Baltimore Heritage

Hidden in plain sight is one of the most intriguing and rare remaining green spaces in central Towson, the historic Prospect Hill Cemetery. Come explore this beautiful, 130-year old cemetery and its rich history and meet some of the fascinating people who helped build Towson, from Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans to an infamous movie star, Divine of John Waters fame! Led by members of the non-profit board who oversee the cemetery, see the graves of over 500 veterans decorated with American flags for Memorial Day and discover this historic cemetery right in the heart of bustling Towson!

Many know Mount Vernon as the home of Baltimore’s Pride Parade as well as the city’s oldest gay and lesbian bars and businesses. But that only is only a small part of the LGBTQ history found in this neighborhood! Join Baltimore Heritage for a 90-minute walking tour of the neighborhood’s queer heritage landmarks, from the origins of the Chase Brexton Health Center to the locations where early-20th century lesbian women helped shape some of Baltimore’s premier educational institutions. We’ll hear about the medical professionals and volunteers who led the city’s first responses to the AIDS epidemic and residents who founded Baltimore’s only African American LGBT-identified church. This tour is a unique opportunity to explore the places and events that have shaped the growth of Baltimore’s LGBT community and civil rights movement. We hope you can join us on this walk of fascinating conversation about the city’s foremost LGBT-identified neighborhood.

We hope you can join us on this walk of fascinating conversation about the city’s foremost LGBT-identified neighborhood.

Join us to explore the eerie catacombs underneath Baltimore’s First Presbyterian Church, now called Westminster Hall, and the graves that surround it, including the final resting place of Edgar Allan Poe. The burial ground predates the church, which was built on arches above the gravesites, so that the graveyard and its tombstones lie both underneath and around the building. We bet you will also recognize more than a few Baltimore street names as we walk among the patriots and civic leaders buried at Westminster including Calhoun, Hollins, Gilmore, and Bentalou. All told, the compact cemetery next to the University of Maryland School of Law is the final resting place for over 1,000 individuals. We can’t wait to see you “Where Baltimore’s History Rests in Peace!”