It got its name from the 1691 grounding of HMS Wolf, a British naval vessel engaged in enforcing the Navigation Act and in combating piracy.

[7] In 1821 a lightship was stationed at this spot, and after refurbishment in 1854, the original ship was destroyed by Confederate raiders in 1861 during the Civil War.

In 1870 a screwpile lighthouse was constructed on a hexagonal foundation, the house being prefabricated at the station at Lazzaretto Point in Baltimore.

The keeper was able to escape, but the house was found floating far to the south at Thimble Shoals, where the lantern and lens were recovered.

While contractors and temporary laborers did much of the work, he and his staff were on site and used 5th District ships to support the construction.

USLHT Jessamine hauled materials to the site, did test boring, and drove mooring piles.

[13][9] Complaints about the visibility of the original fixed light led to a change to a flashing characteristic in 1895.

A set of black plywood blinds is installed in the lantern to block stray reflections from the panes.

The light was bought by Dr. James Southard, Jr. for $119,000,[10] and was again up for sale in 2012, including a nearby waterfront lot, for $288,000.