Patterson Park is a rare blend of natural beauty, history, and everyday neighborhood life, often called the city’s “Best Backyard.”

On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll find out how the park – which stretches across more than 130 acres in the heart of East Baltimore – has served Baltimoreans for over two centuries. You’ll also hear how it began as farmland, then became a defensive stronghold during the War of 1812, and why today it remains one of Baltimore’s most cherished public spaces.

You’ll pass the Monument honoring Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski, and wind your way over Harris Creek, one of Baltimore’s “ghost rivers” that’s now hidden underground.

You’ll see the mile-long earthworks built by residents to prevent the British from attacking the city. You’ll also walk where President Abraham Lincoln ordered troops to camp while keeping peace after pro-Confederate residents threatened more violence after the Pratt Street Riot of 1861.