Canton in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Historic Canton
Viewing the Entrance to the Baltimore Harbor from the Canton Waterfront Park
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 24, 2022
Canton Cove is directly in front of you. Here, schooners would wait before receiving the message to head to Fells Point to unload their cargo. The Inner Harbor, at that time, was a swamp and not navigable.
Fort McHenry is further out to the right, and to your left directly across the water from the fort is Lazaretto Lighthouse.
For McHenry during the War of 1812 defended Baltimore against the British, whose ships never got past Fort McHenry because Baltimoreans sunk ships in the narrowest part of the harbor, blocking the British from advancing further into the harbor.
During the Industrial Revolution in the 1870s, the shoreline to the left was turned into a maritime industrial complex by the Canton Company. Here, the company built piers, shoreline bulkheads, terminals and warehouses to accommodate developing industries. They also built their own Canton Rialroad, which connected ships to land to trunk lines of major railroads going north and west.
The Canton Company would pick up its greatest industrial success developing this shoreline where industries would gain access to the shipping channels of the Chesapeake Bay and ports throughout the world. Confidence and momentum abounded and the Canton Company risked all in purchasing additional 7000 acres from the Colonel Colgate estate to continue their successful industrial development further to the east.
Erected by The Canton Community Association; Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks; gifted by Rukert Terminals Corporation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • War of 1812 • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.
Location. 39° 16.665′ N, 76° 34.426′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Canton. Marker is at the intersection of Boston Street and South Potomac Street, on the right when traveling east on Boston Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2999 Boston St, Baltimore MD 21224, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Korean War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Historic Canton (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Frederick Douglass' Escape from Slavery (about 700 feet away); The Railroad to Freedom (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Historic Canton (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Historic Canton (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Canton Library
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 24, 2022
Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 24, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.