Baltimore is the largest American city in the State of Maryland, and stands as 26th city with respect to population (622,104 in 2013) throughout America. Since 1792, Baltimore has been the second largest seaport along the Mid-Atlantic area while its Inner Harbor was has been a leading port of entry serving immigrants to America besides being an important manufacturing center. As manufacturing, industrialization and transportation by rail declines, the city opted to shift to service oriented economy.
At present there are two major employers in the city; Johns Hopkins Hospital, (founded 1889 and and Johns Hopkins University founded 1876. That is why almost 25% of the jobs in the Baltimore area are in technology, science, engineering and math because of those several graduate under graduate schools.
Baltimore has been serving the humanity having nourished several notable personalities who have been great writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers and sports champions and in different walks of life. The prominent ones are Edgar Allan Poe, Frederick Douglass, Edith Hamilton, Billie Holiday, H.L. Mencken, James “Eubie” Blake; John Waters; Babe Ruth. It was Francis Scott Key who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner and then the American national anthem during the War of 1812 in the city. There are 289 properties which have been identified as historical as per the National Register of Historic Places. These government historical records of Baltimore placed at the Baltimore City Archives.
Name of the city is after the name Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore (1605–1675) who was one of the members of the Irish House of Lords as well as the founder of the Colony as well as the Province of Maryland. Baltimore happens to be an anglicization of an Irish name Baile an Tí Mhóir meaning thereby “town of the big house” and it was the name of an estate in County Longford where the Calvert family lived back in Ireland.
During the War of 1812, the well tussled Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812 was fought at the city location after Washington, D.C. burning. When the British launched attack on Baltimore along the outside of the eastern town outskirts on the “Patapsco Neck” at the Battle of North Point, next night on September 13 and 14, 1814, forced from America coming from Fort McHenry did a fierce defensive action to defend the city harbor saving it the British.
Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport located 45 miles towards north of Washington DC which is like 10 miles towards south of the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Lot of people travel between Baltimore and to Washington DC using car or taxi services. Facts are that travel to and from BWI is generally more expensive compared to using Dulles or National Airports whereas flights to Baltimore are often less expensive while traffic is usually easier for navigation. BWI airport is a major hub for.
The National Aquarium is a not-for-profit public aquarium situated in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore. The facility was constructed during the urban renewal period in Baltimore, opened on August 8, 1981. The aquarium attracts around 1.5 million visitors annually and holds more than 2,200,000 US gallons of water.
The place takes care of more than 17,000 specimens representative of more than 750 species. In 2003, this aquarium and the other National Aquarium in Washington joined as a single National Aquarium. Mission for The National Aquarium is not just taking care of its visitors but also to inspire conserving the global aquatic treasures. The aquarium confronts pressing issues that are facing global aquatic habitats by pioneering conservation, science and educational programs.
The National Aquarium has several exhibits which includes Upland Tropical Rain Forest, a majestic and multiple-story Atlantic Coral Reef, an open sea shark tank as well as Australia: Wild Extremes. The facility has won the respected “Best Exhibit” award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2008. The facility also contains a 4D Immersion Theater. The aquarium also opened a marine mammal pavilion during 1990 and presently holds eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins whereas six were born at this facility and one was born at another American aquarium while one was collected from another aquarium but from American waters during early 1980s.
Fort McHenry is also situated in Baltimore, Maryland happens to be a fort of star shape famous for its role during the War of 1812. The place had successfully protected Baltimore Harbor from the British navy from Chesapeake Bay. When the smaller Storm Flag (17 by 25 ft,) which flew over Fort McHenry during the bombardment, was replaced with the larger Garrison Flag (30 by 42 foot Star Spangled Banner) early on the morning of September 14, 1814, to signal American victory over the British in the Battle of Baltimore; the sight inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner,” the poem that would eventually be set to the tune of “To Anacreon in Heaven” and adopted as the national anthem of America.
The Phoenix Shot Tower is historical tower is also called Old Baltimore Shot Tower. This is a red brick shot tower. Shot tower is designed to produce shot balls involving molten lead freefall and then caught using a water basin. These shots are used for projectiles in firearms. This shot tower is 234.25 feet tall situated near the downtown, Jonestown and Little Italy dwelling of East Baltimore. In 1828 when this tower was completed, it used to be the tallest building in America. Once it was called “Merchants’ Shot Tower” but now also known as “Old Baltimore Shot Tower”. Now it is designated as among the National Historic Landmark since 1971. Interestingly it was constructed without using exterior scaffolding.
The Sun Iron Building, part of Baltimore, was designed by a well-known designer in history R.C. Hatfield in 1851. The building happens to be city’s first iron-front building. This remained as a model for around 100 years for the downtown buildings.
Another historically important building is Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, built in memory of financier George Brown in 1870. It has beautiful and mesmerizing stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Baltimore Magazine has called the church as “one of the most significant buildings in this city, a treasure of art and architecture”.
Lloyd Street Synagogue is altogether Greek Revival-style structure built in 1845. This is among the oldest synagogues in America.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, besides its medical marvels was designed in 1876 by Lt. Col. John S. Billings. The building itself, made considerable achievement for its functional arrangement as well as fantastic fireproofing.I.M. Pei’s World Trade Center was built in 1977 is known to be the tallest equilateral pentagonal structure in the world having height as 405 feet.
The Baltimore streets are organized using a grid pattern that are lined with beautiful formstone-faced row houses. The architecture is worth studying and people enjoy being in Baltimore streets during the day and for another flavor during nights.