Fells Point (Baltimore, Maryland)

This National Register Historic District is a waterfront community in Baltimore. The residential area, which includes various home styles from small row homes and condos and apartments, is mixed in with a vibrant commercial district which boasts excellent restaurants, eclectic shops, great pubs and nightlife, and one of the famous Baltimore markets, Broadway Market.

Founded in 1730 by William Fell, who was attracted by its beautiful, deep water and proximity to agriculture and thick forests, Fell's Point became a shipbuilding and commercial center. The area grew wealthy on the tobacco, flour, and coffee trades through the 18th and 19th centuries. During the War of 1812, Fell's Point built and supported dozens of privateers who preyed on British shipping vessels. Thus, Baltimore became a principal target of the British during the war, which eventually led to the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

Another growth industry in Fell's Point was immigration, and it became a major point of entry into the United States. Since jobs were plentiful in shipbuilding and in the warehouses and factories, many of the immigrants stayed in Fell's Point. This added to the multicultural fabric of the area, but also caused the more affluent to move into other parts of the city.

Fell's Point remained a shipbuilding center until the Civil War, when it could no longer accommodate larger ship designs. Likewise, the shipping industry slowly moved away to larger facilities, and the area transitioned into a manufacturing center, with innovations in canning and packing. Eventually, much of the manufacturing left the city, resulting in urban decay until preservationists organized to save the area's historic buildings. The Belgian block streets of Fell's Point lend to its unique historic character, which attracts many tourists and businesses to the area.

The neighborhood has been the home of large Polish and Irish populations throughout its history. In recent years a steadily increasing numbers of middle to upper middle income residents have moved into the area, driving up property values. Upper Fell's Point has a sizable Hispanic population made up primarily of recent waves of Mexican and Central American immigrants and is sometimes called "Spanish Town".

www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=2517
 place with historical importanceneighbourhooddraw only border
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:  39°17'2"N 76°35'37"W

Comments

  • I believe the Privateer Day mentioned is now called the Pirateer Festival.
  • I believe you should EAT BERTHA'S MUSSELS!
  • I second that. Find Bertha's on Broadway at the foot of Fells Point. (Ok, the ankle, so Thames is the foot.) Start there, radiate outward. Enjoy Fells Point, day or night!
  • Heard Michael Phelps the Olympic swimmer bought a home here...Batlimorians want to rename it "Phelps Point" now :-P
This article was last modified 11 years ago