Things to Do in Havre de Grace, Maryland
The best things to do in Havre de Grace, Maryland, are climbing the free Concord Point Lighthouse, touring the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum and walking the waterfront promenade where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Havre de Grace is a city of 14,807 people in Harford County.
Residents named the town in 1785 after Lafayette said it reminded him of Le Havre in France. In 1789 it missed being named the national capital by a single vote in the First Congress. In 1813, British raiders burned much of the village.
Concord Point Lighthouse
Built in 1827, the lighthouse guided ships at the mouth of the Susquehanna for 148 years. John O’Neill, who manned a cannon alone against the British in the 1813 raid, became its first keeper and served until his death in 1838. You can climb to the top and tour the Keeper’s House Museum next door.
★ Good to know Admission is free, and it’s open weekends April through October. Climbers must be at least 42 inches tall, and the last stretch is a ladder.
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum
Havre de Grace calls itself the Decoy Capital of the World, a nod to the duck hunters who once flocked to the Susquehanna Flats. The museum opened in 1986 and holds one of the finest collections of working and decorative Chesapeake Bay decoys. It traces how a hunter’s tool became collectible folk art.
★ Good to know There’s free parking in front of the museum and on the street.
The Promenade and Tydings Park
Hurricane Isabel destroyed the waterfront walk in 2003, and the city rebuilt it the next year. Today the boardwalk runs along the bay from Tydings Park and the city yacht basin past the Maritime Museum to Concord Point Lighthouse. It’s the town’s favorite place to walk and watch the water.
★ Good to know Start at Tydings Park by the yacht basin and walk out to the lighthouse, stopping at the Maritime Museum on the way.
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum
This museum at 100 Lafayette St. covers the boats, skills and waterfront life of the lower Susquehanna and upper Chesapeake. It sits right on the promenade, so it’s an easy stop between the park and the lighthouse. An osprey camera streams live from its grounds.
★ Good to know Check the museum site for hours and the events calendar before you go.
Susquehanna State Park
North of town along the river, this 2,753-acre park has some of Maryland’s most popular mountain biking trails and about 15 miles of trails overall. Its Rock Run Historic Area includes a working gristmill, the 1804 Carter-Archer Mansion, the Jersey Toll House and remains of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal. There’s also a campground with cabins.
★ Good to know The footbridge to the Greenways trail near Stafford Flint Furnace has been closed from storm damage, so use the Deer Creek trestle entrance instead.
Historic downtown
The central business district became the Havre de Grace Historic District on the National Register in 1987. Its streets hold antique shops, restaurants and landmarks like the late-1800s Seneca cannery building, now an antique shop. The Vintage Cafe occupies the former Chesapeake Hotel, where Al Capone reportedly stayed during the town’s racetrack era.
★ Good to know The Visitor Center at 450 Pennington Ave. is the place to pick up maps and ask about current events.
Also in town
North Park has a 1.5-mile riverside trail by the Lock House, Washington Street Books doubles as an entertainment museum, and Amtrak trains cross the river on the 1906 Susquehanna River Bridge, whose old 1866 piers you can still see from David R. Craig Park.
Can you go inside the Concord Point Lighthouse?
Yes. The lighthouse and the Keeper’s House Museum are free and open weekends from April through October. Climbers must be at least 42 inches tall, and the top is reached by steps and then a ladder.
Why is Havre de Grace called the Decoy Capital of the World?
In the 1800s the Susquehanna Flats drew duck hunters, who stayed in town and hired local guides. Local carvers became known for high-quality decoys, and the Decoy Museum now preserves that tradition.
How long is the Havre de Grace Promenade?
It runs along the waterfront from Tydings Park and the yacht basin, past the Maritime Museum, to Concord Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse park at the end sits within the town’s historic district.
Was Havre de Grace almost the U.S. capital?
Yes. During the First Congress in 1789, it reportedly missed being chosen as the capital by one vote. For more waterfront towns, see Chesapeake City, Chestertown or our small towns in Maryland.
Where to find them
- Concord Point Lighthouse 714 Concord St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 Website Directions
- Havre de Grace Decoy Museum 215 Giles St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 Website Directions
- The Promenade and Tydings Park Commerce St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 Directions
- Havre de Grace Maritime Museum 100 Lafayette St., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 Website Directions
- Susquehanna State Park 4122 Wilkinson Rd., Havre de Grace, MD 21078 Website Directions
- Historic downtown Havre de Grace, MD 21078 Website Directions
Plan your trip: for events and current visitor info in Havre de Grace, see the official visitor site →
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Where to stay in Havre de Grace
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