Published: March 31, 2026
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Meets regulatory commitments established with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Maryland Historical Trust (MHT)
Havre de Grace, MD – Archaeological studies associated with plans to replace the existing Susquehanna River Bridge between the City of Havre de Grace and the Town of Perryville, Maryland have been ongoing for over a decade due to the long use of this area by precontact and historic populations. The existing 119-year-old bridge is at least the third iteration of a water crossing in this area, with previous bridges and ferries located nearby. Changes to the transportation corridor over time have contributed to a valuable archaeological record in the nearby communities. Amtrak is committed to exploring these pieces of the past.
Building on a survey conducted in 2024, archaeologists with Mead & Hunt returned to the City of Havre de Grace this year to perform data recovery excavations on three sites along the railroad tracks. From late August through early October 2025, the team used equipment like shovels, trowels, spoons, and screens to gather data from the dirt about the lives of past residents. The archaeologists uncovered hundreds of features, including the remains of an 1850s tenant building that housed Black railroad workers, several late-19th century dwellings, an 1890s saloon, and a turn-of-the century bakeshop. Most of the homes and businesses were inhabited and operated by European immigrants.
The team recovered over 15,000 artifacts during the dig left from past occupants that gave insight into the types of plates they used, what they drank, and how they built their homes. Most exciting were the personal objects they left behind, including toys like marbles and doll parts, coins, buttons, and even part of a saxophone! All of this information can shed light on long-forgotten residents in this part of the city. The team is continuing research and analysis, with a report expected in 2026.
Now that these archaeological investigations are complete, Amtrak is officially a step closer to building the new rail bridges that will continue the legacy of the Northeast Corridor into the future.
For more information about the Susquehanna River Bridge Project visit our website here. To stay up to date on project updates, sign up for our mailing list here.
