Welcome to War of 1812 tidewater country. It is here, in the waters and on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, that Americans fought to preserve their recently won independence from the British. From Maryland to Virginia to the District of Columbia, this portable guidebook points readers to the war's most important battlefields and historic sites. The book is organized into eighteen tours. Five Historic Route Tours guide enthusiasts down the same roads and past the same buildings that proved critical in the struggle. Thirteen Historic City, Town, and Regional Tours feature key sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Visitors can pick a tour and follow the President and the First Lady as they fled Washington, D.C., or British troops as they landed at North Point, or the U.S. Constitution as patriots saved it from the invaders. The tours are organized geographically to make trip planning easy. All are accessible by car or on foot; bike and water excursions are also suggested where appropriate. Each tour includes a brief history and information every visitor will need to know, such as the address, phone number, website, parking availability, days and hours of operation, and entrance fees. The guide is richly illustrated throughout, showing the many structures that no longer exist and historic sites not visible from public roads. Detailed maps are also included that direct visitors to each site. Tourists can step back in time as they travel the same roads and waterways that American and British troops did two centuries ago.
List of Abbreviation Overview Part I: Historic Route Tours British Invasion Tour (Maryland) Battle of Bladensburg Tour (Maryland) Saving the Declaration of Independence Tour (District of Columbia, Virginia) First Family Flight Tour (District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland) Battle of North Point Tour (Maryland) Part II: Historic City, Town, and Regional Tours Maryland Annapolis and U.S. Naval Academy Tour Baltimore Tour Southern Maryland Tour Maryland Eastern Shore Tour Head of the Chesapeake Tour Frederick Tour Virginia Alexandria Tour Greater Norfolk Tour Richmond and Petersburg Tour Tappahannock Tour Central Virginia Tour Other Tidewater Virginia Sites District of Columbia Washington, D.C., Tour Acknowledgments Appendixes A. Suggested Walks B. Suggested Bicycling Areas C. Canoe, Kayak, and Small Boating Area D. Boat Excursions Suggested Reading Index
""A Travel Guide to the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake is a first-rate tool for those exploring the Chesapeake Theater.""
