Eastport in Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Start of Something Big
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This is where Eastport's famed boat building industry began. On this site, in 1868, a German immigrant named Wilhelm Heller began crafting fine wooden boats. His reputation spread and business flourished. Heller's became the largest boatyard on Spa Creek, serving both commercial fishing boats and pleasure craft.
After Heller died in 1916, his son Henry ran the yard. Over the next twenty years, traditional wooden workboats like traditional wooden workboats like skipjacks, bugeyes, and pungy schooners slowly disappeared from Chesapeake Bay. When Henry died in 1936, the yard closed. Later, modern boatyards moved into the area. Notice the machinery now used to haul boats from the water to get them "on the hard" for service and repairs.
[Captions:]
In the foreground, a skipjack has been raised from the water on the marine railway. Two other are "on the hard" beyond.
Marine railways were used to haul boats ashore for repairs.
The boat is tied up between guide posts of the submerged cradle. As the cradle is hauled ashore by a horse, the boat settles slowly on the wood supports.
When the boat is high and dry, the yard men placed additional supports to stabilize the hull for cleaning, repairs and fresh bottom paint. Reversing the process lowers the boat into the water.
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Erected by Annapolis, London Town & South County Heritage Area, Inc.; Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park; Chesapeake Gateways Network. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.
Location. 38° 58.504′ N, 76° 28.838′ W. Marker is in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It is in Eastport. It is on First Street 0.1 miles north of Severn Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 First St, Annapolis MD 21403, 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: Heather's Hangout (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Eastport's Oldest House (about 700 feet away); The Glass Works (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Murphy's Row (approx. 0.2 miles away); Three Great Boat Yards, One Location (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ricketts Hall (approx. Ό mile away); Commodore John Barry (approx. Ό mile away); A Tale of Three Bridges (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Start of Something Big (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Eastport's Oldest House
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 25, 2025
2. The northern end of First Street in Eastport
Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 44 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
