History of the Society

Inaugurated in 1999, the Baltimore City Historical Society (BCHS) was founded by the Honorable John Carroll Byrnes, along with prominent elected officials, local business leaders, leaders from academia, historians, preservationists, and many ordinary citizens. This was precipitated by the sudden end of the Baltimore City Life Museums in 1997, when we lost the entity that celebrated Baltimore's history, its buildings, traditions, stories, its past and contemporary voices. BCHS aimed to cultivate, promote, and preserve the storied history and fabled diversity of the City of Baltimore.

Through the efforts of its working Board of Directors and countless other volunteers during its 28+ years, the BCHS has sponsored educational programs about all aspects of Baltimore's history and hosted many events at a wide range of historic sites. In addition to the ongoing programs shown on the opposite page, the BCHS published the Baltimore Gaslight Newsletter, sponsored a Middle School Essay Contest, and now connects Baltimore history enthusiasts through its website and social media pages.