Baltimore Museum of Industry

02/22/2021

Hear from women who shattered the glass ceiling working at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point mill--the topic of a new outdoor exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Industry--in this one-hour Zoom discussion co-hosted by the BMI, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Historical Society of Baltimore County.

Register here: https://bit.ly/BMIWOS1

This event is free for BMI members and $5 for non-members.

Interested in discounted or members-only BMI programs? Visit thebmi.org to see a list of our membership benefits and become a member today!

02/17/2021

To celebrate NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover’s landing on the red planet (with touchdown scheduled for 3:55pm EST tomorrow) the BMI is lighting the crane red this evening!

#CountdownToMars

02/17/2021

It wasn’t until the 1970s, due to a federal consent decree, that Bethlehem Steel started hiring women in all operational departments. At Sparrows Point, women steel workers pushed open the doors and stepped into a work environment that wasn’t ready for them— but these “Women of Steel” were ready to work and persevered.

Episode 4 of Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story is now available for download at https://www.wypr.org/post/women-steel

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Mill workers, 1980.
Courtesy of Jennifer Bishop.

02/16/2021

How has the media shaped public opinion, in the past and present? We’ll hear from different voices at The AFRO, the longest-running African-American family-owned newspaper in the United States, about how this Baltimore publication has shaped news coverage and public opinion since its founding in 1892. This program is presented in partnership with the Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum.

This program is free, no registration required. Tune into the BMI’s page to access this program.

02/14/2021

Did you know Baltimore has a long, sweet history of chocolate and candy making? Numerous candy and chocolate factories employed hundreds of workers in the city.

Even today, companies like Glauber's Fine Candies Inc., Goetze’s Candy, and Berger Cookies are all still made in Maryland. Not to mention the numerous other local confections you can find at Lexington, Cross Street, and other local Baltimore Markets.

#HappyValentinesDay #CharmCityConfections
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Photo: A production line at Miss America Candies on Harford Avenue.

02/11/2021

Take a deep dive into Baltimore’s industrial past and book your appointment to visit the BMI!

For groups of up to 10 people you can have the museum all to yourself.

Visit thebmi.org for more information.

02/10/2021

“Born in Baltimore, Raised Everywhere.”

Did you know that Baltimore was once known as the umbrella capital of the country? Baltimore had the country's first umbrella factory, established by Francis Beehler in 1828. By the early 20th century Baltimore was shipping out more than 1.5 million umbrellas annually! #NationalUmbrellaDay

https://buff.ly/2YSX50O

02/10/2021

A unionized workforce was never part of the original plan at Sparrows Point. Neither was racial equity.

What happened to have Sparrows Point open its doors to a unionized workforce? What lead to the desegregation of jobs at the mill?

Episode 3 of Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story is now available for download at www.wypr.org/post/hard-fought-negotiations
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This image is of Eddie Bartee Jr. and Eddie Bartee Sr., photographed by @jmgiordanophoto . Three generations of Bartees worked at Sparrows Point and became union activists. Read more at www.thebmi.org/eddie-bartee-sr/

02/09/2021

Take a deep dive into Baltimore’s industrial past with a virtual presentation led by senior museum educator, Jack Burkert.⠀
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This program is free, but registration is required: http://bit.ly/BMI1950s

02/08/2021

The BMI's whirley crane is ready to light up the sky as a symbol of Baltimore's mighty past and a beacon towards an even brighter future.

Saturday evening, be sure to look at the BMI waterfront or drive by on Key Highway for a Valentine’s gift from the BMI!

02/03/2021

Domino Sugar is replacing its massive neon sign in Baltimore. They hope no one will notice the difference.

This iconic sign next door will go dark as it is replaced with more durable LED lights. We look forward to seeing it light up the sky this summer.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-pr-bz-domino-sign-replacement-20210203-4cmuf2u3ffa2xbw7535vca6qd4-story.html

The “Domino Sugars” sign, a Baltimore fixture that has cast its red neon glow across the Inner Harbor since 1951, will be retired March 1.

02/03/2021

The City In The Marshes

How did a swampy peninsula on the Patapsco River get picked as the site for a revolutionary, state-of-the-art steel mill? What was it like to live and work in a self-contained company town? Did Bethlehem Steel help the Allies win World War II? And, by the way, just how complicated is it to make steel, anyway? Episode 2 of Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story is now available for download here https://www.wypr.org/post/city-marshes
Thanks to Tradepoint Atlantic and Maryland Humanities for their support, and to Aaron Henkin/WYPR for this incredible partnership.

How did a swampy peninsula on the Patapsco River get picked as the site for a revolutionary, state-of-the-art steel mill? What was it like to live and work

01/30/2021

Wood Bridge Challenge for the Maryland Engineering Challenges

Testing the limits of basswood bridges made by Maryland high school students

01/30/2021

Our first Maryland Engineering Challenge of the season is today and we will be live-streaming the testing of the students' bridges from the museum!

If you are interested in checking out the Woodbridge competition, the testing of the bridges will begin at approximately 11:20 AM and you can access the webinar here: http://bit.ly/MECWoodBridgeCompetition OR you can check out the live stream on the BMI's page.

01/29/2021

Tune in next week for a virtual watch party, hosted in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive (MARMIA), of short promotional films produced by Bethlehem Steel from the BMI’s Collections.

Register here: bit.ly/throwbackfilmnight

01/28/2021

“Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story” premiered yesterday, here is a little preview of the first episode.

This six-part series hosted by Aaron Henkin and produced in partnership with WYPR

Check out the first episode here: bit.ly/BMIpodcast.

(Video reposted from @wypr881fm)

01/27/2021

WYPR

Thank you to Tradepoint Atlantic and Maryland Humanities for supporting this limited edition podcast produced by Aaron Henkin in partnership with WYPR !

The series can be found on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

“Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story” is out!

This six-part podcast hosted by Aaron Henkin and produced in partnership with Baltimore Museum of Industry will look at the rise and fall of the steelmaking giant.

Listen below or wherever you get your podcasts.

01/26/2021

The Bethlehem Steel Legacy Garden serves as a visible reminder of the contributions of the steel mill workers-- workers like Wendell Doyle. After serving in WWII, Doyle lived in Dundalk and worked at Bethlehem Steel until his retirement in 1982. For the holidays his family bought a brick in his memory to celebrate his contributions to the steel mill’s legacy.

You can read more about Wendell Doyle and the Bethlehem Steel Legacy Garden here: www.thebmi.org/legacy-garden-blog/

01/23/2021

Create memories that “tug” at your heartstrings and book your event at the Baltimore Museum of Industry today.

Visit https://www.thebmi.org/facility-rental/ to learn more about our Micro wedding packages.

#BaltimoreWeddings #WeddingVenues #MuseumWedding #CharmCityWeddings

01/21/2021

“I am once again asking for you to visit the BMI campus and see the outdoor Women of Steel exhibit.”

01/21/2021

On the day the new podcast “Sparrows Point: an American Steel Story” drops, the BMI will share a few key resources on Bethlehem Steel/Sparrows Point available at the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Enoch Pratt Free Library will be streaming this program on their Facebook live.

01/19/2021

Today is Tin Can day! 🥫

Tin cans revolutionized the preservation and accessibility of food— especially in Baltimore.

Located in an 1860s Oyster Cannery, the BMI knows its tin cans and with our BMI Cannery City Kits we encourage students to think about the different types of work involved in the process of preparing, preserving, and providing food for communities.

Learn more about our City Kits for 1st-2nd grade students by visiting thebmi.org/visit/city-kits-for-student-groups/

#nationaltincanday
#museumfromhome

01/18/2021

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. understood the importance of community and that the small contributions of many can make a mighty impact.

From wearing a mask and practicing proper social distancing to supporting local businesses and essential workers— the great small acts of many will implement positive change in our society.

#MLKDay

01/16/2021

Sparrows Point: An American Steel Story, a limited edition podcast produced by Aaron Henkin, will be launching January 27.

This six-part podcast series is produced through a partnership between WYPR and the Baltimore Museum of Industry as part of the museum’s Bethlehem Steel Legacy Project.

Listen to the trailer of the podcast here: www.wypr.org/post/sparrows-point-american-steel-story-trailer

01/15/2021

You can’t celebrate National Hat day in Baltimore without tipping your hat to former Maryland Congresswoman and port of Baltimore icon, Helen Delich Bentley!

Known as much for being stylish as she was for her groundbreaking career as a maritime reporter and elected official, Bentley amassed a working wardrobe of over 350 hats from the 1950s to the 1980s—some of which she gave to the BMI.

#NationalHatDay #MuseumFromHome #FashionHistory

01/12/2021

Learn the practical aspects of the Robot Challenge in this virtual workshop. Work with engineers to explore design & construction aspects of this project. Especially helpful for first-time Coaches and/or those with little engineering experience.
Register here: http://bit.ly/RobotWorkshop2Registration

01/11/2021

Baltimore’s Schenuit Rubber Factory to be demolished, making way for self-storage facility with exhibit

While Baltimore’s Schenuit rubber factory is gone, the history of the company won’t be forgotten. The BMI currently has a Schenuit exhibit in our transportation gallery and we look forward to continuing our partnerships and sharing this piece of Baltimore’s industrial past.

The former Schenuit Rubber Factory and smokestack, two aging landmarks visible to drivers traveling on the Jones Falls Expressway, will be demolished soon and replaced with a self-storage facility featuring a symbolic exterior mural and a “mini-museum” in its lobby.

01/11/2021

Keep up with the BMI by joining our mailing list and receive our monthly newsletter— The Production Line!

We share upcoming events, community spotlights, and dive deeper into Baltimore’s industrial past.

Visit thebmi.org & sign up today!

#GetUpCloseAndIndustrial #MuseumFromHome

01/05/2021

Meet this amateur Baltimore historian who has unearthed a passion for archaeology during COVID-19 pandemic

Check out this article about a good friend of the BMI and fellow history lover, Evan Woodard!

On his search for forgotten treasures, Evan has donated some of his finds to the BMI and continues to share his adventures through social media. Follow Salvage Arc and see what he digs up next!

https://salvagearc.com/

https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bs-fe-baltimore-historian-archaeology-20210105-o5x7gkjhx5gyphv7yflx3b3m2e-story.html

Patterson Park resident Evan Woodard searches abandoned dumps and centuries-old homesteads to find hidden relics of Maryland and Baltimore history.

01/05/2021

Get up close and industrial with the BMI and book your appointment to visit the museum.

For groups of up to 10 people you can have the museum all to yourself.

Visit thebmi.org for more information.

01/01/2021

2020 called on the Baltimore Museum of Industry to change the way we connect with you, our community...but it didn’t change who we are.

We look forward to remaining a connection factory, innovating new ways to share the history of Baltimore's Industry and workers in 2021!

12/29/2020

What’s a wedding without a little sugar?

Make sweet memories and book your event at the Baltimore Museum of Industry today.

Visit https://www.thebmi.org/facility-rental/ to learn more about our Micro wedding packages.

#BaltimoreWeddings #WeddingVenues #MuseumWedding #CharmCityWeddings

12/27/2020

Flex your creativity or test your knowledge of Baltimore’s industrial past with fun & FREE digital activities available on the museum’s website!

bit.ly/BMIActivitiesAtHome

#MuseumFromHome

12/21/2020

It’s National flashlight day! What better way to celebrate than learning about light communication? BMI’s “Lights On” City Kit explores methods for communicating with light using Morse code and by making a light communication device!

Learn more about our City Kits for 1st-2nd grade students by visiting thebmi.org/visit/city-kits-for-student-groups/

12/18/2020

Get up close and industrial with the Baltimore Museum of Industry and book your appointment today!

Booking by appointment allows:⠀
-Access for your group of up to 10 family members/friends⠀
-Special discounts in the museum gift shop⠀
-Free onsite parking for the duration of your visit⠀
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Visit thebmi.org to learn more.