Baltimore Maryland History

c1912. Baltimore harbor. J.H. Schaefer & Son (large file 267kb)

Baltimore was founded in 1729 and immediately became a prosperous commercial port for shipments of tobacco and grain. During British occupation, Baltimore was the primary meeting place of the Continental Congress and shipbuilding was the primary occupation. During the War of 1812, the British labeled Baltimore “a nest of pirates” and moved to attack Fort McHenry after burning much of Washington, D.C. American forces won decisive victories on both land and sea and British forces withdrew. During the battle at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem, “The Star Spangled Banner” and it later became the national anthem of the United States.

Although Maryland was a southern slave state prior to the Civil War, it was part of the Union during the war. Pro-Confederate sentiment led to the Baltimore Riot of 1861. Union troops marched through the city and eventually occupied Baltimore. Following the war, Baltimore regained its pre-war prosperity, but the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 destroyed over 1,500 buildings. Intrepid as always, the city quickly rebuilt.

During World War I and World War II, Baltimore was once more an important shipbuilding and supply center. After two decades of economic doldrums in the1980s, Baltimore city leaders committed to restructuring the city and in the 1990s, Baltimore became a popular location for films. Ladder 49, True Lies, Enemy of the State and Hairspray are among many films shot on location in Baltimore. Most recently named “America’s Fittest City,” Baltimore continues to accrue accolades. Come to Baltimore and find out what over 11 million business and leisure travelers each year discover in Charm City.