Baltimore is the largest city in the US state of Maryland. Its history started with the foundation of the town in 1729, although a port was constructed here as early as 1706 for the extensive tobacco trade in the region. Development started slowly, and in 1752 there were just 27 houses in the town. Later in the century, however, there was prosperity in the city in line with increasing trade with not least Caribbean countries, and in 1796-1797 the neighboring towns of Jonestown and Fells Point were merged with Baltimore.

In 1820, there were 60,000 inhabitants in the city, where textile industries, shipyards and shipping all left their mark on Baltimore. Development continued after the American Civil War, but in 1904, downtown Baltimore was ravaged by a large fire that left large parts of the city in ruins. By this time, the city had more than 500,000 inhabitants, and Baltimore was rebuilt at a fast pace after the fire.

Today you can head out for some nice walks in Baltimore, where there are quite a few sights. You can start at the War Memorial Plaza, where Baltimore’s beautiful City Hall is located. It was built in Napoleon III style in the years 1867-1875 and, with its dome, it is one of downtown’s characteristic buildings. Across from City Hall is the War Memorial, a 1925 memorial hall dedicated to all Maryland state veterans.

If you go to the streets behind City Hall, you can see two of Baltimore’s beautiful courthouses, standing on either side of the Battle Monument, one of the city’s landmarks. The monument was built 1815-1825 to commemorate the Battle of Baltimore, which Britain and the United States fought in 1814. The city’s Washington Monument was originally supposed to stand on this site, but it became too large for the square and can today be seen on the large Mount Vernon Square north for the center.

In the center you can also see the Baltimore Basilica, which was built between 1806 and 1821, making it the USA’s oldest Catholic cathedral. The church has a bright and beautiful interior that matches the elegant exterior. Baltimore is home to several interesting museums as well, and you can start close to the Baltimore Basilica with a visit to the Walters Art Museum, which exhibits art from all over the world and from antiquity to the present day.

To the west of the city is the fine Lexington Market from 1782 and Westminster Hall too, which is a former church with a cemetery. The place is known for the grave of the author Edgar Allan Poe. Not far from the cemetery is the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, which is a museum in the house where Poe lived in the 1830s. Southeast of central Baltimore, you can see another historic house, The Flag House, built in 1793. It is the place where Mary Pickersgill sewed the first American flag, the Starspangled Banner, which was raised atop Fort McHenry in 1813.

Baltimore’s harbor is another place, and you can experience the city’s old harbor environment here. The area has been revived in Harborplace, where shops, restaurants and various activities have been developed in the original harbor buildings. In the harbor basin there are several interesting historical ships. You can also visit Baltimore’s National Aquarium, which is quite worth seeing with its countless exhibits on fish, marine animals and the marine environment.

It is also possible to see the harbor and Baltimore from above, which is an option from the Top of the World Observatory, located at the top of the 123-meter-high Baltimore World Trade Center. If you continue east from here, you can walk along the city’s marinas and to the neighborhood of Fell’s Point, which is a popular place with many cafes and restaurants.