A History of Hawkins Point and Beyond

Explore Hawkins Point's history through the maps below. To navigate, press play on each video to see the changes in Hawkins Point over time. Scroll through the timeline for explanations of each event. You can also find archival photos and artistic renderings of the natural and human landscape below the maps.

Hawkins Point has left a sorrowful legacy, where industry was chosen at the expense of people, and a neighborhood lost its community forever. The toxic waste that lives on continues to threaten the lives and livelihoods of people in surrounding communities, particularly Curtis Bay. It is because of this threat that it is so critical to remember the history of Hawkins Point- to examine the choices made and take its memory as an opportunity to choose differently in Curtis Bay. Hawkins Point reminds us that people endure in a way that industry cannot. We sit at a critical juncture with the opportunity to change the trajectory of Curtis Bay- to create an opportunity for the community to decide what sort of commerce and activities lie within their bounds. At this time, Hawkins Point is a powerful reminder of the strength of the people in the margins of a city.