Baltimore Kite Festival

The timing for the first annual Big Baltimore Kite Fest could not have been more perfect.  This was the first spring day of truly spectacular weather with a few scattered clouds and warm sunshine.  We parked next to the building for Creative Alliance, which happened to be the event organizer.  After hiking across Patterson Park we climbed to the highest point (Hampstead Hill) which has a row of display cannons that are aimed at the harbor.  There is also a curious building: The Pagoda.

The Observatory is a tower that offers the public fantastic views of the city.  Built in 1891, we are very lucky that the aggressively Victorian tower (now known as The Pagoda) is around today.  It was closed in the 1950s due to its poor condition and nearly demolished.  Twenty years ago the city made its restoration a part of the city Master Plan and now visitors can climb the winding staircases and enjoy the view over Baltimore for free.  The volunteers that run the operation allow a limited amount of people at one time, however.  At one point Hans and I felt the building give an unexpected lurch while we were on the middle level.

From the top we spied Fort McHenry across the harbor:

"O say can you see [...]?"

Speaking of The War of 1812, Hampstead Hill was the site of Baltimore's most important defensive position against the British invasion.  Some 20,000 troops dug trenches and aimed artillery at the British navy.  This combined with Fort McHenry made the Battle of Baltimore a turning point in the war.

The tall brown structure in the foreground is the former Phoenix Shot Tower, 

the last one standing in Baltimore and one of three in the whole United States

 The large magnolia tree next to the tower was starting to bloom

Wasn't this post supposed to be about kites?  Sorry, I got all distracted by that pagoda!  By the time Hans and I had wandered around the park for about an hour the crowd was starting to fill in and the skies were filled with all kinds of flying contraptions.  The large field below the Pagoda was temporarily cleared by a quartet of stunt kites and we were treated to a ten minute demonstration.  What a great way to spend an afternoon in the sun.  For video be sure to check out the blog's Instagram!