Federal Hill has has a long history as a landmark in Baltimore, beginning with its sighting in 1608 by Captain John Smith who in June of 1608 sailed from Jamestown up the Chesapeake Bay. He ventured up the Patapsco River, where he reported seeing “a great red bank of clay flanking a natural harbor basin.” This became know to early Baltimore settlers as John Smith's Hill. In May of 1788 a parade celebrating Maryland's ratification of the U.S. Constitution included a 15 foot model of a fully rigged sailing ship named the Federalist. The model was placed on wheels and paraded through the city streets to a resting point on top of John Smith's Hill. Significant revelry accompanied the event and sometime later the hill was renamed Federal Hill in honor of the boat and the event. The spectacular view from the top has served Baltimore's citizens in peace and war. The hill served the military in both the War of 1812 and the Civil War.
The City purchased Federal Hill in 1880 and dedicated it as a public park. Ninety years later, the “Federal Hill District” was accepted for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The “District” includes Federal Hill Park and the immediate neighborhood south to West Street, west to Hanover Street, north to Hughes Street and east to Covington Street.
Within an easy walk from the Hyatt Hotel are a number of historic sites and attractions in Federal Hill. Here is a list of web sites for more information.
What to see and do and where to eat in Federal Hill
Federal Hill Walking Tour Map: http://www.federalhillonline.com/walkingtour.htm
Federal Hill Business Directory: http://historicfederalhill.org/www/busdirectory
Main Page for Historic Federal Hill neighborhood: http://historicfederalhill.org/www
Another Federal Hill page: http://federalhillonline.net/
Cross Street Market: http://www.southbaltimore.com/shop/crossmkt.html
South Baltimore - Inner Harbor: http://www.southbaltimore.com/index.html
Fort McHenry: http://www.nps.gov/fomc/ accessible
by the No. 1 Bus