Visit the Maryland Center for History and Culture
Hutzler's Victory Window
Did you know that Hutzler’s department store had the first Victory Window in the nation? In 1942, the iconic Howard Street window display in Baltimore was transformed into a patriotic vignette advertising war bonds, selling over $2 million in its first year.
Visit the Maryland Center for History and Culture to see the new Victory Window in our "Hutzler’s Experience" exhibition: https://www.mdhistory.org/exhibitions/the-hutzlers-experience/
Rebrand Reveal and Reopening September 2020
It has been a busy week as we unveiled our new name, and today we are happy to reopen the museum doors, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.! We encourage you to reserve a ticket prior to your visit - https://www.mdhistory.org/visit/hours-admission/
Enjoy two new onsite exhibitons - "Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore's Forgotten Movie Theaters," and "Wild and Untamed: Dunton's Discovery of the Baltimore Album Quilts."
We will be open, Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The library will reopen October 7 after building upgrades are complete.
Announcing the Maryland Center for History and Culture
We are pleased to announce an exciting transformation. Today, the Maryland Historical Society has become the Maryland Center for History and Culture. After 176 years, we are stepping into this new identity that better reflects our mission to provide space for the community to discover and develop a deeper understanding of our nation’s history and culture through a Maryland prism. Your history lives here.
Visit and learn more on our new website: https://www.mdhistory.org/
And visit us in person as we reopen this week. Members enjoy early access tomorrow and Friday, and we are open free to the public on Saturday, September 12. Hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Wed.-Sat.
Come explore and enjoy the "new" us!
WJZ-TV Archival Newsfilm, 1968, MARMIA WJZ-TV Archive
For many people, theme parks reconnect us to childhood memories of thrilling rides, tasty food, and live entertainment. These sentimental recollections, however, aren’t held by all Marylanders. From their inception, amusement parks were racially segregated, with most operating under a whites-only admissions policy.
Join us on Wednesday, August 12 as we welcome Jason Rhodes, author of “Images of America: Maryland’s Amusement Parks, and Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan, co-authors of the recently published children’s book about Gwynn Oak Park, “A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story,” whose story is told in more detail in Nathan's earlier book for teens and adults: “Round and Round Together” to our virtual program stage. Together, they will discuss Maryland’s amusement parks of a bygone era and how segregated recreation played an important role in the civil rights movement.
Register to attend Historic Amusement Parks in Maryland: Separate But Not Equal here: https://bit.ly/2PvriOV.
This archival newsfilm from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive’s WJZ-TV collection features Gwynn Oak Park in 1968 on the last night of the park’s 75th season, five years after the amusement park desegregated. The reporter attributes the park’s declining admission and near-bankruptcy to “...a fear by white people to integrate and the lack of consistent support from blacks.” Gwynn Oak Park was open for another five years, eventually closing in 1973.
In Full Glory Reflected Virtual Tour Part III
This week we’re finishing up our three-part virtual tour of our exhibition ‘In Full Glory Reflected: Maryland During the War of 1812’, featuring Museum Learning Manager, Alex Lothstein. Missed the first parts or want to watch them again? Check out our Facebook videos or Vimeo channel for that and more video content!
This week we’re bringing you Part II of our three-part virtual tour of our exhibition ‘In Full Glory Reflected: Maryland During the War of 1812’, featuring Museum Learning Manager, Alex Lothstein. Missed Part I or want to watch it again? Check out our Facebook videos or Vimeo channel for that and more video content! And don’t forget to check back next week for Part III!
Wash on Monday, iron on Tuesday, mend on Wednesday, churn on Thursday, clean on Friday...bake on Saturday! This rhyme shows us what was important to Maryland colonists – clothing and baking. Test your colonial cooking knowledge with us tonight at 7 p.m. for Colonial Market Virtual Tavern Trivia.
To get ready for our colonial trivia rounds tonight, we are providing you with some historical tidbits like this one:
For our colonist Kathleen, keeping a fire hot enough for baking was not practical on a daily basis. Instead, baking became a once-a-week and all-day custom. To avoid the dangers of fire in the house, colonial homes usually had their own bake ovens outside. Made from molded slabs of earthenware, baking ovens were shipped to Maryland and have been found at several archaeological sites in the Chesapeake region.
Join Kathleen – and many of the Colonial Market living historians tonight – play along with us in a four-round tavern trivia game on topics all-things Colonial Maryland. It may get bawdy.
Register: http://ow.ly/rQra50AFwd1
Kathleen lives in Harford County where she and her husband Tom Ritter have been involved with living history for over 15 years, educating the public about the life and crafts of Colonials at numerous locations. Some of their demonstrations include boiling peanuts, sewing, cooking, and music.
In Full Glory Reflected Virtual Tour, Part I
Last week you all voted for a virtual tour of our exhibition ‘In Full Glory Reflected: Maryland During the War of 1812.’ We’re happy to present you with Part I of a three part tour! Make sure to check back next week for Part II!
Bucking, boiling, bluing, beating… this is how we do laundry in Colonial Maryland!
If you enjoyed this bartering colonial laundress and woodworker then you really should join us for our Colonial Market Virtual Tavern Trivia night Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m.
To get ready for our colonial trivia rounds this Thursday, we are providing you with some historical tidbits like this one:
Our colonial laundress, Susan Wooden, would have greatly benefited from this barter arrangement with woodworker Arthur Benser. Susan needed a new laundry bat to beat the dirt out of clothing. To clean Arthur’s clothes, Susan would have first pre-soaked the clothes with lye made by pouring water through wood ash, called bucking. If Arthur’s clothes were particularly stained, Susan would have used aged urine, called lant, collected from chamber pots and left to age until it was transformed into ammonia. After beating and boiling the clothes, Susan said she performed a bluing process with indigo – getting Arthur’s linen appearing whiter and brighter.
Join Susan and Arthur – and many of the Colonial Market living historians – this Thursday. This year, play along with us in a four-round tavern trivia game on topics all-things Colonial Maryland. Play, engage and interact with us – grab your pint and register now for this year’s Colonial Market virtual program. It may get bawdy.
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4115931789071/WN_-KnBZgIcTqu29xYwSfztaQ
Susan Wooden is a living history interpreter and independent researcher who enjoys cooking, sewing, doing laundry, and washing dishes the 18th century way at historic sites and events.
Arthur Benser puts his professional woodworking, furniture restoration, and history research skills to excellent use in his lively interpretation of an 18th century craftsman.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row... tap your feet and hum to this tune sung by living historian Tom Ritter. This is just a sample of what our Colonial Market Virtual Tavern Trivia night has in store for you on Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m.
Even though Tom is playing the traditional marching song of the British —The British Grenadiers—American fife players played this catchy tune by changing the original lyrics. In fact, stealing tunes was popular in the 1700s when the lyrics to popular melodies would be re-written, usually poking fun at the original.
Join Tom and other Colonial Market living historians to play along with us as we "go live" in a four-round tavern trivia game on topics all-things Colonial Maryland. You can ask questions, and challenge your knowledge. Grab a pint and register now. It may get bawdy.
Register: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jMh9NKaAFik2OCt0i2asUUlhQPXMLv_g/view?usp=sharing
Tom Ritter lives in Harford County where he plays several instruments as well as organizes and plays period dance music for historic balls and festivals.
Tradesman Thomas is going virtual this year for Colonial Market – if he can do it, you can too!
Join Tradesman Thomas and many of the Colonial Market living historians for Colonial Market Virtual Tavern Trivia on Thursday, July 23 at 7PM. This year, play along with us in a four-round tavern trivia game on topics all-things Colonial Maryland. Meet some of your favorite Colonial Market living history interpreters as we “go live” with them between rounds. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, and challenge your knowledge of Colonial Maryland.
Play, engage and interact with us – grab your pint and register now for this year’s Colonial Market virtual program. It may get bawdy! Register: http://ow.ly/ZPad50AxXh6
Ask a Historian: Maritime History
You asked questions. Now we have answers. Watch our fourth #AskaHistorian video where Katie Brown, Digital Projects Specialist, answers some of your most pressing questions about American maritime history.
Have more questions? Leave them in the comments or email them to [email protected]. Check back next Tuesday for another #AskaHistorian call for questions.”
Happy (early) Fourth of July and #FilmFriday! Enjoy this July 4, 1934 film from the Maryland Historical Society archives showing the northwestern section of Baltimore buzzing with activity as military, school, and civic units took part in the celebrations.
According to an article in the Baltimore Sun from that day, Bluejackets from the U.S.S. Northampton represented the Navy, while detachments from the Fifth Regiment, Maryland National Guard and the Twelfth Infantry represented the land forces. Elsewhere in the city were assorted races and swimming events, with fireworks extending into the evening.
Ask a Historian: Civil Rights Activism
You asked questions. Now we have answers. Watch our third #AskaHistorian video where David Armenti, Director of Education, answers some of your most pressing questions about Civil Rights Activism in Maryland.
Have more questions? Leave them in the comments or email them to [email protected]. Check back next Tuesday for another #AskaHistorian call for questions.
Membership Special
Have you taken advantage of our new member special rate yet?
You can become a Maryland Historical Society member at a special rate of $25 for an Individual Membership (normally $55) and $35 for a Family Membership (normally $70) by clicking here: https://www.mdhs.org/civicrm/event/info?id=540&reset=1.
*Memberships will expire one year from MdHS' public reopening date*
Already a member? THANK YOU - you make everything we do possible!
Ask a Historian: Women's History
You asked questions. Now we have answers. Watch our second #AskaHistorian video where Ashlee Anderson, Digital Learning Specialist, answers some of your most pressing questions about American women’s history.
Have more questions? Leave them in the comments or email them to [email protected]. Check back next Tuesday for another #AskaHistorian call for questions.
E-Learning for the Homefront: Carr's Beach
As the weather becomes warmer, we all wish we could go to the beach, relax, and let the waves wash our stress away. In this video, Chloe Green, MdHS’ education intern, shares some history on Carr’s beach, a segregated beach for black Marylanders. Using primary sources, Chloe talks about how the beach was more than just a place to sit on the sand; it was a summer experience! Stick around to the end of the video as Chloe leads the students in a fun craft activity.
Supplies Needed:
A cup or glass
A pencil
A pair of scissors
A sheet of sturdy paper/colored paper
A toothpick
Tape
Ask a Historian: The Revolutionary War Period
You asked questions. Now we have answers. Watch our first #AskaHistorian video where Alex Lothstein, Museum Learning Manager, answers some of your most pressing questions about the American Revolutionary period.
Have more questions? Leave them in the comments or email them to [email protected]. Check back next Tuesday for another #AskaHistorian call for questions.
Doing any window shopping this weekend? Stop by the Maryland Historical Society and take a look inside the reimagined Hutzler’s department store window in the new exhibition, “The Hutzler’s Experience: How a Small Dry Goods Store Became a Maryland Institution.”
WBFF Fox 45 coverage of "Spectrum of Fashion"
Coverage of this past weekend's "Spectrum of Fashion" Gala and Fashion Show, including an interview with designer Bishme Cromartie.
Launch of "Spectrum of Fashion" with Christian Siriano
We are so honored to have celebrity designer and Maryland native Christian Siriano with us this evening to launch the opening of the "Spectrum of Fashion" exhibiton and to host our fashion show of Maryland designers and boutiques.
Sneak Peek at "Spectrum of Fashion"
See a first glimpse of "Spectrum of Fashion" and hear from the curators.
Spectrum of Fashion Exhibition Teaser
Buy your ticket for our "Spectrum of Fashion" Opening Gala before 9/23 to get entered into a raffle to win 2 tickets to the VIP Reception with CFDA Designer Christian Siriano (a $1000 value). Both Dance Party and General Admission ticket buyers are eligible to win. Go to www.mdhs.org/fashion-gala to purchase tickets now.
