Come on a journey to remember and commemorate
the dramatic chain of events, people and places that led to the
birth of our National Anthem.
The story of the Star-Spangled Banner was shaped by the events of
the Chesapeake Campaign during the War of 1812. From February 1813
until February 1815, the Chesapeake Bay was the center of a fierce
struggle between the British and Americans. Places and landscapes
still exist today that provide a touchstone to the past. The trail
traces events and related sites that figured prominently in the
Chesapeake Campaign of the War of 1812 that have national
significance, physical integrity, and the potential for
contemporary recreation and interpretation.
The Star-Spangled Banner (SSB) Geotrail launched February 27, 2010
with over 30 caches within Maryland, Virginia and the District of
Columbia. A trackable geo coin will be awarded to the first 400
geocachers, while supplies last, for locating at least 20 SSB
caches. To be eligible for the coin, geocachers must download a
passport from either the SSB
Geotrail or Maryland Geocaching
Society website. Geocachers must find and log at least 20
SSB finds, record the code word from each cache on their passport
and post a picture of yourself at each cache location. After
discovering the 20 required caches, geocachers may have their
passports validated in person or via mail at the Friends of
Chesapeake Gateways office located at 410 Severn Ave, Suite 314,
Annapolis, MD 21403. Please refer to the passport for complete
validation instructions.
Participating in the SSB geotrail is fun and we hope that many
people join in. However, it is not a requirement for logging your
find on this cache once you find the container.
This is a simple puzzle cache that will take you to a traditional
hide.
PUZZLE:
Once you arrive at Fort Horn Battery solve for the following:
38 degrees 58.ABC
76 degrees 28.BCA
AB= What is the amount of the Pet Litter fine? Subtract 10.
C= What stop is this on the Eastport Walking tour?
Located in the Eastport neighborhood, the Annapolis Maritime Museum
is housed in the historic McNasby Oyster Company building. Though
today Eastport is within Annapolis limits, it was an independent
community from establishment in 1868, until annexation by the city
in 1951. The McNasby building is particularly significant, as the
last remaining oyster-packing plant in the region. Once a huge
industry in and around Annapolis, seafood harvesting and shipping
businesses have largely ceased operations, though a strong link to
maritime culture and tradition remains intact. In celebration and
recognition of this connection, the first major exhibit at the
Annapolis Maritime Museum, “Oysters on the Half Shell,”
is slated to open in spring 2010.
During the Colonial-era, Annapolis was home to
three forts, built to protect the city from naval assault. One of
these, Horn Point Battery (1776), is located in close proximity to
the Annapolis Maritime Museum at the end of Chesapeake Street in
Eastport. At the height of its operations, the fort had major
defenses of trenches, earthen ramparts and 15 cannons. Though
retired after two years service during the Revolution, Fort Horn
came back into action during the War of 1812, as a deterrent to any
British fleet hoping to take the city and then march onto
Washington. Interestingly, during the Civil War, the Fort served as
a hospital for contagious diseases, mostly smallpox. The patients
were largely Union soldiers, freed from prison camps in the South.
Though all remnants of the Fort are now gone, visitors can still
enjoy stunning views across the Severn River if you walk to the
site. While you are there, be sure to read the informational
wayside exhibit, part of a larger Eastport walking tour, sponsored
by the Museum.
As one of the most prominent cities on Chesapeake
Bay and the legislative center of Maryland, Annapolis was a prime
target for the British during the War of 1812. As a result, it
became home to hundreds of soldiers and sailors and was a staging
ground for the Chesapeake Flotilla. The entire community took part
in the war effort, and even the dome of the statehouse was put into
use as an observation post to track enemy movements. The British
repeatedly blockaded the city in 1813 and 1814, causing so much
alarm that the state’s public records were removed from the
capital building and sent to Upper Marlboro for safe-keeping.
Ironically, it would be that city, not Annapolis, which later came
to be occupied by the British. Fortunately for Maryland, however,
the records remained unharmed and were returned to the capital
following the end of hostilities in 1815.
Today the Annapolis Maritime Museum seeks to
connect visitors with the rich maritime history of the area. The
museum campus offers wonderful views of the Chesapeake Bay and a
free kayak/canoe launching area.
Thanks to Trevelyn's R&R for helping with this
hide and to the Maryland Geocaching Society for assisting with this
project!