Carroll Park in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Of Fords, Felles, and Falls
Gwynns Falls Trail
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 8, 2023
The Susquehannock and Algonquian Indians had long traveled through this area when Captain John Smith explored and mapped the Chesapeake Bay region in 1608. As the Susquehannocks went from Pennsylvania to the bay, they crossed the Gwynns Falls stream at two fords one near the stone pillars of the former Brunswick Street Bridge - visible from the trail - and the other near Washington Boulevard. Smith noted that the streams often tumbled over "felles" or "fells," later called falls. This stream (or falls) was named for Maryland settler Richard Gwinn, who in 1669 established a post, probably at Gwynns Run, to trade with the Indians. Gwinn made plans for a "New Town" and built a stone fort - one of the first in an ongoing series of human imprints on the landscape.
… a highway of the … Indians passed through the western part, at least, of what is now Baltimore City, and crossed Gwinns Falls near the mouth of that stream.
[Captions:]
This 1670 map of Chesapeake Bay shows the mouth of the Patapsco River, the Middle Branch of which is the outlet of Gwynns Falls.
The Baltimore area lay between lands to the north occupied by the Iroquois-speaking Susquehannocks (below) and costal lands in Maryland and Virginia occupied by Algonquian-speaking Indians.
Erected by Gwynns Falls Trail Council.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Native Americans • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Gwynns Falls Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1608.
Location. 39° 16.303′ N, 76° 38.894′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Carroll Park. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Washington Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1520 Washington Blvd, Baltimore MD 21230, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Baltimore Ecosystem Study (here, next to this marker); Carroll Park at the Golf Course (a few steps from this marker); Carroll Park Golf Course (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Carroll Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Carrollton Viaduct (approx. half a mile away); Mount Clare (approx. 0.6 miles away); Camp Carroll (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Mount Clare (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 8, 2023
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,643 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on March 19, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.