Since the early 1700s, industry has been a part of life here, including a grist mill and a granite quarry that reportedly supplied material for the construction of Fort McHenry.

Known as Creswell's Ferry until 1812, the town benefited greatly from the commerce that flowed along the Susquehanna River. As a "port of deposit" for raw materials such as flour, potatoes, grain, coal and even whiskey, the name "Port Deposit" seemed an obvious choice.

By the early 1900s, as other means of transporting freight replaced rafts and barges, Port Deposit's importance as a commercial waypoint became as much a part of history as the great "Susquehanna Arks" that plied the rivers for over a century.

In 1942, the town entered the mainstream of history again. As part of America's war effort, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved the creation of the U.S. Naval Training Center, named "Bainbridge" after Commodore William Bainbridge, commander of the legendary frigate Constitution. By the conclusion of World War II, the facility's Recruit Training Center had prepared some 244,000 recruits to ensure America's supremacy over the seas.

Today, the history of Port Deposit can be savored in the historic inns that have been lovingly restored to their 19th century charm, as well as in numerous examples of vintage architecture.

Other historic sites include the Paw Paw Museum and The Tome School, founded in 1889 by philanthropist Jacob Tome. Nearby, the Perry Point Mansion House and Mill, the Jeremiah Brown House and the Charlestown Historic District are worth a visit.