Baltimore history is spread across the city
Baltimore’s history is not confined to one museum district. The sites below connect literary history, freedom seeking, railroads, the War of 1812 and the defense of Baltimore. From Canton Rooftop Harbor View, several key stops are short drives or rideshare trips, and Patterson Park is especially close.
Edgar Allan Poe
Visit Poe’s grave at Westminster Hall, then pair it with the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.
Underground Railroad
President Street Station is a verified Network to Freedom site, while Baltimore’s rail and waterfront history connects directly to Frederick Douglass and other freedom seekers.
War of 1812
Fort McHenry, Patterson Park’s Hampstead Hill, North Point Battlefield and the Flag House tell the story of the Battle of Baltimore and the Star-Spangled Banner.
Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore
Baltimore is inseparable from Poe’s story. Two sites make an easy pairing for visitors who want both the writer’s home and his final resting place.
Westminster Hall & Burying Ground
519 W. Fayette St. Poe is buried here with Virginia Clemm Poe and Maria Poe Clemm. The burying ground also contains Revolutionary War and War of 1812 figures, making it a worthwhile stop even beyond Poe.
Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum
203 N. Amity St. The small Baltimore house preserves Poe’s time in the city. Current visitor information advises reserving a tour in advance because of the site’s size.
Local tie-in: Annabel Lee Tavern in Canton is a Poe-themed neighborhood restaurant and one of my favorite local hangouts. It is included in the restaurant guide.
Underground Railroad & Frederick Douglass
Baltimore was both a slaveholding city and a place where freedom seekers used waterfronts and rail lines to escape north. These sites help connect that history to the city you see today.
Historic President Street Station
601 President St. The station interprets Baltimore’s 19th-century railroads, journeys to freedom on the Underground Railroad, and the first bloodshed of the Civil War. The site is recognized by the National Park Service Network to Freedom program.
Walk in Douglass’s Baltimore footsteps
Frederick Douglass spent formative years in Fell’s Point, learned to read in Baltimore, worked in the shipyards and later escaped slavery. Visit Baltimore’s Douglass route highlights President Street Station, Happy Alley, Lancaster Street, Thames Street and Douglass Place.
National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation
901 W. Pratt St. Formerly the B&O Railroad Museum, this historic Mt. Clare site is the birthplace of American railroading and is also recognized as a National Park Service Network to Freedom site.
War of 1812 & the Battle of Baltimore
The September 1814 defense of Baltimore unfolded by land and water. The sites below let you follow that story from the British landing at North Point to Hampstead Hill and Fort McHenry.
Fort McHenry
2400 E. Fort Ave. The fort withstood the British naval bombardment during the Battle of Baltimore. The flag flying over the fort inspired Francis Scott Key’s words that became the national anthem.
Patterson Park
The high ground at Hampstead Hill became a major defensive position in 1814. Thousands helped build earthworks here; British troops approaching Baltimore stopped at the formidable defenses rather than attempt a costly assault.
North Point State Battlefield
Maryland militia fought British regulars at North Point before falling back toward Baltimore. The battle slowed the British advance and helped give Baltimore’s defenders time to consolidate around Hampstead Hill.
Star-Spangled Banner Flag House
844 E. Pratt St. Mary Pickersgill and her household made the huge garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry and became the visual inspiration for the anthem.
A practical history day from Canton
Morning: Patterson Park & Fort McHenry
Start close to the house at Patterson Park’s Hampstead Hill, then continue south to Fort McHenry for the main Battle of Baltimore story.
Afternoon: Flag House & President Street Station
Continue toward downtown with the Flag House and President Street Station, connecting the War of 1812, railroad history, freedom seeking and the Civil War.
Late afternoon: Poe
Finish west of downtown with Westminster Hall and, if you have a reservation, the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.
Hours, tours and admission policies can change. Check each official site before leaving.
History guide map: start at the house
Canton Rooftop Harbor View is pinned below as the starting point for the history guide. Use the individual map links above for routing to each historic site.
Stay in Canton while exploring Baltimore history.
Return after a day of museums, battlefields and historic neighborhoods to a three-bedroom Canton home with private parking and a rooftop overlooking Baltimore Harbor.
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