Havre de Grace, Maryland

Havre de Grace is a small city in northeastern Maryland.  It is located where the Susquehanna River empties into the Chesapeake Bay.  Its name is French and translates as “Harbor of Grace.”  Historically, it was runner-up in the vote for the capital of the United States in 1789, and it was later burned down and plundered by the British during the War of 1812.  Today, it is a well-kept, quaint, waterfront city.  I visited it for the first time right before Halloween 2023.

Amtrak and Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridges

On the city’s northern side, the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge carries U.S. Route 40 traffic across the Susquehanna River.  The Amtrak Susquehanna River Bridge takes Amtrak trains across the river on its Northeast Regional line.

Amtrak Susquehanna River Bridge and Boat Launch

Numerous boat launches are located along Havre de Grace’s waterfront on the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay.  In the picture above, the backyard of the American Legion leads right out to a dock on the river.

Tidewater Grille Seafood Restaurant

I was able to walk along the shore of the river near David R. Craig Park and south of the American Legion grounds.  The shoreline almost reminded me of a beach with its sandy soil, discarded fish, and driftwood.

Downtown on Washington Street

Much of the Havre de Grace’s downtown is located on Washington Street and St. John Street.  Many small antique shops, restaurants, and other stores are there, more than a typical city of its size.  In 2020, Havre de Grace had just under 15,000 residents according to the most recent census.

Downtown on St. John Street

The downtown was very clean and well-kept.  Some areas were a bit hilly.  It felt very safe, and I saw many other pedestrians shopping and enjoying the nice fall weather.

Halloween in Havre de Grace

Rochambeau Plaza, a sort of gateway into the downtown along North Washington Street, is named for a French general whose troops passed through the area in 1781, according to a historical marker there.  While I was visiting, it was adorned with various Halloween characters for the then upcoming Halloween festivities.

Harmer's Town Art Center

Harmer's Town Art Center, which is located just two blocks east of Washington Street, is an open-air art gallery.  Its large mural park features various works of art depicting the city’s history, and a lot of it is painted on the sides of buildings.

Winner's Circle Art

At the art center, The Winner's Circle features a mural of race horses, including a horse and jockey sculpture.  Harmer's Town Art Center is well worth checking out and very enjoyable to stroll through on a nice day.

Docked Sailboats

Along the city’s waterfront, many sailboats and other sea vessels are docked and tied.  Many of the areas are obviously located on private property, but some of the sailboats are visible from public areas.

Concord Point Promenade

A must-see area of Havre de Grace is the Concord Point Promenade and Park.  It is located at the southeastern part of the city at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, right where it meets the Chesapeake Bay.  The park is very flat and walkable, and the views of the water are breathtaking.

Concord Point Light Station

Located in the park is the Concord Point Light Station, a famous Havre de Grace landmark.  According to a historical marker there, the lighthouse was built in 1827, and it was originally lit with nine whale oil lamps.  It was decommissioned in 1975 as the oldest Chesapeake light in continuous service.

Mouth of the Susquehanna River

According to the Havre de Grace Visitor Center, the promenade is less than a mile long and offers a picturesque view the Susquehanna River.  While walking along the water, it felt longer than that, but part of it may not be part of the official walk.  It is located next to Tydings Park, the Decoy Museum, and the Maritime Museum.

Great Blue Heron

While walking along the promenade, I spotted a beautiful great blue heron relaxing near the shoreline.  It seemed mostly oblivious to me while I tried to snap several photos.

House Near the Waterfront

Walking through the town itself felt like walking through a typical shore town.  A lot of houses will catch your eye as you traverse its streets.

British Landing Historical Plaque

Havre de Grace is a city with a rich history that is important for an understanding of America’s early years.  This history is laid out on various historical markers and plaques throughout the city, including the failure of 20 of its defenders to stop 400 invading British troops from coming ashore in 1813.

Discover Havre de Grace Map

Millard Tydings Memorial Park, located at the southern end of town, provides additional views of the Susquehanna River.  It contains the Yacht Basin where numerous boats are docked.  The park also has a picnic area and playground.

Boats at Millard Tydings Memorial Park

Havre de Grace also contains a few museums, which I was unfortunately unable to visit during my brief stay.  I highly recommend a visit for any American history buffs or anyone else who enjoys quaint towns with picturesque waterfront views.

Charles Town, West Virginia

Charles Town is a small city of 6,500 people in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.  Who is Charles and why is the town named after him?  Why is it called a town when it’s officially a city?  It’s a place with a lot of history, and I learned more about it from the abundant informational signs and historical markers throughout the downtown and beyond.  I’ve heard about Charles Town from people who take daytrips to visit Hollywood Casino there.  On a whim, I decided to take a drive there myself to check it out.

Charles and Washington Streets in Charles Town, WV

The main downtown thoroughfare is Washington Street which runs East and West through the middle of the city.  In contrast to many towns of a similar size, it actually has more active stores and restaurants than abandoned buildings, which is instantly a good sign.  People were walking around, and it felt very safe.

Charles Washington’s Town

Charles Town is named in honor of Charles Washington (d. 1799), a business and plantation owner and the brother of George Washington, the first president of the United States.  Charles Washington personally laid out the streets for the town and named some of them after his family members.  According to a historical marker, he petitioned the General Assembly of Virginia to establish the town in 1786 on his own land.

Charles Town Historical Marker

According to signs in the downtown area, Charles Town is famous for being the home of W.L. Wilson, the Postmaster General who started the first rural free delivery in America in 1896.  It is also known as the place where John Brown was convicted of treason in 1859.  According to Prologue Magazine, he was the most important figure in the struggle against slavery immediately before the U.S. Civil War.

The Trial of John Brown

Mr. Brown was connected to terrorism for the Pottawatomie raid in the Kansas Territory in 1856 and his raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.  On the first raid, he and his men killed five pro-slavery settlers.  At Harpers Ferry, he seized the U.S. arsenal with 18 soldiers.  He was convicted of treason, murder, and conspiring with slaves to revolt, and he was hanged.

Charles Town City Hall

In addition to a city hall, post office, courthouse, and bank with a historic appearance, Downtown Charles Town has several restaurants, stores, and other businesses.  The main part of the downtown area is only about six blocks long, but the sidewalks and intersections are very walkable.

Zion Episcopal Church

Zion Episcopal Church is a historic church located just one block south of the downtown on Congress Street.  The church was built in 1851 to replace the original church which was built in 1815 and destroyed by fire.  According to a placard, the church’s cemetery contains the graves of over 70 members of the Washington Family.

Abolitionist Ale Works

Abolitionist Ale Works is a brewery located in the heart of Downtown Charles Town, and its name is derived from the city’s long history of abolitionists.  The brewery also doubles as an AirBNB with a rental condo upstairs.  Rather than sitting at a bar or table inside, I sat at a table outside to enjoy the nice weather.  Music was playing over the speakers, and I noticed that darts and other games were available to play.  I ordered an IPA and a Pork BBQ artisan pizza, and both were very good.  I highly recommend checking this place out.

Evitts Run Park

On my way out of town, I walked past Evitts Run Park.  It’s a small park with a playground, basketball court, and Evitts Run flowing through the middle of it.  It has a walking path with a small pedestrian bridge over the creek.

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is located on the outskirts of town.  As the name implies, a horse racing track is located there, in addition to a hotel, casino, and restaurants.  It is owned and operated by PENN Entertainment, which is a publicly-traded company with properties across the United States.

Hollywood Casino Floor

The casino has quite a bit of slot machines and table games.  I was impressed by how large it is.  The entertainment venue also gets a lot of big-name comedians, musicians, and other performers.  It was very clean and a cool place to explore.

Heading East on Route 51

I drove out of Charles Town on Route 51, heading east.  There were several fast-food restaurants on the way, and you can get a good view of the mountains off in the distance.  Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to Charles Town, WV.  It’s a place with a lot of history, and it really offers a lot of fun and recreation for such a small city.  If you’re in the region, I highly recommend visiting and seeing it for yourself.