A Potential National Maritime Legacy of the War of 1812 Ralph E. Eshelman The War of 1812 is probably the most misunderstood war in American history. Few Americans realize that national icons such as "Old Iron Sides" "Old Hickory" "Uncle Sam" "the Star-Spangled Banner" and our National Anthem, all originated from the War of 1812. Of the eight major battles which took place during this war, two occurred in Maryland; the Battle of Bladensburg and the Battle for Baltimore. Both battles played a role in the story behind our National Anthem. The National Park Service is currently considering a "National Historic Star-Spangled Banner Trail" to interpret this story; one steeped in maritime related lore and resources. The concept of national trails originated in 1968 when Congress passed the National Trails System Act which is administered by the National Park Service and is a nation-wide system of recreation, scenic and historic trails. This act is the result of efforts to complete the Appalachian Trial begun privately in 1921. Their purpose is to identify, preserve, and offer interpretive opportunities to the public. Congress devised a plan so that national trails would be based on specific criteria to insure their worthiness and appropriateness for such designation and possible public support. From this study resulted National Scenic Trials such as the Appalachian Trail and National Historic Trails such as the Pony Express Trial, Oregon Trail, Lewis and Clark Trail and the Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights Trail. Designated historic trails must demonstrate that the actual trail route can be documented, largely retains its integrity, and most important has national significance. Other than the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, if implemented, will become the first to include significant water routes and their related maritime resources. In the late 1980s several serendipitous events occurred. A group of preservationists in Baltimore sought to preserve battleground remnants of the Battle of North Point. This engagement was the land portion of a two prong attack by the British on the City of Baltimore in September 1814. Others were seeking the remains of the US Chesapeake Flotilla which had been scuttled to keep it out of British hands prior to the Battle of Bladensburg. Also known as the "Bladensburg Races," it resulted in the British burning of the nation's capitol and president's house, as well as, other public buildings in August 1814. The Maryland Office of Tourism Development had begun a thematic approach to heritage tourism. Work was already underway on a guide to the National Road and soon after the Civil War. Activists of these groups assembled and from it grew an informal partnership. With matching funds from the Office of Tourism Development and in kind matches by the Maryland Historical Trust, a grant was awarded by the American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service to inventory War of 1812 sites in Maryland and assess possible preservation and interpretation issues. At the same time members of the partnership were successful in lobbying Senate and Congressional sponsorship for a bill authorizing a feasibility study for National Historic Trail designation. Members also testified before Congress in support of this bill. This multi-year determination study as well as an Environmental Impact Statement have now been completed. The study found that the proposed trail meets the federal criteria for historic trail designation. The partnership is now seeking funding for implementation. Exactly how the trail will be implemented is yet to be fully determined. Preliminary ideas include interpretive centers including of course Fort McHenry, site of the Star-Spangled Banner. Also envisioned are trial side kiosks, historic markers, and trail guide maps and brochures. Because many of the War of 1812 resources are not related directly to the Star-Spangled Banner Trail story, the Office of Tourism Development plans to create side trails to connect these other historic sites. Other than the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail, and a proposed Rochambeau Historic Trail, all national historic trails are largely land based. The Star-Spangled Banner Trail, however, will include significant water based segments; in fact, approximately seventy percent of the trail will be on the water. Water segments include the British feint up the Potomac River, a second feint up the northern Chesapeake Bay, the British route up a portion of the Patuxent River to attack Washington and the British route up the Patapsco River to attack Fort McHenry and Baltimore. Therefore, this trail will provide significant potential for maritime related interpretation. It is envisioned that this trail will encourage private boaters, as well as commercial tour boats to retrace these water routes. Because of the complex system of creeks which form tributaries to the Potomac, Patuxent and Patapsco rivers, following these routes by land is long, difficult and in some cases impossible. Because many of the resources are privately owned access is another issue. Travel by water offers the best and most practical way to follow many of these trail segments. Land routes will include the British march route from Benedict to Washington via Bladensburg and the British march route from North Point to the outskirts of the east defenses of Baltimore. Thus far over three hundred and seventy War of 1812 sites have been identified in Maryland including at least one resource from each of its twenty three counties. With the bicentennial of the War of 1812 fast approaching, it is timely for the federal Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and its connecting Maryland trials to be implemented. The creation of a Bicentennial of the War of 1812 Commission.could spearhead recognition of the Bicentennial and stimulate trail implementation. Through the continued work of both the National Park Service, the State of Maryland and its partners, this trail system hopefully will become a reality by 2012. With its implementation Americans will be better able to understand the story behind the Star-Spangled Banner. Ralph E. Eshelman, principal of Eshelman & Associates, serves as the historian for this study.
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