Historical Markers in
Harford County, Maryland

2008 Restoration of P.B. & W. Railroad Crossing and Later Pennsylvania Railroad Watchman's Shed 509 Electrical Light Display Block Signal A Crucial Connection A Perfect Location Aberdeen 9/11 Memorial Aberdeen Proving Ground Aberdeen Proving Ground Memorial Aberdeen Veterans Memorial Adding On Aids to Navigation Fog Bell Alfred B. Hilton Alfred B. Hilton Memorial Park American Legion Post No. 47 America's 25th Earth Day Anchors Annie McGann Cumpston Attack at Frenchtown Bel Air Bel Air Berkley Crossroads Birds by the Bay Black Horse Tavern British Landing Built 1898 Liriodendron Calvary United Methodist Church Capt. Angus Greme Capt. Anthony J. Synodinos & 1st Lt. Edward G. Conrad, Captain John Smith Carter-Archer House Church of the Holy Trinity Churchville Churchville Presbyterian Church Cokesbury College Colony Of Maryland Concord Point Light Station Concord Point Lighthouse Concord Point Lighthouse Grounds Conowingo Count Rochambeau’s Troops Crown Stone Mile 40 Dangerous Waters Daybreak by Richard Goldsborough Brink Dedicated in Honor Deer Creek Harmony Presbyterian Church Did you Know? Did You Know? ENIAC Enjoy the Havre de Grace Promenade Ernest Burke Explore the Chesapeake Flag Pole Memorial Frederick Ward Park Gilmor's Raid Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Gov. William Paca Great 8 Hall’s Cross Roads Harford County Sheriff's Office Harford Town Harry Gilmor's Raid Harry Gilmor’s Raid Havre de Grace Havre de Grace Graw Havre de Grace Racetrack Havre de Grace War Memorial Heavenly Waters Cemetery Heirloom Hendon Hill Cemetery Hero's Reward Historic Bel Air Historic Bel Air Home Base Home of Refuge How a Lock Works In Grateful Recognition In memory of Ernie Tyler Invasion at Dawn James B. Baker House Jerusalem Mills Joesting - Gorsuch House John O'Neill Joppa Town Keeper of the Light Keeper's House Keziah's Diary King and Queen Seat Ladew Topiary Gardens and Pleasant Valley House Lafayette at Colonel Rigbie’s House Lafayette's Tour Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Lure of the Chesapeake Luxury on the Bay Ma & Pa Heritage Trail MA & PA Heritage Trail Ma & Pa Heritage Trail Ma & Pa Railroad Ma & Pa Station - Forest Hill MA and PA Heritage Trail Major General Marquis De LaFayette Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Mason and Dixon Line 40th Mile Stone Matilda O'Neill Home Medical Hall Milestone Miller's House Nineteenth Century Travel No Respect Nun Buoy Out of the Flames Peach Bottom Slate Region Pensell Propeller Post U.S. Lighthouse Service Use Principio Destroyed Prospect School River Crossing Rochambeau Plaza Rock Run Rock Run Landing Rock Run Mill Rumsey Mansion Sacred to the Memory of the Men of Harford County Saint Ignatius Church Screaming Rockets Site of Old Baltimore Site of the Upper Jericho Saw Mill Site of “Old Baltimore” Sophia’s Dairy Spesutia Church Spesutia Island Spesutia P. E. Church Spring House Springhouse Springhouse Stafford Flint Furnace State Of Maryland State of Readiness Surprise Attack Susquehanna Hotel Susquehanna Lower Ferry Susquehanna Lower Ferry Susquehanna River Crossing Susquehanna River fishing Susquehanna State Park The Bayou The Boyer Family Shad Shack The Concord Point Light Keeper’s House and Property, 1827-1920 The Hays House The Keepers The Lafayette Trail The Lock House The Norris House The point where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay The Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal This is a Section of “The General’s Highway” This Tablet This Wye Oak Toll House & Tidewater Canal Tollhouse and Covered Bridge at Rock Run Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail Tudor Hall Under Attack Veterans Memorial Votes for Women War in the Chesapeake Welcome to Our Wetland Home White Hall "O! say can you see..." "O! say can you see…" "The Bush Declaration" "The Door" "The People of Havre de Grace" “Constant Friendship” “Indian Spring” “Olney”
Maryland was a border state during the Civil War: During the Civil War, Maryland was a border state that remained in the Union but had many sympathizers with the Confederacy. The state was strategically important because it was located between Washington D.C. and the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.
Maryland random facts
Harford County, Maryland, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. Native American tribes, including the Susquehannock and the Lenape, were the first inhabitants of the area. They relied on the region's lush forests, fertile lands, and abundant waterways for sustenance and trade.

In the 17th century, European settlers began to arrive in Harford County, lured by the promise of new opportunities. English colonists established towns along the Susquehanna River, such as Joppa and Havre de Grace, which served as important trading posts and transportation hubs. The area's fertile soil and favorable climate made it ideal for agriculture, leading to the rise of tobacco and later, wheat plantations.

During the American Revolutionary War, Harford County played a significant role in the fight for independence. Local militias formed to defend against British attacks, and the county became a vital center of support for the Continental Army. Harford even hosted the Second Continental Congress for a brief period in 1776, solidifying its place in early American history.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Harford County experienced significant industrial and economic growth. The emergence of the railroad system and the establishment of manufacturing industries, such as textiles and canning, propelled the county into the modern era. Today, Harford County remains a vibrant and dynamic area, boasting a mix of suburban and rural communities, as well as a thriving economy supported by a diverse range of industries.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Harford County, Maryland.

  • 1608: Captain John Smith explores the Chesapeake Bay area, including what is now Harford County.
  • 1692: Harford County is established as one of the original counties of the Province of Maryland.
  • 1775-1783: Harford County actively participates in the American Revolutionary War.
  • 1813: Havre de Grace, located in Harford County, is attacked by the British during the War of 1812.
  • 1827: The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad is completed, connecting Harford County to neighboring states.
  • 1851: The Female Institute, now known as Harford Community College, is established in Bel Air.
  • 1861-1865: Harford County experiences significant Civil War activity, particularly during Confederate General Jubal Early's raid on Bel Air in 1864.
  • 1879: The Maryland General Assembly designates Bel Air as the county seat.
  • 1938: Aberdeen Proving Ground, a major US Army installation, is established in Harford County.
  • 1964: The John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, now Interstate 95, is completed, providing a crucial transportation link for the county.
  • 1977: Harford Mall, the first large-scale shopping center in the county, opens in Bel Air.
  • 2005: Harford County celebrates its 300th anniversary.