Rembrandt Peale opens the first purpose-built museum in the US in August, 1814. As a fine arts gallery, it is short-lived, becoming city hall, a school for “colored” children, city water offices and now Baltimore’s Community Museum.
Rembrandt Peale builds the first museum Read More »
Mary Pickersgill with others creates a 30′ x 42′ flag in 1813 and delivers it to the Ft. McHenry garrison. It becomes THE Banner.
Mary Pickersgill sews the flag that becomes the Star Spangled Banner Read More »
Jacob R. Thomas, a Carroll County farmer, assembles a wheat reaping machine in 1811 and tries it out locally. It doesn’t cut well, but the first experiment with a mechanical reaper ushers in the age of agricultural machinery.
Reaper developed on Carroll County Farm Read More »
Maryland builds the beginning of an interstate road, a toll road from Baltimore to Cumberland. In a first federal project the government funds next road segment west to Ohio in 1811.
The National Road West is the government’s first project Read More »
A mud machine driven by horse power dredges Baltimore harbor from 1806 to 1819. Irish immigrants do the hard labor, becoming the early working poor.
A “Mud Machine” dredges Baltimore Harbor Read More »
Elizabeth Patterson marries Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon’s youngest brother in 1803. She becomes first self-made female millionaire in US.
Elizabeth Patterson of Baltimore marries Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest brother Read More »
The Methodist Episcopal Church, the first established church in the US, is formed at the Lovely Lane Meeting House in Baltimore in 1819.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is the first established church in the U.S. Read More »
Joshua Johnson, manumitted in 1782 by his father, is the first professional Black artist. He teaches himself to paint, producing portraits of elite families in a distinctive folk art style.
Joshua Johnson, first recognized professional Black portrait painter Read More »
We acknowledge the enduring presence of many American Indian tribes who once lived in Maryland and who now, having lost their lands, live in a diaspora. Read more.
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