Last week, we sailed back in time, celebrating the famed Baltimore Clipper Chasseur. This week, we return to the shores of the Inner Harbor and the construction of the first Baltimore Clipper in 150 years.

When construction of the vessel began, no one yet knew what to call it. Sometime in late 1976, builder Melbourne Smith went before a group from the city tasked with deciding on a name and made his case. Whatever they chose, he argued, had to represent Baltimore. His first suggestion? Johnny Unitas, in honor of the city’s legendary quarterback. Another colorful idea followed, Blaze Starr, a nod to one of Baltimore’s most famous strippers. In the end, Smith’s own preference was far simpler and more enduring: Pride.

To this day, many assume the name Pride was a direct tribute to the famed War of 1812 schooner Chasseur, long celebrated as “the pride of Baltimore” for her exploits as a privateer. In reality, Smith said the name was not a historical callback at all. Instead, it reflected the goodwill he was certain the vessel would inspire among the citizens of Baltimore.

According to Tom Waldron, in his book, Pride of the Sea, Melbourne Smith figured people would refer to the ship as the “Pride of Baltimore.” But as the story goes, when the official naming documents were being prepared, a secretary typed in “Pride of Baltimore”. And the rest is, as they say, history!