Druid Hill Park

Druid Hill Park is a fascinating pocket of Baltimore, as rich in history as it is abundant in foliage. Located at the near center of Baltimore city limits, it can be found on the west bank of Jones Falls ¹⁾. Throughout the centuries its inhabitants and visitors alike have changed considerably, from the Susquehannock Native Americans to current Central Baltimoreans. Nevertheless, from the seventeenth century to present day, the 745 acres ²⁾ that comprise the modern park have continuously played a seminal role in the lives of those who have lived and at present reside in the Baltimore area. Druid Hill Park’s significance is not tied down to any one event or period of time; instead it has been uniquely important to many movements, upheavals, and groups of people. To any given person at any given time, the park is more likely than not to be valued for something vastly different than another individual of another era. The story of Druid Hill Park is rife with diverse issues, hopes, goals, and dreams of an evolving people, and it is in this history that the true enchantment of the park is to be found.

There are a few different ways to go about exploring my project. The most direct manner in which to go about it is to go chronologically, following the time line below. This can be done without navigating back to this page after each individual story by either clicking the linked word in each story that is underlined, or by simply following the time line provided at the conclusion of each story.

You can also go about reading through my project by skipping around time periods. Each story has several links in the text which are not underlined, which lead to other stories which do not occur directly after the one you've just read. Just click on whatever intrigues you and see where it leads you!

Throughout my project you can always navigate back to the final page, listed below as 2010. This short piece ties all of the stories together, calling attention to the fact that each story makes mention of Druid Hill's ancient oak trees. To get to this page from any story, all you have to do is click the link on the word “oak” in the story.

Finally, if you want to return to this page from any other pages, simply click “Druid Hill” or “Druid Hill Park” in the page's introduction, or “Welcome to Druid Hill” listed under each time line.

Enjoy!

• 1652: The Susquehannock Departure
• 1741: The Buchanan Dream
• 1783: Slaves and Masters: The Way Things Are
• 1812: The Repentant Grieving/ Grieving Repentance
• 1860: Druid Hill Goes Public
• 1888: The Fruitless Flight
• 1925: Talking Nonsense
• 1948: Jailed and Satisfied
• 1976: Vibes and Auras
• 2006: Compelled and Confused
• 2010: The Oaks

Written by Christina McDonald