Along with its famous, architecturally distinguished churches, Baltimore retains many lesser-known but architecturally and socially interesting church buildings. Some are modest, simple structures, some are grander, and probably all of them have been ignored when we think about Baltimore's architectural heritage. If we stop to look at them, however, we see the evidence of Baltimore's spatial and population growth in the years before the Civil War. They tell a tale of geographic and social mobility, changing tastes, and even theological change. You can see all this, if you know what you're looking at.

In 2019, the grand Victorian 8,000 square foot Hawley-Hutzler Mansion went on the market. The mansion was once the home of the Hutzlers, who owned the famous department store of the same name. The mansion has gone through significant alterations since it was built in 1887, including being converted to offices, and in the 1970s, split up into apartments. Needless to say, there would be a lot of work to do to restore this mansion to its former grandeur.

Learn about the history of Poppleton with Professor Nicole King (Department of American Studies, UMBC). King has worked with local residents and preservationists to document the important Black history of Poppleton, which has been threatened by slum clearance, urban renewal, highway construction, and redevelopment. We will also learn about ongoing advocacy efforts to preserve Poppleton's historic places and fight displacement, such as the proposed CHAP local historic district, Black Homeownership in Old Poppleton.

The Prince George's County Civil Rights Trail is a hybrid online and sign trail tour that illuminates the most affluent African American majority county in the nation with a legacy of civil rights activism. It is a joint project of Anacostia Trails Heritage Area and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Black History Program with funding from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and the National Park Service. The project will include an interactive website, the installation of on-site interpretive signage, and educational workshops. Executive Director of Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Meagan Baco, will share new research and archival photos from nine sites across the county, including Bowie State University, Laurel Municipal Pool, Ridgeley Rosenwald School, the Cole Field House at UMD, and more during this Virtual Histories presentation.