Baltimore Heritage

Did you know there is a ship graveyard in Baltimore’s Curtis Creek? Join us onsite in front of half-submerged and hidden vessels for a talk by Maryland’s State Underwater Archaeologist, Dr. Susan Langley. While there are three main collections of shipwrecked vessels in the area, Dr. Langley will address her exploration of this area, the largest and most diverse section off of Hawkins Point. 

It's hard to believe, but less than 60 years ago when steamships plied these waters, the area around Curtis Bay was known for its strawberry fields and peach orchards. The area’s industrial nature is relatively recent. Still, for over one hundred years a few groups have been local staples, including Davison Chemical (now part W.R. Grace), the U.S. Coast Guard Yard, and A. Smith & Sons, now Smith Shipyard. 

Please join us and Dr. Langley in this outdoor talk to discover the rich history of this area and the people who lived nearby, and of course the half-sunken ships themselves that include vessels built for WWI, a ship that surprisingly sailed unmanned from North Carolina to Maine and back, an early example of a ship made from cement, and some intriguing schooners and tugs for good measure. We hope to see you on Hawkins Point! 

About the Speaker: Dr. Susan Langley lectures internationally on a broad range of subjects including maritime archaeology, textile technology, piracy, and the archaeology and present practices of bees and beekeeping globally. Although her “day-job” is Maryland’s State Underwater Archaeologist directing the Maryland Maritime Archaeology Program for more than 25 of its 30 years, she is also the beekeeper for the hive at Government House in Annapolis.  Dr. Langley is an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, where she teaches underwater archaeology and the history and anthropology of piracy. She also taught maritime archaeology in Thailand for several years through UNESCO. She is a Master SCUBA diver instructor, judges Maryland’s History Day competition, and lectures and leads expeditions for Zegrahm Expeditions.