Category: Preservation

Flatiron Buildings in Baltimore

From Sydney to Shanghai, Madrid to Macedonia, the world is full of flatiron buildings – buildings shaped like triangles, or like the old fashioned flatirons that people would heat up on the stove and then use to press their clothes. In Baltimore, we recently set out on a hunt for them. With thanks to the many people who joined us in this search, we’ve rounded up 30 flatiron buildings and counting. We’ve got flatiron houses, flatiron office buildings, flatiron theaters, flatiron banks, even a flatiron building in the shape of a ship! Check out an online map below we put together to document where they are and what they look like. And if you see we are missing a flatiron building you know about, by all means please let us know!

–Johns Hopkins, Executive Director

 

Email Your Support of Historic Conservation Districts

Later this month the Baltimore City Council will decide whether to add historic conservation district designation to the city charter. Conservation districts would give the city’s underserved historic neighborhoods a way to participate in historic designation and historic tax credit benefits, but not have all of the design restrictions of a CHAP district (a locally designated historic district). Baltimore Heritage has helped develop and supports the creation of conservation districts. Please consider sending a short email to the City Council saying you support conservation districts. The email is testimony@baltimorecity.gov. Learn more about conservation districts here.

New Centennial Home: The Bauer Family in Bellona-Gittings

On December 18, 2024, Baltimore Heritage awarded the Bauer family with a Centennial Homes certificate. The Bauer family has owned this house on Hollen Road since before this part of Baltimore was incorporated into the city in 1918. The Bauer family also operated a florist near here for 99 years (and grew the flowers between the house and the florist shop).

One of the current owners, Lindsey Bauer, remembers visiting every Friday for dinner as a child. Thank you to the Bauer family for their continued commitment to this wonderful historic home.

What Are We Planning for 2025? And why we need your support to make it happen.

There are only a few days left in 2024, which means you have only a few days left to donate or become a member this year! We are a small organization so a gift of any size – from $5 to $500 – will help immensely. Here are a few highlights for how your gift will help in the year ahead:

Heritage Tours:

This past year we began hosting three new bus tours and even a new Inner Harbor history boat tour! This spring we will be able to return with more robust tours and events, including more boat tours. Please stay tuned!

Five Minute Histories Videos: 

Our Five Minute Histories series offers a way to connect that in-person programs just can’t. So, don’t worry, these are here to stay, and we’re ramping up for a full year of them in 2025.

Critical Preservation Work: 

This past year we helped restore the Perkins Square Gazebo in the Heritage Crossing neighborhood. In the coming year, we are planning to work with our partners in Herring Run and Leakin Parks on projects that will celebrate the parks’ histories and help improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

 

We need your help today.

 

We at Baltimore Heritage are a little bit unusual. We rely heavily on kind volunteers to make our work possible, and nearly three quarters of our annual operating income comes from gifts from individuals. Most of these gifts are at our basic membership levels of $35 for an individual and $50 for a family. By donating at any level, be assured that your support goes a long way.

So once more for 2024, please accept an enormous thank you to everyone who volunteers with us, comes out for tours and programs (in-person and virtually!), and supports our work by generously donating. We look forward to working with you and connecting with you in the year ahead.

— Johns Hopkins, Baltimore Heritage