Baltimore Heritage

In the 54 years since the 1966 Historic Preservation Act, Historic Preservation has evolved into a sophisticated profession that has sought to holistically preserve our past through the careful study and recognition of America’s built environment. In Baltimore, historic preservation has become an essential component to neighborhood revitalization, leading Baltimore’s most successful neighborhood revitalization stories. But where are we now? Where is Historic Preservation going in Baltimore? Eric Holcomb, the Executive Director for the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, will lead a discussion on where the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) is now, and the many initiatives currently underway.

The Green Book was created as a guide by and for African Americans to safely find everyday amenities like restaurants, shops, and motels in a segregated America. Historian Anne Bruder studied the Green Book to identify sites in eleven states. Research of Green Book sites documents the physical legacy of Jim Crow-era segregation and has revealed over 100 sites in 26 towns across Maryland.

Join public artist Graham Coreil-Allen and environmental activist Jennifer Kunze as they explore the cultural and environmental impacts of cars in and around Druid Hill Park. Beginning in the 1940s, car-oriented planning deprived neighboring residents of the public health, cultural, and economic benefits of Druid Hill Park. Construction of the Druid Hill Expressway and the Jones Falls Expressway resulted in dangerous five-to-nine-lane-wide highways encapsulating the park, and blocking access by nearby residents. Further, this influx of cars brought increased air pollution into the neighborhoods.

Captain Jan Miles will be joining us from the Pride of Baltimore II to discuss the history of the Pride of Baltimore, clipper schooners and privateers, and what is happening with the ship today.