Edgemere in Baltimore County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Dreaded Alarm
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
The cupola atop the Ridgely house, c. 1767 farmhouse located near here, served as a lookout station in 1813 and 1814, operated by Major Josiah Green. A white flag raised on September 11, 1814, indicated that a British fleet was moving toward Baltimore.
The warning was relayed to Baltimores Federal Hill. General Samuel Smith then ordered alarm guns to fire, signaling troops to muster and citizens to prepare for an attack.
Ship to Shore
The Ridgely house was part of an intricate early warning system that included schooners and gunboats, shore stations, and horse relays. The station communicated with flags by day and lanterns by night.
"[The Ridgely house is] a very large Brick one, with a steeple like lookout place on top, from whence there is a most perfect view so that it would be next to an impossibility that any vessel or river boat could approach or pass with being observed."
- Major William B. Barney to Brig. Gen. John Stricker, March 23, 1813.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War of 1812. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1814.
Location. 39° 12.498′ N, 76° 25.566′
this page online
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: The Rebirth of a Maryland Historical Treasure (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); About This Fountain (about 600 feet away); Join the Adventure (about 600 feet away); Hard Travel (about 700 feet away); John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (about 700 feet away); Wetlands (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Presbytery of Baltimore (approx. 0.7 miles away); Todds Inheritance (approx. Ύ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edgemere.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Trolley Station at Bayshore Park (was about 700 feet away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. (Inscription beside the painting of the house)
1931 painting of the Ridgley house. Image/From Old Baltimore, 1931.
(Inscription beside the sketch on the right)
Examples of some 38 different signal flags used by a network of water and shore stations.
Photographed by Don Morfe, December 18, 2014
2. Dreaded Alarm Marker
Photographed by Don Morfe, December 18, 2014
3. Sign at the entrance to North Point State Park
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, March 7, 2026
4. Ridgely House Ruins
The ruins of the foundation of the Ridgely House are on the Ridgely House Trail beyond the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 740 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 26, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on December 19, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4. submitted on March 8, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
