News Release

History Sails Into Kent County

Students from Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s help NPS ranger Betsy Swanback raise the sails onboard the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II on June 25, 2021; NPS/Steve Atkinson

News Release Date: July 14, 2021

Contact: Abbi Wicklein-Bayne, 410-353-2545

CHESTERTOWN, MD – The historic tall ship Pride of Baltimore II  (Pride II) sailed into town Friday, June 25, kicking off a fun-filled weekend of on-water activities highlighting the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail (Trail) in Kent County.

Local residents had a chance to come onboard Pride II, a reproduction War of 1812 privateer schooner, and kayak the Sassafras River with Sultana Education Foundation through National Park Service (NPS)-supported programs.

Throughout the weekend, Pride II, sailing as a Trail ambassador this summer, 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 Trail also partnered with Sultana Education Foundation for a series of kayak tours based out of Turner’s Creek Landing on Saturday, June 26. A park ranger was on hand to tell the history of the Sassafras River and the British raids in May 1813. Bayside Hoyas youth and their families were invited to join for this pilot program.

“We are so excited to partner with Pride of Baltimore, Inc. and Sultana Education Foundation to explore the unique War of 1812 history right here in Kent County,” said David H. Moore, Superintendent of the Star-Spangled Banner Trail. “Partnerships such as these allow the Trail to engage with local families and expand recreational opportunities throughout the Bay."

Kent County Economic & Tourism Development, Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area and volunteers from the living history group Chesapeake Independent Blues were also instrumental in the weekend's success.

Sultana Education Foundation Paddling Director Brad Hirsh leads a group from Bayside Hoyas on a kayak tour of the Sassafras River on June 26, 2021

photo: SEF/ Chris Cerino

The Trail, administered by the NPS, is a 560-mile long land and water route that tells the story of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region. During the war, British forces terrorized many locations in Kent County. The region is also home to Caulks Field, one of the best-preserved War of 1812 battlefields in the State.

About the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail tells the story of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region. The trail traces American and British troop movements, introduces visitors to communities affected by the war, and highlights the Chesapeake region’s distinctive landscapes and waterways. It connects historic sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia and commemorates the events leading up to the Battle for Baltimore, the aftermath of which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the U.S. national anthem. Congress established the Star-Spangled Banner Trail in 2008 and it is one of 19 national historic trails administered by the National Park Service and one of 30 trails in the National Trails System. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/stsp.