City Dock

The Annapolis City Dock is part of a bustling waterfront area that became known as the "historic heart of Annapolis" following the designation of downtown Annapolis as a National Historic District in 1965. Established as early as 1634, by the end of the seventeenth century it served as an important port within the Chesapeake Bay region for commercial shipping and trade. The wharf area expanded in conjunction with the growth of industry in the eighteenth century, followed by rapid urban industrialization in the nineteenth century particularly at the end of the Civil War. This pattern of growth and expansion continued into the first decades of the twentieth century, and Annapolis City Dock still remains part of an essential commercial area today. With quaint shops and restaurants lining the waterfront, it is also a popular tourist destination.

Known as the "historic heart of Annapolis," the City Dock was established as early as 1634, with no prior settlements in the vicinity. By the end of the seventeenth century, it became an important port within the Chesapeake Bay region. During this period, it served as the site of warehouses, shipping, and trade. As industry expanded throughout the region in the 1700s and 1800s, the wharf area also grew. By the end of the Civil War era in the late 1800s, the port was associated with another period of rapid urban industrialization that lasted through the first decades of the twentieth century.

Following a period of urban renewal in the mid-twentieth century, the Annapolis City Dock became a well-known tourist area, particularly in conjunction with the designation of downtown Annapolis as a National Historic District in 1965. Today, it remains an important commercial area, with the historic waterfront flanked by shops and restaurants. Several different architectural styles are represented along the waterfront, including Colonial, Early Republic, Georgian, and Late Victorian.

In 2018, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) declared the Annapolis City Dock to be one of the eleven most endangered historic places in the country. In recent years, a proposal to rezone parts of the historic waterfront area for further development was met with deep concern by those who instead favor preserving the historic character of the Annapolis City Dock. Currently, the City of Annapolis, as well as the non-profit organization Historic Annapolis, and the City Dock Action Committee are working alongside of other stakeholders towards a preservation-based approach that will adequately address rising sea levels associated with climate change, while preparing the City Dock for such twenty-first century concerns.

Mahood, Kate. Annapolis City Dock Cultural Landscape Report, September 11th 2018. Accessed December 26th 2021. https://www.annapolis.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10905/SRN-Cultural-Landscape-Report.

City Dock, Visit Annapolis. Accessed December 26th 2021. https://www.visitannapolis.org/things-to-do/landmarks-and-neighborhoods/city-dock/.

City Dock Action Committee, Historic Annapolis. Accessed January 16th 2022. https://www.annapolis.org/other/protect-city-dock.