So , fast forward to 2023. The news spoke today of the plans to tear down Harborplace. While the story itself took me by surprise, the lack of any public attention was worse. Kilduff’s stays out of politics, but I remember the excitement over the opening Harborplace and it really wasn’t all that long ago. But I digress ……Here’s a little on what we found of plans for the Harbor over the years.
Plans to redevelop the Harbor over the years
Plans started back in 1946 , and the clearing of the docks along Light Street that were no longer being used.
City Leaders start in the beginning of the end for the old piers along Light Street, in this Baltimore Sun photo.
For many years, there was actually a Atlantic gas station right on the corner of Light and Pratt Streets ( Northwest corner I believe ) . It was torn down as the Inner Harbor concept was developed.
One of the more successful Piers in the Baltimore Harbor was the one located on McComas Street.
1967 Motor Magazine ad features a brand new Ford with the backdrop of Baltimore, just before the scene would change. This photo would have been taken in the general area of Rash Field.
I’m not sure how long it lasted, but in the late 1960’s, you could actually get around in the Inner Harbor on a Hydroplane.
An old 1960’s era ad for WFBR Radio ( 1300 AM ) showed Baltimore’s Inner Harbor just before everything was redeveloped.
The 1970’s and early 1980’s show the first ( and last ) ” Floating Restaurant ” for the Inner Harbor with the Nobska, which sat dockside in Baltimore for years. The Nobska was brought down from Massachusetts and lasted for a few years until Harbor Place was built. The Nobska was later taken back to Massachusetts, stored for a few years and was finally scrapped in 2006.
I have a pile of old pictures of Baltimore’s Port Welcome cruise ship, just have to find them
Baltimore Harbor Plans in the 1950’s.
Meanwhile just a few miles to the South, plans were being drawn up for a Ferry from Cherry Hill to Fell’s Point, to direct some of the traffic from the Harbor.
A late 1950’s look at plans along the Harbor tat were never quite realized
Highway plans had the Harbor as the location of a grand highway plan.
Baltimore’s Harbor has undergone great changes over the years.
Above is a link to the older and very complete Kilduffs.com Baltimore Harbor page.
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