Bringing up Patriots Along the Chesapeake Bay
When local school children and their families sing The Star-Spangled Banner in what is now a quasi- suburban stretch alongside the Chesapeake Bay outside of Baltimore, they have a deep connection to the national anthem. They live in the spot where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner during the War of 1812.
Many local students have visited North Point State Park which has a trail at its entrance detailing how the anthem was written during a 25-hour siege by the British. They know that Key was on the dock of a truce ship watching “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air” after he negotiated the release of Dr. William Beanes of Upper Marlborough from the British fleet.
In a video, National Park Service Ranger Kate Marks explained just how important the historic trails in North Point State Park are to the community.
“I’ve been working on this 1812 trail for 12 years,” Ranger Marks said. “I love the passion of this community. You get a little bit of history and nature. It’s a wonderful thing for the community.”
The American flag also holds special meaning for locals. The flag “with broad stripes and bright stars” that flew at Fort McHenry through the battle Key watched was sewn by local seamstress and Baltimore County flag maker Mary Pickersgill. Her house is now called The Star Spangled Banner Museum. America was only 15 states then, and the same number of stars and stripes. The Star-Spangled Banner flag is now permanently at the Smithsonian.
A Great Place to Visit
Like many urban cities on the water, there are two Baltimores, the one tourists flock to on the harbor and the one where locals live along a 205 mile stretch and make a living off the water. This working-class area offers nightlife and water life in a quieter and homier environment than the city. Like many quasi-suburban areas close to a big city, it has less expensive restaurants and bars where neighbors hang out with each other and welcome those who come by boat or car into their communities.
Baltimore County’s pivotal role in preserving our fledgling nation reverberates through this stretch of the Chesapeake Bay. You can see it in the prominently hung American flags and the families as they fish from their boats and tool around to waterfront oases where they can enjoy cheap beer, crabs, and a host of sunset watching happy hours.
incredible views of the Chesapeake Bay can be found at places like the Home Island Waterfront Café and the Riverwatch Restaurant and Marina. The Crazy Tuna Bar and Grille which bills itself the “hottest place in town serving good food in a great atmosphere” is awash in tiki bar charm. Another restaurant called Brewer’s Landing is ideal for a casual outdoor meal and has a DJ who plays music along the Back River.
If it’s dive bars you like, check out The Seahorse Inn, on Oakleigh Cove, where frequent kayakers, boaters, and jet skiers spend afternoons enjoying the water. Recent upgrades have made it a bit less divey though. And if it’s low-key action you want, there’s a beach to play horseshoes below.
There’s a patriotic flair to many of local establishments, with names such as the Freedom Boat Club of MD where you can rent bowriders, center consoles and pontoons, among others. Watersports abound in this part of the Chesapeake and you can rent a kayak or paddle boat to explore the Bay with friends and family.
The upper part of the Chesapeake Bay is also home to colleges with programs focused on saving the Bay and improving the experience of it. For almost 110 years America’s Boating Club has helped make boating better through education and safety programs. The area is also home to the Community College of Baltimore County which offers certificate programs in Marine Engine Maintenance Repair and how to become a Professional Boat Captain.
And when evening comes there are glorious sunsets over the Chesapeake to be seen.
