Baltimore
News •
-
Where is Baltimore located?
Baltimore is located in north-central Maryland, about 40 miles (65 km) northeast of Washington, D.C.. It sits at the head of the Patapsco River estuary, 15 miles (25 km) above Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is the largest city and economic center of Maryland and the northeastern hub of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is Baltimore known for?
Baltimore, established in 1729, is known for its rich history as a bustling seaport and shipbuilding center. It played a crucial role in the War of 1812, when the successful defense of Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Today, Baltimore is a major seaport with a diversified economy, including health care, education, finance, and insurance. It's home to renowned institutions like Johns Hopkins University and cultural attractions such as the Baltimore Museum of Art and the National Aquarium. Baltimore is also known for its sports teams, the Orioles (baseball) and the Ravens (American football).
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the Inner Harbor in Baltimore?
The Inner Harbor in Baltimore, revitalized in the 1980s, is a popular destination that draws tourists year-round. This waterside area features stores, hotels, performance venues, and various options for dining.
Key attractions include the National Aquarium and the U.S. sloop of war Constellation, which has been moored in the city’s harbor since 1955. The celebrated Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home to the Baltimore Orioles, is located just west of the Inner Harbor.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Who was Edgar Allan Poe, and what is his connection to Baltimore?
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, critic, and editor, celebrated for his tales of mystery and the macabre and is credited with creating the genre of detective fiction.
Poe's connection to Baltimore is significant. His father was an actor from Baltimore. In 1829, Poe published a volume of poems in Baltimore. He later returned to Baltimore and began writing stories. In September 1849, Poe was en route from Richmond, Virginia, to New York but stopped in Baltimore. He was found in distress in a Baltimore tavern and died a few days later in a hospital. Poe is buried in Baltimore’s Westminster Presbyterian churchyard.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why is Fort McHenry important in Baltimore's history?
Fort McHenry is central to Baltimore's history because it defended the city's harbor from British attack during the War of 1812. The British bombarded the fort on September 13–14, 1814, but the Americans successfully defended it.
During the bombardment, Francis Scott Key witnessed the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn on September 14, signaling that the Americans had not been defeated. Key then wrote a poem about the event, "The Defence of Fort M’Henry," which later became the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner," the U.S. national anthem.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How has Baltimore's history shaped its culture and population today?
Baltimore's history has significantly shaped its culture and population. Established as a port in 1729, it quickly became a bustling seaport and shipbuilding center. The city's role in the War of 1812, specifically the defense of Fort McHenry, inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Baltimore's identity has been molded by waves of immigration, with Germans, Irish, Russians, and other Europeans arriving in the 19th century. African Americans have also been a vital part of the city, with many freed slaves moving to Baltimore after the Civil War. Today, Baltimore is a major seaport with a diverse economy and a vibrant cultural scene, including notable museums, theaters, and the Inner Harbor.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Baltimore, city, north-central Maryland, U.S., about 40 miles (65 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. It lies at the head of the Patapsco River estuary, 15 miles (25 km) above Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is Maryland’s largest city and economic centre and constitutes the northeastern hub of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The city, separated from Baltimore county in 1851, is the only city in Maryland not located within a county. Inc. town, 1729; city, 1796. Area city, 92 square miles (238 square km). Pop. (2010) 620,961; Baltimore-Towson Metro Area, 2,710,489; (2020) 585,708; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metro Area, 2,844,510.
History
Baltimore was established in 1729 and named for the Irish barony of Baltimore (seat of the Calvert family, proprietors of the colony of Maryland). It was created as a port for shipping tobacco and grain, and soon local waterways were being harnessed for flour milling. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, it was a bustling seaport and shipbuilding centre. Baltimore clippers plied the seas, and trade extended to the Caribbean. The U.S. Navy’s first ship, the Constellation, was launched in Baltimore in 1797, and its namesake, the last all-sail warship built (1854) for the navy, has been moored in the city’s harbour since 1955; in the late 1990s the ship underwent extensive restoration. The Continental Congress met in Baltimore (December 1776–March 1777) when it was feared that the British would attack Philadelphia, then the national capital.
During the War of 1812 the British tried to capture Baltimore; U.S. forces’ successful defense (September 13–14, 1814) of nearby Fort McHenry (now a national monument and historic shrine) was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s poem “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The eastern terminus for the nation’s first railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio (1827), was the city’s Mount Clare Station; the station has been preserved and is now the site of a railroad museum. During the American Civil War (1861–65), though Maryland did not secede from the Union, many of its citizens had Southern sympathies. Union troops occupied Baltimore throughout the war, and the city recovered only gradually from that period of severe disruption.
A fire on February 7, 1904, razed most of the business district, but recovery was rapid. At the beginning of World War I, Baltimore began to develop industrially with the construction of steelworks, oil refineries, and related war industries. In the 1920s and early ’30s Baltimore acquired an intellectual aura from the work of essayist and editor H.L. Mencken and his circle, including journalists on the Sun newspaper. A period of urban decay in the city centre after World War II was followed by a major renovation of the downtown and waterfront areas.
The contemporary city
Baltimore is now a major seaport with ship-repair facilities and a highly diversified economy. The port opens to the sea through Chesapeake Bay and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and is a major automobile-shipping point. Services, including health care, education, finance, and insurance, are a major component of the economy. The headquarters of the Federal Social Security Administration is in the city, and other federal government services and the military are also important. Manufactures include automobiles, electronics, steel, processed foods, paper and plastic products, and aircraft parts.
The city is part of the busy Northeast Corridor passenger rail system. Baltimore/Washington International Airport, just south of the city, also serves Washington, D.C. The Baltimore Harbor (1957) and Fort McHenry (1985) tunnels and Francis Scott Key Bridge (1977) cross the Patapsco River. The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, after being struck by a ship. There is a dense network of interstate highways and other roads between Baltimore and Washington.
Baltimore and the surrounding area is a centre of higher education. Located there are the renowned Johns Hopkins University (1876), which includes the Peabody Institute Conservatory of Music (1857; affiliated with Johns Hopkins since 1977); Coppin State University (1900), Towson University (1866), the University of Maryland, Baltimore (1807), and the University of Baltimore (1925), all part of the University of Maryland system; Loyola University Maryland (1852); the Notre Dame of Maryland University (1873); Morgan State University (1867); the Maryland Institute College of Art (1826); Goucher College (1885); and Baltimore City Community College (1947).
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
Among the city’s other cultural institutions are the Enoch Pratt Free Library (1882), the Baltimore Museum of Art (1914), the Walters Art Museum (1934; formerly called Walters Art Gallery), a symphony orchestra, and opera and theatre companies. The Baltimore Civil War Museum (1997) has exhibits on the city’s role in the Underground Railroad. The Inner Harbor area, revitalized in the 1980s, includes the National Aquarium in Baltimore and other attractions.
In 1789 Baltimore became the first Roman Catholic diocese in the United States, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1806–21) was the nation’s first Roman Catholic cathedral; St. Mary’s Seminary and University was founded in 1791. The Shot Tower (1828) is a 234-foot (71-metre) shaft once used to manufacture round shot. The Washington Monument (1829), a 178-foot (54-metre) Doric column, was designed by architect Robert Mills, who later designed the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Hampton National Historic Site, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Pimlico Race Course (home of the Preakness Stakes) are nearby, as are several state parks, including Gunpowder Falls (northeast), Hart-Miller Island (east), North Point (southeast), and Patapsco Valley (west).
The city’s representatives in professional sports are the Orioles (baseball) and the Ravens (American football). The celebrated Oriole Park at Camden Yards (1992), just west of the Inner Harbor, was the first of the retro-style ballparks designed to look like those built in the early 20th century. Near the stadium is the birthplace of baseball player Babe Ruth, preserved as a shrine and museum, as well as the grave of another Baltimore native, writer Edgar Allan Poe. The Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame at Johns Hopkins University attests to the popularity of the old Native American game in Baltimore.