We have a really exciting mix of programs coming up on Saturday and over the next couple weeks! This Saturday, you could spend the day improving Wikipedia’s coverage of local history and meeting Dr. John Bedell (the lead archeologist for our We Dig Hampstead Hill investigation in Patterson Park). Next week, you can find us celebrating with the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation at City Hall—a key partner in saving places that turns 50 years old this year. Finally, in early November, we are remembering the 150th anniversary of Emancipation in Maryland with a walking tour on the history of slavery and emancipation around Mount Vernon Place.

Special thanks to all of our members who have renewed their support for Baltimore Heritage over the last few weeks. Renewing your support is critical in helping us continue to offer tours and educational programs. Your support also helps us to save historic places like the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, which is celebrating new plans for a $12.4 million rehabilitation, and assist partners like the brand-new G. Krug & Sons Museum. Please join Baltimore Heritage or renew your membership today!

We had a great time in Patterson Park this weekend as we helped to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore and shared information and artifacts from this spring’s archeological dig in Patterson Park. Over the next few weeks, we are exploring the history of the First World War with downtown Behind the Scenes tours at Zion Lutheran Church and the War Memorial Building.

We’re also excited to share that Cindy Kelly – one of our favorite tour guides and an expert on the history of Baltimore’s public art – is leading our next Mount Vernon Place tour in October and we’re partnering with AIABaltimore to organize a tour of the recently rehabilitated Chesapeake Shakespeare Theater. And don’t forget about Hampdenfest this weekend! Our friends from the Greater Hampden Heritage Alliance will be unveiling their brand-new self-guided tour brochure of Hampden landmarks.

Although the Farmer’s Almanac says that we have three more weeks of summer, we’re ready for fall with an exciting line-up of heritage tours and events in the month ahead. We hope you can join us for tomorrow’s tour at Mount Vernon Place, our Patterson Park-sized “huzzah!” for the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 at the Hampstead Hill Festival, and a new tour at Zion Church reflecting on the crossroads of German and American heritage on the 100th Anniversary of WWI.

Don’t forget to catch up on our recent posts about the history of development in Guilford from Tom Hobbs along with a few photos from recent heritage programs in Hampden and Northeast Baltimore. We hope you can come out for a tour soon!