Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Leonardtown Wharf


Thank you everyone for all of your wonderful anniversary well wishes!  We had a nice low key day and we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner.  I also LOVED hearing all of the great stories about how some of you met your spouses...they all made me smile.  I just find it so amazing how two people can find each other in this big wide world and be the perfect match for one another!






It's been a while since I took you all along with me on a field trip, so last night after dinner we wandered down to a local wharf, about a half an hour from our house, that was recently renovated.  Leonardtown is a small town that serves as the county seat.  It has a long and colorful history as a main center of politics and commerce in the state of Maryland, and Frances Scott Key's family even once called it home.






Today, it is a sleepy little town with quaint shops, small local businesses, great restaurants, and friendly people.  It is the kind of place where locals meet at the town's post office to exchange the latest news.  And where folks gather for holiday parades throughout the year, including one to kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the town Christmas tree complete with fire trucks and Santa!







The wharf used to be a place where commerce was king.  Steamboats ran between the Leonardtown Wharf and Washington DC and Baltimore.  There was even a floating theater which came each year for a few months to entertain the local residents!  And when tobacco was used as currency, it was a primary port in the new world for trade with Europe.






The newly finished wharf area is the perfect spot for an evening stroll, especially when the evening was as lovely as it was last night!  There is a building where you can rent kayaks, and walkways span the waterfront and traverse the wetlands.






As you look back up the hill toward the town of Leonardtown, there are some old Victorian homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Some of them are being used as office space, while others are still used as private residences.  Several new condominiums in cheerful pastel colors dot the hillside overlooking Breton Bay.





Besides being beautiful, there are also practical aspects to the wharf, like these "life ring" boxes in case someone goes for a swim unexpectedly!  I love the brick and stone compass rose and the large flag pole and how it was silhouetted against the evening sky last night!


(click to enlarge)


(click to enlarge)


There are several signs posted along the waterfront which give you a little history about the wharf from years gone by.  If you click on each picture above, you can blow them up for easier reading!  Many of the names listed and people pictured are descendants of the original settlers to the area, and those families are still prominent in Leonardtown today.






The soft hues of the sunset and the still waters were the perfect ending to our 24th anniversary day!  Thank you again for your kind comments and for coming along with me on our little stroll along Leonardtown's waterfront!

21 comments:

  1. I have never been...thanks for the walk.

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  2. Oh, I do enjoy your field trips Kat! Looks like a gorgeous part of the world. Thanks for the tour, and have a great day. K xx

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  3. How beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Kat, that place is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing such great photos with us. I felt like I was walking along with you.

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  5. so glad you had a good day. I must say Maryland is gorgeous. I love the trees and the water. We had a lovely holiday once in Maryland.

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  6. Your photos are gorgeous! Such a beautiful town and wharf. Happy anniversary!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  7. Oh what a lovely evening you had, thanks for sharing it with your readers! That is a lovely town with an even nicer waterfront area, love the compass rose incorporated into the brickwork!

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  8. What a cute town and I love the wharf!! Glad you enjoyed your evening there!

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  9. I missed your anniversary...happy 24 years! We will celebrate our 22 years this August. I love where you live...it is completely gorgeous. The newly restored wharf with all the history is my favorite kind of place. I think I would be down there every day. The compass rose is lovely. And I even like the pastel condos.

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  10. what a lovely place to stroll - love tht sunset. You are so lucky to have this beautiful place close by so that you can enjoy it! Your photo are absolutely beautiful!

    Vicki

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  11. So pretty to see,thank you for sharing :) I love to look at places I've never been.

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  12. What a lovely way to celebrate your anniversary. Congratulations on 24 years of marriage. Thank you so much for taking us on a field trip with you, I loved the scenery and your photos capture it all so beautifully. xx

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  13. I only wish I had someplace near me that was this pretty. What a wonderful place to walk...your pictures really made me feel as if I were there.

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  14. Beautiful photos, Kat! It was like being there...I love the view of the Victorian homes...

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  15. Such beautiful photos! Looks like a lovely place for a romantic relaxing walk. Glad you had such a lovely day.

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  16. What a beautiful place - lucky you! The 8th was the 29th anniversary of our first date. Congrats on your anniversary!

    Dropping by from Outdoor Wednesday, #3. If you haven't already registered for our vessel sink giveaway there's still time!

    Allison
    Atticmag

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  17. very pretty, makes me homesick for Poulsbo....Congrats on the anniversary!

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  18. what beautiful pictures! i love to learn about this history of quaint little towns! it is neat to see how they have contributed to society as a whole in such small details!

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  19. Such a pretty historic area that you live near Kat. That was a nice relaxing early evening stroll you took us on, looks like it was a perfect evening for celebrating your 24th Anniversary! ~Lili

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  20. Kat, this is the first time I have looked at your blog. I follow Kims mostly but wanted to take a peek. OMG I am so delighted. I moved to MD 3 years ago. We moved from NC which I miss. My twin daughters were in HS when we moved so the opportunity to meet new moms and friends were few and far between.Now, my twins have graduated and are looking forward to going to college back in NC. I will miss them but need to find some type of job to get me out of the house. Leonardtown looks amazing and the first chance I get my husband and I are taking a trip.

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  21. The water looks so beautiful. It most be amazing to watch the sun go down there.

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