Yesterday was National Maritime Day. Established by Congress in 1933, the date serves to recognize the significance of the maritime industry of the United States. It was on May 22 that the first transoceanic voyage by steamship took place in 1819 from Savannah, Georgia.
We residents of the Mid-Atlantic region also have myriad maritime milestones to boast about. Maryland, in particular, has a seemingly endless list of regional riparian credits. From ports, harbors, and notable shipbuilding communities to the role the state once played in producing novel ships and other revolutionary essentials, this Flashback Friday Feature offers a brief survey of just some of the countless coastal callouts throughout Maryland’s maritime history.
The Port of Baltimore—Past and Present
Better known as “the Port of Baltimore,” the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore (renamed such in 2006) holds the claim today for being the largest port facility for specialized cargo in the nation. Located along the tidal basins of three branches of the Patapsco River, northwest of the Chesapeake, it’s currently operated by the Maryland Port Administration (MPA).
Captain John Smith had already led the first European expedition to the Patapsco River in the early 1600s. So, interest in exploring surrounding regional waterways was already heightened by the time the next century rolled around. Then, in 1702, James Carroll combined English royal and proprietary land grants from 1661 to establish what was then referred to as “Whetstone Point.” Later to be known as the more familiar Locust Point, it was on this site back in 1706 that the provincial Maryland General Assembly established a “Port of Entry” for tobacco trading purposes. The Port was conveniently designated to sit northwest at “The Basin” of the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco—an area later renamed “the Inner Harbor.”
Fells Point—The Harbor’s Historic Gem
The history of Fells Point can be traced back as early as 1670. First coined “Long Island Point” by a European Seafarer, the lanky, thin peninsula that would later be known as “Fells Point” holds many unique claims to state-specific maritime fame.
The name “Fells Point” (sometimes written as “Fell’s Point”) eventually came about following the arrival of two brothers, Edward Fell (in 1726) and William Fell (in 1730). This was at a time when land sales were high, and the brothers were able to acquire 3,000 acres of land, which now comprises Fells Point.
It wasn’t long before the Fells Point area emerged as the Maryland Colony’s primary shipbuilding hub. Three crucial facts made it ideal for the industry: its location on the harbor’s deepest waters, its close navigable distance to the Chesapeake, and its convenient regional access to surrounding timber and land. So, it goes without saying that the region’s very first shipyard was erected at Fells Point.
Creation of the Clipper
Fells Point became synonymous with producing many great sailing vessels of renown. Among those claims to fame was pioneering the production of some of the fastest topsail schooners around. Known more familiarly as Baltimore clipper ships, these schooners were small in size but easy to handle. They were also amazingly quick, thanks to their unique styles, inspired by early Jamaican concepts yet modified to become something new entirely.
Clipper ships were often used for coastline trading between the United States and the Caribbean. They were also notoriously utilized for privateering, especially during the War of 1812.
Establishment of the United States Naval Academy
In reviewing Maryland’s nautical callouts, we can’t overlook the history of the one and only United States Naval Academy. The second oldest of the five famed United States service academies, the United States Naval Academy was established on October 10, 1845, under George Bancroft, who was Secretary of the Navy at the time. Operating as part of the Naval University System, the school educates both midshipmen for service in the officer corps of the United States Navy and those who are part of the United States Marine Corps.
The former location of Fort Severn serves as the site on which the 338-acre campus sits, on the confluence of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay in Anne Arundel County. Being just 33 miles east of Washington, D.C., only adds to its idyllic location.
Birth of Skipjack Boats
Getting back to boat boasting, there is another sailing vessel not to be overlooked in Maryland’s maritime history. What’s more, it was officially named “Maryland State Boat” in 1985. I’m talking about the one and only skipjack.
Skipjacks have been sailing the Chesapeake since the end of the 19th century. They grew into prominence following a peak in Maryland’s oyster harvest in 1884. They replaced the later-banned bugeye that had formerly been used for dredging oysters in Maryland’s controversial on-again-off-again earlier laws regarding such practices.
At one time, it is estimated that the total number of skipjacks was 2,000 or more. Today’s numbers hover around 40, with fewer than half of them being used in active fishing.
These are just a handful of maritime milestones to marvel at throughout Maryland’s storied past. Other coastal Mid-Atlantic states have boasting rights to nautical callouts as well. Virginia and Delaware, in particular, have many stories, facts, and tidbits worth discovering. To better learn about these marvels, I suggest visiting your local maritime-themed museums.