2021 PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II Star-Spangled Banner Trail Ambassador Sail

A tall ship sails between two bridges
The PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II sails by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in March 2021. credit: David Sites
The National Park Service (NPS) recently concluded the inaugural year of the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail (Trail) Ambassador Sail program in partnership with Pride of Baltimore, Inc. (Pride, Inc). The program reached more than 7,435 in-person visitors through park-ranger led educational programs and deck tours onboard the tall ship Pride of Baltimore II (Pride II) and over 11,000 people virtually through live streams and videos. These educational programs taught people in eight Maryland port towns about privateers and the African American experience in the Chesapeake during the War of 1812.

Pride II, a reproduction privateer War of 1812 schooner, sailed the Chesapeake Bay and engaged visitors in the history of the people and places in the regions along the Trail. Participants experienced history firsthand through free public deck tours and sailing activities, such as raising the sails and witnessing cannon firing demonstrations. Volunteers from the Chesapeake Independent Blues also provided living history representations of the Maryland citizen-soldiers during the War of 1812.

Learn more about each port stop below.
 

Schedule Summary

Below is a summary of each port visit during the 2021 Trail Ambassador Sail program.You can also find additional information on PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II's website or Facebook page.
 

 
A tall ship docked in Annapolis Maryland
The PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II in Annapolis, MD, March 20, 2021. Credit: David Sites

Annapolis, MD

March 19-21

The season debut!

Pride II and the National Park Service began the 2021 Ambassador Sail season with a visit to Annapolis for the Maryland Day Celebration. On Saturday, the ship arrived in Annapolis midday at the long dock just across from City Dock.

While there were no deck tours or day sails (due to COVID), visitors were invited to walk out to view Pride II Saturday and Sunday and an educational shore side display focused on the War of 1812, privateers, and the Star-Spangled Banner Trail was set-up near the ship in the City Dock parking lot.

Also, several virtual programs were offered throughout the weekend including: an introductory and overview video, "Coffee with the Captain," "Women of the Chesapeake Campaign," "Black Privateers During the War of 1812" and a tour of Pride II. Visit the Trail's calendar of events for more information about these programs.

Learn more about the War of 1812 story in Annapolis.

 
The Pride of Baltimore II historic schooner sits at the dock of Maryland Dove.
The Pride of Baltimore II in Historic St. Mary's City in April 2021. Credit NPS.

St. Mary’s City, MD

April 23 - April 25

Pride II arrived on the afternoon of Friday, April 23 and docked at the Maryland Dove dock. Due to COVID protocols, there were no deck tours or day sails. The public viewed Pride II Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as access to the dock and waterfront area was free of charge for the weekend.

An educational shoreside display was set-up near the ship and virtual and onsite programs were offered, including: "Coffee with the Captain," featuring local author Michael Kent; Chesapeake Independent Blues living history demonstrations; the "Gentleman or Traitor?" playlet, an interactive 10-minute play based on historical events and set in the summer of 1814 during the War of 1812; and an in-person presentation of "Mulatto: The Black History of Calvert County."

This event was in partnership with Southern Maryland Heritage Area and Historic St. Mary's City.

Learn more about the Southern Maryland region during the War of 1812.
 
The Pride II as it sailed into Havre de Grace.
The Pride of Baltimore II sailing into Havre de Grace.

Image Credit: Pat Venturino

Havre de Grace, MD

May 8-10

Pride II sailed into Havre de Grace to much fanfare on Friday, May 8. A thunderstorm loomed in the distance but held off until the historic replica ship had docked, then the skies opened up. Pride II was docked at Hutchins Park (100 Congress Avenue), behind the city’s Saturday morning farmers market. Due to COVID protocols, there were no deck tours or day sails.

The public viewed Pride II Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as an educational shoreside display that was set-up near the ship.The National Park Service staffed a tent and distributed a Junior Ranger booklet especially designed for Havre de Grace, telling the story of the British raid on the town and the citizens response. Virtual programming included “Coffee with the Captain,” featuring Havre de Grace Mayor Bill Martin while on-site programming included volunteers from the Chesapeake Independent Blues who provided living history representations of the Maryland citizen-soldiers during the War of 1812.

This event was in partnership with Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway and Havre de Grace Visitor Center and Tourism.

Learn more about the Upper Bay Maryland region during the War of 1812.
 
Pride II near the dock in Cambridge, Maryland
The Pride of Baltimore II docks on a sunny day in Cambridge, MD.

Credit: NPS

Cambridge, MD

Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-31

Welcome aboard!

Pride II was happy to welcome visitors onboard for the first time this season for both deck tours and a partnership sail! While the weather did not cooperate Saturday, the skies cleared up Sunday and Monday to make for beautiful and brisk sailing.

A National Park ranger led an interpretive program aboard the partnership sail, the Choptank Lighthouse was open for tours, the Chesapeake Independent Blues led living history demonstrations and visitors learned from an educational shore side display focused on the War of 1812.

Learn more about the War of 1812 on the Eastern Shore here.

 
A group hauls lines on a tall sailing ship
A National Park Ranger helps participants pull a rope to raise a sail on the Pride of Baltimore II on an educational sail in Chestertown, MD.

Steve Atkinson

Chestertown, MD

June 25-28

Pride II sailed into town Friday, June 25, kicking off a fun-filled weekend of on-water activities highlighting the Trail in Kent County.

Throughout the weekend, Pride II offered free deck tours and partnership day sails with park ranger-led educational programs about privateers and the African American experience. Participants experienced history first-hand raising the sails and witnessing a cannon firing demonstration. Volunteers from the Chesapeake Independent Blues also provided on-site programming through living history demonstrations of the Maryland citizen-soldiers during the War of 1812.

Learn more about the Battle of Caulk's Field and the War of 1812 on the Eastern Shore.

This event was in partnership with Kent County Economic & Tourism Development and the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area.

 
Pride of Baltimore II in St. Michaels
Visitors learn about the War of 1812 and historic ships aboard the Pride of Baltimore II in St. Michaels, MD.

Image credit: NPS

St. Michaels, MD

August 6 - August 8

Pride II visited the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. the first weekend in August. Several local youth groups and their families toured the ship with an NPS park ranger and many visitors enjoyed coming onboard for free deck tours on Saturday and Sunday. In conjunction with the visit, the Chesapeake Independent Blues, a Maryland War of 1812 volunteer interpretive organization, provided living historical impressions of the citizen-soldiers from Talbot County who served in the Maryland Militia during the War of 1812.

Learn more about St. Michaels during the War of 1812.

 
An NPS Ranger helps participants raise a sail onboard the Pride of Baltimore II.
An NPS Ranger helps participants raise a sail onboard the Pride of Baltimore II.

Image Credit: NPS

Solomons Island, MD

September 4-6

What a beautiful weekend to sail through history! We were so excited to partner with Pride II to share the local history of the War of 1812 around Solomons Island. We had a great time; Ranger Betsy even got to help raise some sails!

The weekend event included two educational day sails on Saturday and Sunday, followed by deck tours open to the public Sunday afternoon. Local author Michael Kent also presented onboard about his book, “Mulatto: The Black History of Calvert County.”

Our partner, the Calvert Marine Museum, hosted two 10-minute plays entitled “Gentleman or Traitor?” Sunday afternoon about historic events set during the Summer of 1814. The next Trail Ambassador stop will be back here in Baltimore Sept. 18-19 for Defenders' Day! Stay tuned for more details.

Many thanks to our other amazing partners who helped make this a memorable weekend: The Calvert Marine Museum, Destination Southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Independent Blues.
 
A Park Ranger talks to the public aboard Pride of Baltimore II. e of Baltimore II.
The public listens to a park ranger talk about history onboard Pride of Baltimore II.

Tim Ervin / NPS

Baltimore, MD

September 17-19

Defenders' Day weekend!

Pride II returned to Baltimore to celebrate Defenders' Day at Fort McHenry with the Star-Spangled Banner Trail. Beautiful weather and fair winds made for great sailing and public deck tours all weekend.

Pride II offered free deck tours and partnership day sails with park ranger-led educational programs about privateers and the African American experience. Participants experienced history first-hand raising the sails and witnessing a cannon firing demonstration.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine held living history demonstrations, cannon firings and an evening luminary walk to commemorate this year's theme of "A tribute to Baltimore: Community, Service, and Sacrifice."

Learn more about the War of 1812 in Baltimore here.

 
Children help pull ropes on the Pride of Baltimore II.
Children help the crew pull roped aboard the Pride of Baltimore II in Chestertown, MD as part of a partnership sail with the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.

NPS

Chestertown, MD

October 15 - 17
Gorgeous weather welcomed Pride II into Chestertown Friday afternoon for the final Trail Ambassador sail of the 2021 season.

Throughout the weekend, Pride II offered free deck tours and partnership day sails with park ranger-led educational programs about privateers and the African American experience. Participants experienced history first-hand raising the sails and witnessing a cannon firing demonstration.

The park ranger also led a Friday evening sail focused on the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay and the threats facing this important watershed in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

Learn more about the Battle of Caulk's Field and the War of 1812 on the Eastern Shore.

Last updated: March 25, 2022

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