The Oldest Bar in Maryland Says Edgar Allan Poe Still Haunts It

1 (Melissa Mahoney)Every night before closing, staff at one Fells Point bar leave a glass of whiskey on the counter.Every night before closing, staff at one Fells Point bar leave a glass of whiskey on the counter. It isn’t for a customer. It’s for Edgar.

Edgar is the ghost that employees believe haunts The Horse You Came In On Saloon, a tavern that has operated since 1775. It’s widely considered the oldest bar in Maryland and claims to be the only bar in the state to have operated before, during, and after Prohibition.

Legend says Edgar Allan Poe had his last drink here before his mysterious death in 1849. Historians will tell you there’s no hard evidence to back that up, but in Baltimore, a good story has a way of sticking around.

It tops Baltimore’s list of restaurants with deep roots, and it’s the only one with a resident poet. A toast to Edgar seems like the polite thing to do.

The Horse sits on the cobblestones of Thames Street in Fells Point, one of Baltimore’s oldest neighborhoods and a short walk from the harbor. The setting alone makes it feel like you’ve wandered back a few centuries.

Inside, it keeps its old saloon character, right down to the wagon-wheel tables. Most nights, live music fills the room, so expect a lively crowd rather than a quiet museum.

Keep your eyes open for signs of Edgar. Staff say he announces himself with creaking floors, flickering lights, a swinging chandelier, or a drawer that slides open on its own, and they’ve learned to greet him like a regular. A sign inside even reads Poe’s Last Stop.

Despite all the history, the menu has caught up with the times, so you can settle in for a full meal along with your drink.

A tavern first opened in this Colonial-era building in 1775, the same year the American Revolution began. Fells Point grew up as a rough-and-tumble neighborhood serving the sailors who passed through Baltimore’s busy port.

The bar’s proudest claim is its run through Prohibition. According to the bar and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it’s the only bar in Maryland to operate before, during, and after Prohibition, which is why it bills itself as one of the oldest continuously operating saloons in America.

The current name arrived in 1972, when Howard Gerber bought the place, then known as Al and Ann’s. To celebrate, he had a friend in a cowboy hat ride a horse into the bar during its very first hour of business.

As for Poe, Baltimore Ghost Tours notes he was known to frequent Fells Point and is said to have visited the Horse many times. His documented collapse happened elsewhere in the city, but the legend has long since moved in for good.

The Horse You Came In On Saloon is at 1626 Thames Street in Fells Point. It has historically opened daily at 11 a.m., so confirm the current schedule and live music lineup before heading over.

Fells Point is very walkable, so make an evening of it on the cobblestones. Ghost tours of the neighborhood are a popular way to hear more of the Horse’s legend.

Chasing more chills? Brave Maryland’s most haunted place, cross the haunted Jericho Covered Bridge, or tackle Maryland’s creepiest hike.

Grab a drink and a bite at the historic bar, catch live music, and keep an eye out for Edgar, the ghost staff believe haunts the place. Don’t leave without a photo of the Poe tribute.

Baltimore’s historic waterfront district of Fells Point is home to the saloon, a short ride east of the Inner Harbor. Pubs, shops, and brick sidewalks fill the surrounding blocks, so plan to wander.

It’s a cherished legend rather than documented fact. Poe frequented Fells Point, and the bar says he had his last drink there in 1849, but historians haven’t found hard evidence.