Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
RSS Feed
Known as the "best backyard in Baltimore," Patterson Park covers 155 acres in Southeast Baltimore. Primarily used by residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, Patterson Park is truly an urban oasis. For visitors, it is a place to soak up local culture and enjoy an afternoon in the heart of Baltimore. Atop the park's largest hill stands its crowning jewel, the Patterson Park Pagoda. A historic observatory, the Pagoda offers visitors some of the best views of the city.

Today, the Patterson Park Pagoda stands on hallowed ground. During the Battle of Baltimore, a turning point in the War of 1812, troops defended the city from a fortified position atop Hampstead Hill, land with vast views of the harbor. As British troops approached the city, the volunteer soldiers saw them coming and were able to defend Charm City. It was during this campaign that Francis Scott Key penned the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. Eventually, British commanders decided the battle was a lost cause, ordering British forces to retreat.
Following the War of 1812, Hampstead Hill's importance was cemented in the city's history. Wanting to preserve a place that played a key role in the defense and development of Baltimore, William Patterson, a British merchant, donated five acres of his land to the city for a city walk in 1827. In the following decades, the city purchased additional acreage to create Patterson Park. The park, and its now-famous hill, also served to protect troops during the Civil War.
Its role in defending the city took its toll on Patterson Park, and it fell into disrepair following the Civil War. To prevent further problems, the park was reconstructed with an air of Victorian splendor, commemorating its role in previous battles and allowing others to continue to enjoy its sweeping views of the city. In 1892, Charles H. Latrobe completed construction of a Victorian and Oriental inspired observatory, known as the Pagoda.
A four story tower, the Pagoda features three observation decks connected by a spiral staircase. From the top deck, visitors enjoy sweeping views of the city, including downtown, Inner Harbor, Canton and the park. In 1914, the city commemorated The Battle of Baltimore with a centennial celebration. As part of the ceremonies, two memorials were added in front of the Pagoda. The Star-Spangled Banner Centennial Monument and the Rodgers' Bastion Memorial Cannon stand alongside the Pagoda, forever marking the role the park played in the city's history.
Today, the Pagoda is operated by the Friends of Patterson Park, a neighborhood advocacy group. The Friends of Patterson Park are committed to the restoration and preservation of the Pagoda and the park as a whole.
Urban decay took its toll on the park and the Pagoda was closed to the public in 1951, amidst talks of demolishing the structure. By the late 1990s, the Friends of Patterson Park developed a plan to restore the park to its former glory, including a complete restoration of the Pagoda. In 2002, the Pagoda was completely restored and reopened to the public. April through October, the observatory opens to the public each Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Patterson Park is home to the historic Pagoda. Make Baltimore and its surrounding neighborhoods your home with Homesale Realty. Finding you a home in Baltimore is Homesale Realty's top priority.
We respect your concerns about privacy and value the relationship that we have with you.
Like many sites, we use cookies on our website to collect information to help improve your browsing experience. The cookies that we use allow our website to work and help us to understand what information is most useful to visitors.
For the best website browsing experience, please enable cookies. Go here for instructions on how to enable cookies on your browser.

