BALTIMORE (AP) — Organizers of a weeklong commemoration of the War of 1812 in Baltimore's harbor say it drew more than 1.5 million visitors and generated $166 million in economic impact.
Dozens of tall ships and naval warships from around the world traveled to Baltimore for June's "Star-Spangled Sailabration."
The group Star-Spangled 200 Inc. commissioned a study reviewing the impact and released the results Thursday. It found the Sailabration increased business by nearly $98 million in direct spending.
Surveys show 1.1 million Marylanders attended, along with 435,000 out-of-state visitors.
Expenditures for the weeklong festival totaled $4.8 million. Organizers say that means for every dollar spent, more than $35 was generated for Maryland.
The commemoration continues with reenactments at Chesapeake Bay battle sites and the return of tall ships to Baltimore in 2014.
