November 2010

Fort Niagara was originally built in 1678 to protect the interests of New France in America, but later became a significant military outpost during the French and Indian War and the War of 1812.

Standing on a bluff above Lake Ontario not far from Niagara Falls, Old Fort Niagara has dominated the entrance to the Niagara River since 1726. The colorful history of the site began even earlier, and continues to the present day.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /??>

The fort played an important role in the struggles of France, Great Britain, and the United States to control the Great Lakes region of North America, and also helped shape the destinies of the Iroquois (Six Nations) peoples and the nation of Canada.

Patterson Park is a large public park in Baltimore with many recreational activities and a rich history.

Patterson Park, dubbed “The Best Backyard in Baltimore”, lives up to its nickname by offering 155 acres for outdoor activities. A boat lake, pagoda, ice-skating rink and historic buildings and monuments comprise the park’s amenities. The park also preserves a rich history, having served as a military encampment during both the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

The Battle of North Point occurred at this site on September 12, 1814.

Battle Acre Park is a 1-acre site dedicated in 1839 to commemorate those who fought in the Battle of North Point on September 12, 1814. Regiments of the Maryland militia engaged in battles with the British Army at the same time Fort McHenry was defending the Baltimore harbor from the the British Navy. The success of the Maryland militia forced the British to withdraw from the Chesapeake Region for the remainder of the War of 1812.

On September 14,1914, 100 years after the battle, the National Star Spangled Banner Commission erected a monument topped with a memorial cannon, honoring those who fought in the Battle of North Point.

This local history museum highlights a crucial War of 1812 battle as well as the life that Frederick Douglass led as a slave on a nearby plantation.

St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary's Square is located in the heart of this historic town on what locals call ''The Green.'' It provides a fascinating look at life in St. Michaels in the 1800s, especially at the important Battle of St. Michaels during the War of 1812.

This waterfront park on the Chesapeake Bay was once the site of the Bay Shore Amusement Park.

North Point State Park is located in Baltimore County on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and is surrounded by beautiful and fascinating natural and historical resources. It consists of 1,310 acres off Old North Point Road in Edgemere.

The Defenders Trail was used during the War of 1812 and passes through the park. North Point was also the site of the historical Bay Shore Amusement Park, a popular destination for summer visitors from 1906 until it closed in 1947. Visitors can see the original trolley shelter and fountain that have been restored. The trolley shelter is now a popular destination for special events and can be reserved by calling the visitor center. The Park is also home to Todd's Inheritance, where American sentries were stationed during the Battle of North Point during the War of 1812. The home was burned by the British in 1814 and rebuilt in the following years.

This reproduction of an 1812-era Baltimore Clipper privateer represents the great maritime history of Baltimore and Maryland.

The Pride of Baltimore II is a reproduction of topsail schooners, called the Baltimore Clippers, which were commissioned by James Madison to help against the British Navy in the War of 1812. The Pride II, the Goodwill Ambassador of the state of Maryland, makes her homeport in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, spending a portion of the year at sea, educating the public in Maryland’s maritime history.

Mount Calvert's rich archaeological and historical resources represent over 8,000 years of human culture.

Archaeological evidence shows that American Indians were present from the Archaic Period (7500-1000 BC) through the Woodland Period (1000 BC-1600 AD). Early Archaic hunters and gathers visited the Upper Patuxent River to harvest the river's natural resources. Later, Woodland Indians farmed the land and lived in permanent villages along the river until the 1600's when European Settler arrived.

The English colonial town at Mount Calvert was established by the 1684 Act for the Advancement of trade. It became the county seat when Prince George's County was organized in 1696 and was renamed Charles Town. By 1710, an Anglican Church, courthouse and jail had been built. At the riverfront wharves, ships brought goods from Europe in exchange for tobacco. Ordinaries (taverns) provided food, drink, and lodging to planters and merchants. In 1721, the county seat was moved to Upper Marlboro. Charles Town gradually disappeared and Mount Calvert became a ferry landing.

This park sits on the site of the pivotal Battle of Bladensburg during the War of 1812, the loss of which led to the burning of Washington.

The revitalized Bladensburg Waterfront Park is located on the Anacostia River, one of the most historic waterways in America. The park features a public boat ramp, fishing pier, picnic pavilion, playground, a B & O Railroad caboose, community boathouse (storage facility) and signage interpreting the rich history of the area. Canoe, kayak, and rowboat rentals are available on weekends from late May to the end of October. Free pontoon boat tours allow visitors to explore this surprisingly scenic river with the guidance of a naturalist. Canoeing and kayaking lessons are offered, as well as many other interesting nature and history programs. Special events include the annual Port Towns Day, Paddlesport Regatta, and river clean-ups. The hiker/biker bridge links this park directly to the Anacostia Tributary Trail System.

This organization oversees several historic locations in Columbus, and offers tours to some of them.

The stated mission of this foundation is to "revitalize historic Columbus neighborhoods, educate the public about local and regional history, advocate the benefits that are derived from historic preservation, [and] preserve the historical, architectural and cultural character of Columbus and its environs.

On the Historical Columbus Foundation's "Heritage Tours," you can view five outstanding styles of architecture from primitive to posh within one city block, among other sites.

The building where this historical society's main office is located holds a wealth of archival materials, including an extensive collection of judges' and attorneys' oral histories.

The Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society (NJCHS) was founded in 1985 to collect, preserve and present to the public the history of law in the western United States and the Pacific Islands and educates children and the general public about the judicial system, the rule of law, and other civic values.

The organization takes its name from the U.S. Courts for the Ninth Circuit, the court circuit that adjudicates federal law in nine western states and the Pacific Islands--Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.