History of Soldiers Delight
There is much to be learned about the history of Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area and the serpentine barrens for which it is known.
The Great Maryland Barrens
Maryland Historian William Bose Marye (“Marie”) devoted much of his career meticulously corroborating historical descriptions of the serpentine ecosystem in Maryland. His three-part monograph provides the foundation for understanding the history and ecology of the Great Maryland Barrens. Learn why they were called barrens, the role of Native Americans, characteristics of the ecosystem before settlement, when and why this endangered ecosystem began to collapse, and many more topics.
The Old Indian Road Retraced by William Bose Marye
Among the 18th century records of Old Baltimore County are found a considerable number of references to a highway of Native American origin, sections of which were traveled over and adopted for use by settlers. This ancient Native American trail was called Indian Road or Old Indian Road. Maryland Historian William Bose Marye (“Marie”), through long and tedious effort, pieced and put together the historical fragments of this and other trails in this three-part monograph published in Maryland Historical Magazine.
Why the Barrens Delayed Settlement of Western Maryland
Learn how the settlement of western Maryland was delayed by the psychological effect of the Great Maryland Barrens, a scarcity of timber, and lack of an effective treaty with the Five Nations of Iroquois.
Soldiers Delight Hundred in Baltimore County
Have you been wondering where Soldiers Delight, originally known as “Soldiers Delight Hundred” might have gotten its unusual name? “Hundred” was an English term used to describe a unit of government and taxation that was smaller than a shire, so that explains the "hundred" in the name, but why “Soldiers Delight”?
Soldiers Delight Barrens: Preservation of a Rare Ecosystem
Soldiers Delight, the largest and most diverse of the disappearing serpentine barrens on the East Coast and home to over 39 rare, threatened and endangered species, has been described as a "2,000 acre hunk of the American West dropped into Maryland". Read on to learn how author, history professor and former SDCI board member, Claudia J. Floyd, describes the transformation through the years of this wild land, a haven for hikers, nature lovers, geologists, kite-flyers and children, all of whom are fascinated by its distinct qualities.
Red Dog Lodge
Red Dog Lodge, built in 1912, stands on Soldiers Delight property in Owings Mills, Maryland, just behind the visitor center. Constructed of wood and stone, the one-room dwelling served as a hunting cabin, camping retreat, and party house to generations of Sherwood, Dolfield and Buxton families.
