Sparrows Point (Baltimore, Dundalk, Essex: houses, taxes, yard)

[SiC]

Well,

I will be visiting Baltimore in about one month. I'm interested in taking photos of Sparrows Point, but I was wondering whether roads have restrictions, or if I should just scratch Sparrows Point off of my list if it's not accessible.

Thanks in advance.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

It's private property and you won't be able to enter it, but it's so massive that there are a few views that would be good to photograph from afar.

[KLynch10]

Not cheap, but if you can get on a boat, you can really see the scope of the place. It's quite the site right now... enormous, ugly and a huge reminder of a failed American Industry. The sooner they can demolish it the better now in my opinion. Soon it will likely be a huge expansion of the Port of Baltimore which is doing really great right now and the land will be remediated to be better for the Chesapeake Bay.

[boomtownfunlover]

Yep, a boat is your best shot,or, visit Fort Armistead park in the evening across the water for a long shot of the overall plant.

[B.K.]

Uhm, not to encourage bad behavior, but security has been practically nil at Sparrows Point for many years. I never had any problem driving up to and onto the site just to poke around. Let's face it, unless you have a crane and some railcars, there's not that much you're going to be able to tote away.

[Calvert Hall '62]

Originally Posted by KLynch10

It's quite the site right now... enormous, ugly and a huge reminder of a failed American Industry.

_______
The "shipyard" as locals called it was quite successful for many years, employing vast numbers of east and south Baltimoreans as well as folks from Dundalk, Essex, and AA County. It was a real boon to B'mo's economy.

So if by "failed" you mean that nothing lasts forever, then yes I agree that it has failed.

[boomtownfunlover]

Originally Posted by B.K.

Uhm, not to encourage bad behavior, but security has been practically nil at Sparrows Point for many years. I never had any problem driving up to and onto the site just to poke around. Let's face it, unless you have a crane and some railcars, there's not that much you're going to be able to tote away.

I don't imagine you made it through any of the gatehouses without a pass; security these days is a little more hard-nosed I think. One used to be able to drive through the place between the steelmaking side and the finishing side on Tin Mill Road to Shipyard road but the current owner has put up an additional gatehouse by the police station to prevent this.

[SiC]

Well, that sucks. :/

Are there any other places similar to Sparrows point that you can get reasonably close to? I don't need to like go up and hug the buildings, etc., but I'd like to be able to take photos without needing my 1200mm lens. lol

[KLynch10]

Originally Posted by Calvert Hall '62

_______
The "shipyard" as locals called it was quite successful for many years, employing vast numbers of east and south Baltimoreans as well as folks from Dundalk, Essex, and AA County. It was a real boon to B'mo's economy.

So if by "failed" you mean that nothing lasts forever, then yes I agree that it has failed.

Yes. It went from 30,000 employees to zero with their equipment being scrapped. The industry crashed and burned and cities like Pittsburgh and Youngstown were hit the hardest. Luckily for Bmore they can turn it into a port and get thousands of new jobs and spinoff businesses. It won't happen overnight though.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by SiC

Well, that sucks. :/

Are there any other places similar to Sparrows point that you can get reasonably close to? I don't need to like go up and hug the buildings, etc., but I'd like to be able to take photos without needing my 1200mm lens. lol

If you follow Bethlehem Boulevard and go to the end of Peninsula Expressway in Dundalk where it meets Beth Blvd you are practically next to some of the buildings. And you can actually go into the property until you get to a gatehouse where you have to turn around. You can also drive down North Point Boulevard until you reach the "Private Property" sign and turn around there. I ended up in that area once when I made a wrong turn. Also drove there to see the "Star of Bethlehem" that was mentioned in the Baltimore Sun it was the last Christmas where it was lit up now the factory is closed thanks to Martin O'Malley's policies and taxes.

You can also get a decent view from Interstate 695.