Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [128]
Attractions
Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace at the 1840 Lockhouse. Tours are given May through October on weekends, 1-5 pm. Admission is $2 adults, $1 seniors. (Erie and Conesto Streets, tel. 410-939-5780)
Next to the Concord Point Lighthouse (1827) is the cannon poor Mr. O’Neill fired so valiantly on the British. By the way, he was captured and nearly hung, but his young daughter, Matilda, rowed out to the British ship and successfully pleaded for his life. His reward: the job of lighthouse keeper. Lit almost continuously for the last 175 years, the lighthouse was among eight built by Havre de Grace native John Donahoo, as part of a navigational improvement effort. You can climb the 28 steps and the ladder to the top on weekends April-October, 1-5 pm. Walk a half-mile on the boardwalk along the Chesapeake Bay to Tydings Park. Free admission. (Concord and Lafayette Streets, tel. 410-939-9040)
From Lighthouse Pier, the skipjack Martha Lewis departs for 90-minute sailing cruises on weekends April through October. The working oyster dredge boat, built in 1955, is one of the last American vessels to fish under sail. It was restored in 1994 by a non-profit educational organization. When in port, nostalic cruises through the Susquehanna flats to the upper Chesapeake Bay depart on weekends at noon, 1:30 and 3 pm. $10 adults, $5 children 10 and under. Wine and cheese cruises depart Wednesdays at 7 pm from Hutchins park, and in winter, weekdays November through March, you can even sign on and help with the oyster dredging. You have to pay for the privilege of working on one of working aboard one of the last working skipjacks left: $100 per person, includes meals. (tel. 800-406-0766 or 410-939-4078, www.skipjackmarthalewis.org)
The Lantern Queen, an original turn-of-the-century paddle wheeler, operates public cruises from Hutchins Park on Thursday and Friday evenings. (tel. 888-937-3740, www.lanternqueen.com)
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum preserves those busy days of commerce when the city was a major hub for waterborne traffic. Open weekends May-September, 1-5 pm. Free admission (100 Lafayette Street, tel. 410-939-4800)
The self-proclaimed “Decoy Capital of the World” is such largely due to the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum. Here you can see the folk art form of both master craftsmen and backyard carvers on display. On most weekends, you’ll find carvers giving demonstrations of their art. Open daily, 11 am-4 pm. Admission is $4 adults, $2 seniors and children over age eight. (Market Street and Madison Mitchell Place, tel. 410-939-3739)
Steppingstone Farm Museum is just outside the city in Susquehanna State Park. The museum demonstrates rural arts and crafts of the period 1880 to 1920, and preserves several historic farm buildings. Open weekends, May-October, 1-5 pm. Admission is $2; children 12 and under free. (461 Quaker Bottom Road, tel. 410-939-2299)
Dining
At MacGregor’s Restaurant & Bar all tables have a water view in this former 1924 bank building serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Seafood, of course, is the specialty, but they also serve pasta and steaks. There’s an outide deck, gazebo bar, comedy club, and live music Friday and Saturday evenings. (331 St. John Street, tel. 410-939-3003, www.macgregorsrestaurant.com)
The location speaks for itself at the Tidewater Grille, perched at the end of Franklin Street overlooking the Susquehanna River. Dine inside or out on the decks (tel. 410-939-3313). Price’s Seafood Restaurant shares the same view a block up on Water Street. Steamed hard and softshell crabs in season (tel. 410-939-2782).
The Bayou Restaurant is a friendly and locally popular restaurant serving seafood, homemade bread and pies. (927 Pulaski Highway, tel. 410-939-3565)
For lighter fare, there’s gourmet coffee at Java by the Bay (118 N. Washington Street, tel. 410-939-0227), Fortunato Brothers Pizza (103