Riverside in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A River that Shaped a City
"aboundance of fish lying so thicke with their heads above water, as for want of nets we attempted to catch them with a frying pan "
Captain John Smith, 1608
You are overlooking the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, one of the major tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Throughout history the river has attracted people to its shores from early inhabitants to iron workers to recreational boaters and fishermen.
A Commercial Spine
European colonists established farms along the river and began commercial fishing. Small coastal schooners transported goods along the shallow Middle Branch. Soon warehouses and storage facilities lined the waterfront. Construction of the Long Bridge in 1868 opened the region for greater industrial growth.
What Happens on Land Affects Our Water
The Middle Branch of the Patapsco River is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the largest coastal drainage basin in the country. Stretching 64,000 square miles, it includes Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and parts of Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington, DC.
The network of rivulets, streams, and rivers that flow through this landscape pick up the residue and remnants of human activity. Eventually all this water
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Colonial Era • Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1608.
Location. 39° 15.638′ N, 76° 37.004′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Riverside. It can be reached from the intersection of West Cromwell Street and Clarkson Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 W Cromwell St, Baltimore MD 21230, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: River, Industry, & Community (within shouting distance of this marker); Restoring Space (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Enduring Middle Branch (about 600 feet away); Welcome to West Covington Park (about 700 feet away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge (about 700 feet away); John Smith Explores Patapsco (approx. 0.4 miles away); Swann Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); On Guard (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 880 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 25, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
