Happy Holidays! If you haven’t yet done so, please consider joining or renewing your membership today.
Your membership makes preservation possible in Baltimore. Thank you for doing so much for our city.
— Johns Hopkins, Executive Director
Sailing Through History: A Baltimore Inner Harbor Boat Tour Experience
Jenye Stanley, a Stevenson University student, took one of Baltimore Heritage’s first boat tours. Baltimore Heritage will be offering more boat tours in 2025. Please join our mailing list to receive updates. Here are Jenye’s impressions:
If you’re looking for a unique way to explore Charm City, the Baltimore by Boat Inner Harbor Tour is truly a sight to see. Recently, I had the pleasure of embarking upon Baltimore Heritage’s new boat tours. This 75-minute tour details the rich 300-year history of Baltimore and its harbor as it is brought to life by the knowledgeable volunteer guide of Baltimore Heritage. The experience was not just about the beautiful views but an engaging narration of the city’s past, present, and future.
As we set sail on a brisk Saturday morning, with a refreshing breeze off the water, we boarded the boat and set off at 9 AM. The weather was beautiful, making it the perfect start to our adventure. As the boat glided along the harbor, the fresh scent of the water filled the air, instantly rejuvenating everyone on board.
The boat followed a steady pace, allowing us passengers to process every sight along with the history tidbits that came along. Each building and structure along the harbor were unique, showcasing a vibrant array of shapes and colors that reflect Baltimore’s one-of-a-kind character. From the iconic Domino Sugars sign—measuring a staggering 70 by 120 feet—to the stunning 68-foot guitar at the top of the Hard Rock Cafe, every sight added to the charm of the city’s history.
One of the highlights was learning how Baltimore pioneered harbor tourism. The city’s revolutionary spirit showcases historical landmarks like the first streetlight and various innovations that other harbors have since replicated. During the tour, we also learned about other Baltimore Heritage tours, like a tour of Federal Hill. It was a great reminder that there’s always more to explore in this vibrant city. As we approached closer to the Domino Sugar factory, the sweet smell of raw sugar wafted through the air. We could see crane machine in action as it unloaded the sugar off of the boat into crates to later become the sugar we use.
The small yet impactful star of the Inner Harbor was the celebrated Mr. Trash Wheel. This quirky hero plays a vital role in keeping the harbor clean and beautiful, and it displays Baltimore’s commitment to sustainability and the environment. We even got to see a small figurine of Mr. Trash Wheel and his googly eyes. Thanks to this guy and the Waterfront Partnership this harbor is safe swimming and fishing as of June 2024. For those who may be concerned about seasickness, the boat was incredibly stable, with little to no shaking throughout the ride. I typically don’t experience much seasickness, but I can confidently say that even the most sensitive passengers would feel comfortable on this ride. As a tip, with early morning boat rides, the water can generate breeze, as it is refreshing can become a bit chilly. It’s recommended to bring a coat or windbreaker to brace the winds that may come.
Baltimore Heritage’s Baltimore by Boat Tour of the Inner Harbor, brought to you by PNC, encourages you to keep exploring the harbor. With a capacity of 49 passengers, it still felt intimate and personalized. Bring along friends and family to celebrate Baltimore’s rich heritage. If you’re in Baltimore, don’t miss the chance to embark on this remarkable boat tour. It’s not just about the sights—it’s about the stories, the people, and the heritage that comes with being present in the city. Grab your coat, enjoy the sweet-smelling breeze, and book your historic experience on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor today!
–Jenye Stanley
Thank You for Attending Our Preservation Celebration 2024!
Last Thursday, October 10, Baltimore Heritage had its annual Preservation Celebration at Hollins Market! We handed out 12 awards to groups and individuals doing fabulous work celebrating and preserving our city’s history and buildings. We gave out 6 micro-grants to 6 very worthy community projects. We conducted our organization’s annual meeting and welcomed a few new board members. And we said a big thank you to our wonderful volunteers. They make historic preservation possible in Baltimore. All the while, we ate delicious food from Hollins Market and drank wine from Spirits of Mt. Vernon! Thank you to everyone attended.
Award Winners
Volunteer of the Year: Linda Snyder
For leading countless public and private tours
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Beloved Community Services Corporation
For the restoration of the Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center (PS 103)
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Dr. Ashley Minner Jones, the Native American Senior Citizens,
and the Baltimore Reservation Project
For promoting Lumbee American Indian heritage in East Baltimore
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Bruce Willen
For the Ghost Rivers public art and history project
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Dr. Raynetta Wiggins-Jackson
For the exhibit, Ethel’s Place: Celebrating Ethel Ennis, Baltimore’s First Lady of Jazz
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Upton Planning Council and Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street
For the renovation of 1829 Pennsylvania Avenue for the Pennsylvania Avenue Welcome Center
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Shelley Halstead & Black Women Build
For work to rehab houses and build community in West Baltimore
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Christina Delgado
For establishing Tola’s Room, a Puerto Rican home museum
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Betty Bland Thomas
For decades of work to preserve heritage in Sharp Leadenhall
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Baltimore Museum of Industry
For the exhibit, Collective Action: Labor Activism in 21st Century Baltimore
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James Ruttley and Kathleen Lechleighter
For the restoration of 1209 Calvert Street
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Douglas Gordon Award: Charlie Duff
For a lifetime of work in historic preservation
Pitch Party Winners
$2000: Corner Team Boxing Club
Funds will support Phase 1 of the Joe Gans Monument project, which will pay the sculptor to design and fabricate a maquette of the statue
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$1000: Evolving Young Girls Mentoring Organization
Funds will support the Baltimore’s Hidden Treasures: Youth Preservation Workshop
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$1000: Friends of St. Peter’s Cemetery
Funds will support the restoration of St. Peter’s Cemetery in partnership with the PRINCE Program, which trains incarcerated citizens in cemetery preservation
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$500: Friends of Patterson Park’
Funds will support a videographer to create a video of the interior of the Observatory for virtual access
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$500: Westminster Hall and Burying Ground
Funds will support the restoration of the brick pathway
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$500: Pride of Baltimore
Funds will support replacement of the ship’s planks
Restoring the Perkins Square Gazebo
Baltimore Heritage is collaborating with the Heritage Crossing Residents Association to restore the Perkins Square gazebo!
The neighborhood of Heritage Crossing turned 25 years old last year, and in preparing for that milestone, the Residents Association developed a list of priorities that would help them improve their public spaces. Improving the landscaping in the central park and restoring the gazebo were at the top of the priority list. The Perkins Square gazebo is a vital public space for the predominantly Black West Baltimore community. The community was created to bring new vibrancy to this part of Baltimore as high rise public housing apartments that were here were demolished.
The gazebo has been at the heart of the Heritage Crossing community since it was erected in the 1850s to provide shade for people getting water from a natural spring, and today is in the center of the park. This year, the Residents Association is partnering with Baltimore Heritage to help secure qualified contractors who are experience with historic structures and help raise the funds needed to undertake the work.
Baltimore Heritage completed a new strategic plan in 2023 that calls for us to directly assist communities in preservation projects. Heritage Crossing is the first community partnership that Baltimore Heritage has entered into under its new strategic plan, a recognition of the importance of the historic gazebo and the impact that its restoration will have on the Heritage Crossing community.
The restored gazebo is a key component to the Heritage Crossing community’s ongoing effort to improve the park and build community. Baltimore Heritage is honored to be part of such an important project! Stay tuned for more details about a ribbon cutting ceremony when the restoration is complete.
–Enzi Evergreen
Announcing New Baltimore by Boat Tours!
On October 12 and October 26, join us for the first two of our brand new Baltimore by Boat series! America defeated the British here. Frederick Douglass escaped from here. Today we are pioneering watershed restoration here. Join us for 300 years of history on a live-narrated tour of Baltimore’s world famous Inner Harbor. Come see how Baltimore’s wonderful waterfront connects the past with the present and Baltimore to the rest of the world.
Boat tours are 75 minutes long. We have partnered with the Baltimore Water Taxi to use their vessels.
If you can’t make these two dates, we will be offering more tours in 2025. Stay tuned!
–Johns Hopkins, Executive Director