Fort Howard in Edgemere in Baltimore County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Fort Howard

Photographed by F. Robby, September 20, 2010

1. Fort Howard Marker

Inscription. Built here in 1896 to defend Baltimore from possible naval attack. Named for Col. John Eager Howard, Revolutionary hero. Five coastal artillery batteries bore names of Col. Davis Harris; Francis Scott Key; Judge Joseph H. Nicholson; Brig. Gen. John Stricker. A sixth battery honored Dr. Jesse W. Lazear of Baltimore who gave his life in 1900 to further Yellow Fever research. Fort remained under Army command until 1940 but its guns were never fired in anger.

Erected 1977 by Patapsco Neck Bicentennial Committee, Maryland Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Science & Medicine • War of 1812 • War, Spanish-American. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Historical Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 39° 11.944′ N, 76° 26.847′ W. Marker is in Edgemere, Maryland, in Baltimore County. It is in Fort Howard. It is on Gettysburg Avenue 0.3 miles south of North Point Road (Maryland Route 20), on the right when traveling south. Marker is .3 miles from the entrance to Fort Howard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9564 Gettysburg Ave, Fort Howard MD 21052, 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

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of this marker: A different marker also named Fort Howard (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Battery Nicholson (approx. ¼ mile away); North Point Beachhead (approx. 0.3 miles away); Life at Fort Howard 1898-1917 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Battery Key (approx. 0.3 miles away); Searchlight Power House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Howard During World War I (approx. 0.3 miles away); Power House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edgemere.

Other markers no longer nearby. Fort Howard (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Battery Nicholson (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Fort Howard. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 6, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. No Access
Note that the hospital and its road networks are private property and no longer accessible to the public. Until the property's fate is determined, this marker is not accessible or visible from any public vantage point.

— Submitted March 8, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 20, 2010

2. Fort Howard Marker

Looking south along Gettysburg Avenue - Chesapeake Bay in the distance.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 20, 2010

3. Fort Howard Marker

Looking west out into the mouth of the Patapsco River.

Fort Howard Plan 1921 image. Click for full size.

4. Fort Howard Plan 1921

Showing the location of the six batteries named on the marker. All but the Lazear battery (on the left) still exist today, on the section of the fort that was turned over to Baltimore County and is now Fort Howard Park.

Battery Nicholson image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 10, 2013

5. Battery Nicholson

Named for Joseph Nicholson who commanded volunteers at Fort McHenry during the British bombardment of that fort in the War of 1812.

Battery Stricker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 10, 2013

6. Battery Stricker

Named for General John Stricker of the Maryland Militia during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.

Battery Harris image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 10, 2013

7. Battery Harris

Named for Col. David Harris of an artillery regiment during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 10, 2013

8. Battery Key

Named for Francis Scott Key who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner after watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.

Battery Claggett image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 10, 2013

9. Battery Claggett

Named for Levi Claggett who was the only person killed during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.

Veterans Hospital image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 8, 2013

10. Veterans Hospital

Fort Howard was turned over to the Veterans Administration in 1940. This hospital building is the focal point of the property, but was abandoned in 2002.

Officer Quarters image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 8, 2013

11. Officer Quarters

There are about a dozen boarded up houses that were used by both the Fort and the VA.

Francis Scott Key Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 8, 2013

12. Francis Scott Key Bridge

View from the marker area, looking northwest towards the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Sparrows Point is in front of the bridge. Fort McHenry is about 3 miles beyond the bridge, and the Baltimore inner harbor another mile past that.

Training Hut image. Click for full size.

Photographed by F. Robby, September 10, 2013

13. Training Hut

This hut is also located on the county park section of the former Fort Howard.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,497 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. submitted on September 15, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.