Sections - Baltimore Arrival & Pagoda | Ft. McHenry & Poe Grave | DC Museums, Constitution, Arlington, & Baltimore Fireworks A pancake with a smiley face made of blueberries IMG_1414 Darnell eating said pancake IMG_1416 The Phoenix/Old Baltimore Shot Tower compelted in 1828 and the tallest structre in the United States until 1846 when Trnity Church and the tallest free-standing masonry structure in the world until the Washington Monument was completed in 1864. The tower was used to make "drop shots" for pistols and "moulded shot" for larger weapons like cannons by dropping motlen lead from a platform at the top of the tower. Annual production was 100,000 25-pound bags of shot per year and ability to double in case of war. IMG_1419 IMG_1510 The USCGC Tanney (WHEC-37) Coast Guard Cutter is the last surviving warship still afloat from the Pearl Harbor attack of 1941 IMG_1420 The Hard Rock Cafe in the power station building and the Baltimore Aquarium to the right IMG_1422 Tide Point is a complex of several buildings previously used by Proctor & Gamble Corp to make soap products such as Joy, Cascade and Tide. The Maryland, US, and Baltimore flags fly overhead. IMG_1433 Taken as our water taxi docked at Ft. McHenry, where the events that inspired the Star Spangled Banner unfolded IMG_1436 Fort McHenry and a very big flag (so big they need to take it down if the wind picks up very much). Technically the name of the park is Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, but I didn't see anyone in mid-worship while I was there. IMG_1438 Practice makes perfect...better to practice with small flags first IMG_1439 IMG_1446 IMG_1447 These cannons are no longer operational... IMG_1452 We wandered over to an area with several large cannons where a park ranger was giving a demonstration, here lies his hat IMG_1455 IMG_1456 It was an interactive demonstration (although no actual firing of the cannons as that would be a bit dangerous - they do fire some other cannons on the weekends) IMG_1462 IMG_1469 IMG_1474 IMG_1476 IMG_1477 Darnell is so happy at Ft. McHenry IMG_1478 I was waiting patiently for the park ranger on top of the wall of the fort to walk out front so I could get a classic photo of him interacting with the public and the big flag in the background but this was as close as he got to separating from the crowd IMG_1484 IMG_1493 IMG_1495 Cannon vs Cement Factory...I really don't know who wins IMG_1496 IMG_1498 IMG_1499 A sculpture of the original Fort design IMG_1502 Domino Sugar has one of three US plants in Baltimore IMG_1503 Broadway Pier was featured in Sleepless in Seattle (in the movie it is evidently the scene where Meg Ryan sits on the pier all afternoon pondering if she should return to Tom Hanks) IMG_1504 IMG_1507 IMG_1511 Bleeding and otherwise extremely ill patients - the emergency room of Johns Hopkins has moved! Have a nice day... IMG_1514 Edgar Allen Poe is buried in the cemetery near a former church now called Westminster Hall and owned by the University of Maryland. This is his memorial headstone where he has been buried since 1875, he was originally buried nearby in an unmarked grave. IMG_1517 Evidently some people would like you to keep out of the cemetery? Perhaps just not to walk on the grass... IMG_1519 So sad those that die Young IMG_1524 This stone marks the original burial place of Poe from 1849 to 1875 IMG_1533 IMG_1538 IMG_1539 Some quite elaborate burial chambers for others in the cemetery... IMG_1543 IMG_1545 Sarah ducks underneath the building supports to continue the cemetery tour IMG_1548 Yes...this is Baltimore's Male Grammar School No. 1 at Gough and Stiles just across the street from Poe's burial plot. Funny... IMG_1550 The tower of Westminster Hall IMG_1555 IMG_1557 IMG_1564 Water tower support now empty IMG_1576 Wonderful historical details on the houses near Patterson Park IMG_1577 IMG_1580 Sections - Baltimore Arrival & Pagoda | Ft. McHenry & Poe Grave | DC Museums, Constitution, Arlington, & Baltimore Fireworks Return to Features