From the vault: Rehoboth Beach, DE
“What beach do you go to?” For people living in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC area, the choice in summer locale says a lot.
From the Vault
Baltimore neighborhoods
Baltimore street photographers
Year in review
Freddie Gray: protests, aftermath
24 hours with...
A. Aubrey Bodine
Viewing Baltimore from above
From the vault: Terrapin, the forgotten Maryland delicacy
Trigger warning, Terps fans.
From the vault: Dolphins at the National Aquarium
Dolphins have never been native to Baltimore, but the city has had them anyway for years thanks to the National Aquarium, which acquired its first flippers when it opened in the early 1980s. This week, the institution announced plans to relocate their eight remaining dolphins to a sanctuary by 2020. Here’s a look back at the history of these mammals in Baltimore.
Exploring the Peabody Library’s hidden gems
All of the books at the Peabody are considered special collections – but some are more special than others. We check out the upstairs levels and the rare book collection – usually off-limits to visitors.
Tattoo Charlie’s: Inking Baltimoreans on the Block since 1938
Founded in 1938, Tattoo Charlie’s remains on the Block in Baltimore today, making it one of the oldest tattoo parlors in the United States.
From the vault: Baltimore swimming pools through the years
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer with the most important event of the year for sun and water worshippers: the opening of local pools. From Druid Hill to Patterson Park, Baltimore is home to a number of pools, many of which have been around since the time your great grandmother did her first cannonball. As a side observation – some of these pools used to be way bigger, and way cooler-looking in the olden times. On that note, we thought it would be a perfect time to revisit some old photos of Baltimoreans enjoying the pool through the decades, as we slather on the sunscreen and prepare to dive in.
Remembering the Pride of Baltimore
30 years ago Saturday a schooner known as the Pride of Baltimore sank in a storm 240 miles north of Puerto Rico. Four crew members died, including the ship’s captain. The remaining eight survived after floating on a leaky raft for five days until they were rescued by a Norwegian tanker. The ship had been built for the nation’s bicentennial and was constructed from wood, by hand, right on the Inner Harbor. For a city in a time of economic depression, the ship evoked the days of Baltimore’s primacy of the seas. Though questions would be raised later about whether a boar built to historical accuracy should have sailed across the ocean, the Pride of Baltimore traveled around the world as the city’s goodwill ambassador until a sudden, terrible storm brought it down. The news of its sinking shocked and saddened Baltimoreans, including then-Mayor William Schaefer, who was pictured with his hand over his eyes, “a study in grief” as The Sun caption read.
From the Vault: Baltimore’s FlowerMart in 1969
“The Flower Mart, Baltimore’s annual celebration of spring, is many things to many people. Flowers, food and fashions were but a few of the lures that drew thousands of people to the festival that is staged around Washington Monument.” This caption ran with The Sun’s coverage of the 57th annual FlowerMart, which took place in May 1969. The theme that year was “Accent on Youth,” and perhaps it’s no surprise that the festival that year in Mount Vernon was a mix of primly-dressed ladies, long-haired hippies and even a Senator. This year’s FlowerMart is set for today and Saturday around the Washington Monument.
From the Vault: Revisiting the iconic Iwo Jima photograph
This week, all eyes were back on Iwo Jima as the AP reported that James Bradley, author of “Flags of Our Fathers,” and the son of one of the men reported to be in the photo, publicly said that his father might not be in the iconic picture after all. And the U.S. Marines released a statement to the Associated Press saying they are looking into the true identities of the men pictured in Rosenthal’s shot.
Amidst this bout of historical amnesia, The Sun’s researcher, Paul McCardle, decided to look back in our own archives to examine photos of the first and second flag raisings at Iwo Jima, as well as shots of the ensuing scupltures it inspired.
National Treasure: Morgan State University through the years
Following the news Tuesday that the National Trust for Historic Preservation had named Morgan State University a National Treasure, we thought we’d look into The Baltimore Sun archives to see pictures of the school over the years. Founded in 1867, Morgan State is one of only two historically black colleges in the U.S. to be so designated. The campus features a mix of Brutalist and Collegiate Revival architecture, as well as Classical, Italianate and Modern styles. The school will now receive a $110,000 grant to develop a plan for future preservation efforts.