Mosaic Pieces
Welcome to the complete Maryland Mosaic.
Use the search functions to explore. Our predefined categories, tags, counties and chronological brackets will help you see links between the Pieces.
The collection has over 140 firsts, including events, people, places, objects, documents or buildings that are unique to Maryland and to the nation. The Mosaic is to be part of Maryland’s contribution to the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026. It covers the period from 1776 to the present. You will find at least one Piece for every county and Baltimore City, making this a statewide project.
Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison begins his career in Baltimore
William Lloyd Garrison begins his abolitionist career, writing and coediting the newspaper, The Genius of Universal Liberty. He is the most famous white American to devote his life to freeing the slaves.
Printer Mary Katherine Goddard is first to print Declaration with all the signers names
Baltimore printer Mary Katherine Goddard is first to publish entire Declaration of Independence with all signers names and adds her own name at bottom.
Morgan State students stage first sit-in
Seven Morgan State College students stage the first sit-in at Read’s Drugstore in Baltimore. Ends peacefully. This is 5 years prior to more famous Greensboro, NC sit-in.
Marylanders dominate baseball’s third base
William “Judy” Johnson finishing his 17th baseball season with the Negro League, is named the League’s best 3rd baseman. Brooks Robinson, finishing 23 seasons with the Orioles, is named the best 3rd baseman in Major League history.
Maryland passes a new constitution that outlaws slavery 3 months before the 13th Amendment.
MD unionists pass state constitution that outlaws slavery 3 months before Congress and disenfranchises Confederate sympathizers
Smallwood’s Battalion saves Washington’s Army which later becomes the Maryland Line
Smallwood’s Maryland Battalion, Washington’s most important troops, saves his army at the Battle of Brooklyn in August, 1776.
Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day of the Civil War
Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg). With soldiers of both sides falling for 12 straight hours, it is the single bloodiest day of the War(23,000 casualties of 132,00 engaged). Lincoln uses battle to release Emancipation Proclamation.
Pool and Hunt Foundry becomes an industrial hub
The Poole and Hunt Foundry and Machine Works makes construction possible in the US Capitol, specifically the dome and the House and Senate wings. Poole and Hunt becomes an industrial hub with 700 employees on the Jones Falls after the Civil War.
Elizabeth Seton, first person born in U.S. to become a saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton, born 1774, becomes first person born in US canonized as Catholic Saint.
Rachel Carson publishes “Silent Spring”
Rachel Carson writes controversial environmental book Silent Spring. Leads to banning of DDT and establishment of EPA.
