tourism destinations and cultural sites across the state, encouraging residents and visitors to engage with Maryland’s story statewide.
This year’s theme aligned with the broader National Travel & Tourism Week message that travel plays an essential role in supporting local economies, strengthening communities and connecting people across the country.
The 2026 road trip places particular emphasis on Maryland’s contributions to the nation’s founding, beginning at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum due to its proximity to St. George Island — the site of the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Maryland.
A Statewide Story Begins In Southern Maryland
Chris Riehl, owner of Baltimore-based Rent-a-Tour, partnered with the Maryland Tourism Coalition to highlight the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum waterfront campus on the Potomac River before embarking on the daylong journey, which included multiple stops showcasing the state’s historical, cultural and tourism assets and concluded in Baltimore.
Riehl led this year’s “Maryland in a Day” road trip as part of National Travel & Tourism Week. Now in its fifth year, he said the initiative has grown from a solo drive across the state into an annually coordinated storytelling effort highlighting Maryland’s history, tourism assets and economic impact.
“The theme for this year’s road trip is America 250, and so we wanted to start our trip where Maryland began — in Southern Maryland with the arrival of the Ark and the Dove,” Riehl said. “This is a beautiful part of the state. We wanted to highlight the natural resources, the history and everything that Southern Maryland has to offer, so it seemed like a natural starting point.”
Riehl said this year’s theme centers on America’s 250th anniversary, with a deliberate decision to begin in Southern Maryland — where the state’s colonial story began — and highlight lesser-known historical narratives along the route.
“We wanted to focus on the important role that Maryland has played in America’s story over the past 250 years,” Riehl said. “Maryland is one of the most historic states in the country and there are a lot of stories that don’t always get told, so we wanted to showcase that and highlight those for people as best we could.”
He emphasized that tourism plays a broader economic role than many realize, supporting small businesses across multiple industries through a ripple effect created by visitor spending. In St. Mary’s County, where attractions are spread along the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River and Patuxent River, tourism depends on visitors choosing the peninsula as a destination — not passing through it.
“Tourism is a huge economic driver, and not just in the businesses you might think about… there’s a ripple effect,” Riehl said. “More than 90% of tourism and hospitality businesses in the state of Maryland are small businesses, so it really does make a huge difference.”
Riehl also reflected on the evolution of “Maryland in a Day,” noting its shift from a personal journey into a platform for showcasing different themes each year, from civil rights history to scenic byways, with the goal of reinforcing how much the state has to offer in a single day.
“When I did this the first time, it was just me and my car from Ocean City to Deep Creek Lake,” Riehl said. “It’s grown and evolved. There’s always another story to tell and so much you can see and do in just one day.”
Andrew Ponti, marketing director for the St. Mary’s County Museum Division, said the county’s role as the starting point for this year’s “Maryland in a Day” tour reflected both its historical significance and ongoing efforts to draw more visitors to Southern Maryland.
“The Maryland Tourism Coalition does a really good job of getting the peripheral areas involved in state tourism — it’s not just always Baltimore or Annapolis,” Ponti said. “This is a really cool opportunity — there was no other place during the American Revolution that anything happened in Maryland except for here.”
Ponti noted that St. Mary’s County is often overlooked in favor of more central tourism hubs, but initiatives like the Maryland Tourism Coalition’s statewide programming help bring attention to regions that are rich in history but less frequently visited.
“A lot of times we kind of get overlooked,” Ponti said. “Even though we’re the birthplace of Maryland.”
Southern Maryland’s geography — surrounded by water and not on a direct travel corridor — requires visitors to make a deliberate decision to visit, and Ponti said those who do often leave with a strong appreciation for the area’s natural beauty, affordability and depth of historical experiences.
“Piney Point being the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac is a pretty cool thing and you can still go in it,” Ponti said. “St. George Island didn’t always have recognition, but now people are starting to understand the story of the battle and everything that happened there.”
Ponti highlighted the county’s diverse tourism offerings, ranging from colonial and Revolutionary War history to maritime heritage and modern aerospace connections, positioning the region as a place where visitors can experience multiple layers of Maryland’s story in one destination.
“St. Mary’s County has so many different parts that all tell a different part of the same story of Maryland,” Ponti said. “We pretty much have something for everyone — colonial history, maritime, Civil War, aerospace — it’s all here.”
In addition to heritage tourism, Ponti underscored the importance of environmental stewardship at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, particularly a recent shoreline preservation initiative supported by the St. Mary’s County commissioners, noting that protecting natural resources is directly tied to preserving the region’s history and maintaining public access to waterfront sites.
“Preserving this history includes preserving the shoreline — the shoreline is the history as well,” Ponti said. “Without it, you’re losing history. Most of our heritage sites are on the water, and that’s a big part of the draw.”
A Children’s Book Bringing Maryland’s Story To Life
Natasha Nash Dixon, a Maryland-based author, is using storytelling and photography to introduce young readers to the state’s history and tourism destinations through her children’s book “Drew’s Grand Adventure.”
The book features a coyote decoy named “Drew,” photographed at landmarks across Maryland by photographer David Sites, and paired with narrative descriptions that highlight each location’s historical and cultural significance. The concept grew organically from Dixon’s volunteer work at the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, where the coyote decoy was originally used as a practical tool to deter seagulls.
“I started volunteering for the lighthouse and a local boat captain suggested they get one of these coyote decoys,” Dixon said. “After the storm took the dock, David started taking Drew out on his boat every day and posting photos, and people fell in love with it.”
After the decoy was lost during a storm and later recovered, Sites began photographing it during daily outings. Dixon turned the idea into a children’s book, combining storytelling, illustrations and real-world photography to create an accessible way for families to engage with Maryland’s heritage.
“People started asking for more, and I said, ‘You know what? We need to do a children’s book,’” Dixon said. “I wrote the story and did the illustrations, and David gave me full access to his photos. Without him, Drew never would have had his big grand adventure.”
Dixon said proceeds from the book have already contributed nearly $5,000 to support historic preservation efforts, and she hopes to expand its reach into libraries and schools across the state.
“We’ve donated almost $5,000 so far to the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse,” Dixon said. “The book has gotten into the Anne Arundel County Library system and I’d love to see it in libraries and schools across Maryland.”
Dixon attended the Piney Point kickoff event to support tourism initiatives and capture new material for a planned follow-up book featuring a new character, continuing the project’s focus on connecting storytelling with place-based learning.
A Gateway To Maryland’s Revolutionary History
Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park served as a fitting launch site for the statewide tour, offering both historical significance and a scenic introduction to Southern Maryland’s heritage tourism landscape.
Located along the Potomac River, the museum campus includes the historic lighthouse, maritime exhibits and access to nearby St. George Island, where colonial forces once clashed during the Revolutionary War. Starting a journey at Piney Point underscored the region’s role in the nation’s early history while positioning St. Mary’s County as a key destination in Maryland’s broader tourism network.
Local officials noted that sites like Piney Point Lighthouse Museum help connect visitors to authentic stories of the past while supporting ongoing tourism efforts that bring economic activity to the region.
Fast Facts About The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum
- Located in Piney Point, Md., the museum has daily hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Admission is $7 for adults, $3.50 for military, seniors and students, and free for children 5 and under.
- Exhibits include the 1836 lighthouse, the keeper’s quarters, the Potomac River Maritime Exhibit and displays on the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Amenities include a pier for day visits, a kayak launch, sidewalks and boardwalks with fully accessible restrooms and an on-site museum store.
Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park
44720 Lighthouse Road
Piney Point, MD 20674
(301) 994-1471
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