Baltimore’s concentration of historic, cultural, and natural resources makes the city a truly unique place. The city has been witness to events that have dramatically altered the course of the nation’s history. Over the centuries it has also been witness to more subtle changes in the way Americans work, play, and live. With heritage area designation, both the state of Maryland and the U.S. Congress have acknowledged Baltimore for its capacity to tell these important stories.
The Baltimore Visitor Center is an excellent starting point for exploring Baltimore City. The large, state-of-the-art facility provides up-to-date information, resources, and services for visitors to learn about the best sites to visit in Baltimore.
This 100-acre nature sanctuary contains the northernmost bald cypress swamp in North America; along the Patuxent River. As you walk on the quarter-mile boardwalk trail, listen to nature's harmony of calling frogs and songbirds.
Home to the National Woman's Party for nearly 90 years, this building was the epicenter of the struggle for women's rights. From this house in the shadow of the US Capitol and Supreme Court, Alice Paul and the NWP developed innovative strategies and tactics to advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and equality for women. President Barack Obama designated the national monument on April 12, 2016.InscriptionsDoorway, right sideResidence of Albert Gallatin, peace negotiator and
Bladensburg Waterfront Park, located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, runs along the Anacostia River, one of the most historic waterways in America and features a paved riverside walk, picnic pavilion, fishing pier, playgrounds and more.
The Calvert Marine Museum is located at the confluence of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, MD and details the maritime and ecological history of Southern Maryland through exhibits, educational programs, boat trips and a guided lighthouse tour of two lighthouses.
Designed by Architect of the Capital, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the Commodore Stephen Decatur House was the home of the famous naval captain from 1818 until Decatur’s death in 1820. The elegant Federal-style mansion is located in Lafayette Square and has hosted many prominent politicians and foreign envoys during its two century lifetime.
The Concord Point Lighthouse, located in Havre de Grace, Maryland, sits adjacent to the mouth of the Susquehanna River where it flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Concord Point Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in Maryland and now serves as a beacon for tourism and history in the region.
A National Register Historic District, Fells Point was once a deep-water port and shipbuilding center for Baltimore City. Today, Fells Point is noted for its cobblestone streets, historic architecture, restaurants, and shops.
The Battle of Baltimore, fought September 12-14, 1814, was the defining moment in the War of 1812. Following the burning of Washington D.C., British forces came to Baltimore, the third largest city in the United States. American forces, fighting against the great military force in the world at the time, held their ground. The epic event inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would become the U.S. national anthem.
Built to defend the river approach to Washington, DC, Fort Washington has stood as silent sentry for over 200 years. As technologies advanced so did Fort Washington, from the brick and stone of the 19th century to the concrete and steel of the 20th century. Joining the National Park Service in 1946, the park continues to protect the Potomac River.
This small park honors the poet and lawyer Francis Scott Key, who lived near this location from 1805-1830. Key became famous for penning the poem that would eventually become the National Anthem of the United States of America.
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial commemorates Washington’s career as a Freemason leader and is one of the most expensive and monumental landmarks ever constructed by Freemasons. The Memorial is also an outstanding example of the synthesis of Neo-Classical and modern skyscraper architectural design.
Hampton shows the anomalies of life in a Border State. While Maryland would not secede from the Union, slavery was still part of the local economy and culture. The wealthy Ridgelys were every bit as aristocratic as any cotton planters, but many of their enslaved workforce worked in industry, and nearby Baltimore had a larger free black population than enslaved.
Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, visit Havre de Grace for waterfront walks, a charming downtown, hundreds of years of history, and one of the world's finest duck decoy museums. 450 Pennington Ave, Havre de Grace, MD 21078 410-939-2100
Historic Sotterley, a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO Site of Memory, preserves over 300 years of history, offering powerful stories of the past alongside scenic trails, gardens, and views of the Patuxent River.
Historic St. Mary’s City sits along a tributary of the Potomac River in St. Mary’s County, MD and preserves the site of the first European colonization in Maryland through exhibits, walking trails, active archaeological digs, school programs and more. 18751 Hogaboom Ln, St Marys City, MD 20686 240-895-4990
Jefferson Patterson Park is in Calvert County, Maryland and expands for 560-acres along the shoreline of the Patuxent River. The site itself is an important archaeological site and showcases archaeological dig sites, hiking trails, interpretive exhibits and more.
When the British invaded Washington and burned public buildings in August 1814, the White House was destroyed, a a new home for the First Family was needed. Upon Dolley and James Madison's return to Washington a few weeks later, Colonel John Tayloe offered the use of his home to President and First Lady Madison for a temporary "Executive Mansion."
White farm house (1805) at Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm is the oldest structure at the park. It was the Debutts family home and was known as Mount Welby.
Point Lookout State Park, in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, sits on a peninsula bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. The well-known park offers many recreational opportunities including swimming, fishing, boating, and camping. 11175 Point Lookout Rd, Scotland, MD 20687 301-872-5688
Step aboard Pride II, a reproduction Baltimore Clipper, and sail into the Chesapeake’s maritime past. Explore its history from privateering in the War of 1812 to life on the Bay today. Tour the deck or set sail for a hands-on adventure! As part of the NPS Chesapeake Gateways, Pride II offers a unique way to experience the Bay’s seafaring heritage.
The Star Fort Historic Zone is the centerpiece of the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. The area features the original fort structure that was bombarded in the War of 1812 inspiring the National Anthem. It also features the historic outer battery with original Rodman cannons dating back to the 1860s. Inside the fort are historic structures that include various exhibits and museums.
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House dates to the late 1700s and was owned by Mary Pickersgill. She, her daughter, and her nieces created a flag sewing business out of their home. The Pickersgill women, along with an African American indentured teenager named Grace Wisher, sewed the flag that inspired our national anthem.
The successful defense of Balimore at Fort McHenry inspired the poem that became America's National Anthem, and caused the British to abandon their Chesapeake Bay campaign. The Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail marks and intereprets numerous sites associated with the War of 1812 in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. and the military campaign that culminated in the birth of 'the Star Spangled Banner."
Tangier Island is an offshore watermen community in the Chesapeake Bay. With unique views reachable only by ferry and a surprising history, visiting Tangier is an experience unlike any other. Stories from the island include Native American connections, colonial settlements, a British fort, and salvation for enslaved peoples who found their freedom on the island's shores.
Only accessible by ferry, Tangier Island is an offshore fishing community located in the Chesapeake Bay. The Tangier Island History Museum provides information about the unique history of the island, and also serves as a gift shop. Visit to discover fascinating stories and speak to locals about things to do during your visit.
For more than two centuries, the United States legislature has met in Washington, D.C. at the Capitol building. It is a symbol of the American democracy. This made it a target on the evening of August 24, 1814, when 4,500 British troops invaded Washington, D.C., set on torching the capital in retaliation for an attack on York, Canada the year prior.
A key feature of the design of the Capitol city, the President has lived in a home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since 1800. Although it didn’t bear the name we know it by today – the White House – until around 1811, President John Adams and wife Abigail were the home’s first residents, and it has been the official residence of the President ever since.
