Maryland Center for History and Culture

06/14/2026

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14, commemorating the day in 1777 when the United States approved the stars and stripes design for its first national flag. A resolution by the Second Continental Congress stated, "That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."

The receipt pictured here was for the American flag that would come to be known as the Star-Spangled Banner, made by Mary Pickersgill in Baltimore, Maryland. The order was placed with United States Deputy Commissary James Calhoun (previously the first Mayor of Baltimore) after Major George Armistead expressed wishes for a large ensign to fly over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. With the help of family, including niece Eliza Young, Pickersgill crafted a large garrison flag for the fort, as well a smaller storm flag to be flown in inclement weather.

Take a closer look at www.mdhistory.org/resources/receipt-for-flags-made-for-fort-mchenry-to-mary-pickersgill-from-james-calhoun.

Full transcription:
Mr. James Calhoun, Jun., Deputy Commissary / To Mary Pickersgill / To 1 American Ensign 30 by 42 feet first quality Bunting $405.90 / To 1 do do 17 by 25 feet do do 168.54 / for Fort McHenry $574.44 / August 19th, 1813 / Baltimore, 27th October 1813 Received from James Calhoun, Jun., Deputy Commissary, five hundred and seventy four dollars and forty four cents in full for the above bill / signed duplicates / for Mary Pickersgill / Eliza Young

Receipt for flags made for Fort McHenry, to Mary Pickersgill from James Calhoun, August 19, 1813. MCHC Library, Manuscript Vertical File

06/13/2026

The first Baltimore Pride was held in 1975 and consisted of activists coming together in a peaceful demonstration. Throughout the decades, Pride celebrations have taken place throughout much of the city, primarily in the Mount Vernon neighborhood and Druid Hill Park.

These photographs were taken by Joseph Kohl at Baltimore Pride in 2000. Kohl was an accomplished photographer whose work was featured in a variety of local and national newspapers and journals, capturing the diversity of Baltimore life. See more Joseph Kohl photographs from the MCHC collection at www.mdhistory.org/digital-resource/creator/kohl-joseph-1957-2002.

(1) Le***an Issues Committee at Baltimore Pride, photograph by Joseph Kohl, 2000. MCHC Library, Joseph Kohl Photograph Collection, PP284
(2) Club Hippo float truck at Baltimore Pride, photograph by Joseph Kohl, 2000. MCHC Library, Joseph Kohl Photograph Collection, PP284
(3) Baltimore Pride participants, photograph by Joseph Kohl, 2000. MCHC Library, Joseph Kohl Photograph Collection, PP284

06/12/2026

The Maryland Center for History and Culture’s inaugural History Makers Awards and Dinner on June 25 honors local leaders, highlighting their enduring commitment to community service and recognizing the profound impact of their contributions across diverse fields in Maryland and beyond.

2026 awardee Eleanor M. (“Ellie”) Carey broke barriers as the first woman to lead a statewide political campaign, and later as the first appointed Deputy Attorney General of Maryland. In that role, she oversaw hiring for the Office, raising standards for State lawyers, promoting diversity, and ensuring that the State adhered to the law. Carey also strengthened the Consumer and Environmental Protection Divisions and worked to make opinions issued by the Attorney General more accessible to the public.

Carey then served as Senior Counselor to the Governor and later as President of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board. She has led major public investigations of financial and educational institutions, run twice for statewide elective office, and served as an on-air legal reporter for WJZ-TV. A member of MCHC’s Board of Trustees since 2019, she currently chairs the Government Affairs Committee, where she has been a strong advocate for MCHC’s mission.

Learn more about the History Makers Awards and Dinner and this year's awardees at www.mdhistory.org/MCHC-HistoryMakers.

06/11/2026

Limited tickets remain for our next Summer Sail of the season! Join MCHC and Living Classrooms Foundation for "From Revolution to Sail: 250 Years," a two-hour evening sail around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on Wednesday, July 1.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ray Owen joins us aboard the Mildred Belle to perform his “Hats Off to America” set, blending original music and classic Americana with stories that reflect on the nation’s history, identity, and 250-year journey.

Register today at www.mdhistory.org/calendar/summer-sail-series-from-revolution-to-sail-250-years. Refreshments and activities are included in the ticket price. Space is limited and registration is required. Passengers must be 8 years of age to sail.

Summer Sails are sponsored by the MCHC Maritime Committee.

06/10/2026

Step into Charles Willson Peale's museum in the exhibition "WayFinders: Making Sense of Our World," on view now at the Maryland Center for History and Culture. Learners of all ages can touch, smell, look closely, and create with figures from Maryland history. Learn more at https://wayfinders.mdhistory.org/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wayfinders_launch.

06/10/2026

On the latest edition of Community Connections on WBFF FOX 45, Catherine Rogers Arthur, Vice President of Collections and Chief Curator, shares what's happening at the Maryland Center for History and Culture as we ramp up to celebrate 250 years of American Independence.

Summer is just a few weeks away, and this year, we are celebrating ...

06/09/2026

Get creative and make your mark at this hands-on block printing workshop designed just for young people on Thursday, July 2! In partnership with Made By Us’ Youth250 initiative, enjoy free pizza while exploring art, expression, and the stories you want to tell in a fun, welcoming space tailored for ages 18 to 30.

Register today at www.mdhistory.org/calendar/slice-of-history-print-your-story-block-printing-workshop.

This event is part of Civic Season, a youth-led, community-powered guide to America's past, present, and future.

06/08/2026

Congratulations to the award-winning artists selected for "Built to Last," an exhibition exploring the architecture, memory, and evolving identity of Baltimore through the eyes of local artists at The Peale. MCHC joins other local cultural institutions as a community partner for this project.

Explore the remarkable works of Baltimore artists celebrating the city's history and transformation in 'Built to Last'—a compelling art showcase.

06/08/2026

In the latest episode of Revolution@250, explore how the landscape of a free press in Maryland evolved over time. This month's guest is Savannah Wood—artist, Executive Director of Afro Charities, and 2026 MCHC History Makers awardee. In this conversation, hear about the challenges faced by the founders of the Baltimore Afro-American, and how the revolutionary concept of free speech was utilized by Black Americans to advocate, develop community, and document their experience in newspapers in Baltimore and beyond.

Revolution@250 is a special production of PreserveCast, created in partnership with Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Center for History and Culture.

PreserveCast is an award-winning podcast about where historic preservation and technology meet. New episodes are released on Monday and available anytime on our website. PreserveCast is powered by Preservation Maryland and hosted by our Executive Director, Nick Redding.

06/05/2026

On Thursday, June 25, the Maryland Center for History and Culture’s inaugural History Makers Awards and Dinner will celebrate individuals whose passion, dedication, and generosity have deepened our understanding of the past while helping to shape our present and future.

2026 awardee Savannah Wood is an artist with deep roots in Baltimore and Los Angeles. Her work explores how spirituality, domesticity, and our relationships to place shape our identities.

As the Executive Director of Afro Charities, Wood is leading the charge to increase access to the over 130-year-old Afro-American Newspapers’ extensive archives. In this role, she has shepherded the organization through a period of historic growth, initiated new programming, and attracted support from national funders. Under her leadership, the organization is redeveloping the historic Upton Mansion in West Baltimore to serve as the new AFRO News headquarters and archives. Like four generations of ancestors before her, Wood lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland, sharing and preserving Black stories.

Learn more about the History Makers Awards and Dinner and this year's awardees at www.mdhistory.org/MCHC-HistoryMakers.