We know that Edgar Allan Poe lived in Baltimore during the early part of the 1830s. But what kind of a place was Baltimore then?
First of all, it was a time of great growth in the city. People were just beginning to build factories to produce flour, textiles, and other goods. The newly opened B&O Railroad began to ship more and more of these goods to other cities. European immigrants — especially the German and Irish-began to flock to the city. In 1827, about 80,000 people lived in Baltimore. By 1850 — just a little over 30 years — 163,000 people called Baltimore their home. In fact, Baltimore was the third largest city in the whole country at this time. Today, Baltimore's population is just over 651,000.
However, with no multi-million dollar sports stadiums or traffic jams, it might be hard to imagine what Poe saw when he walked Baltimore's streets. To help you see how Poe's Baltimore compares with the city today, we've created a special map. It combines a map of Baltimore in the 1830s with a map of Baltimore today
As you look over it, you'll be able to see:
Places in Poe's Baltimore that have disappeared over time
Places in Poe's Baltimore that are still part of the city today, and
Places in modern Baltimore that even Poe might not have been able to imagine.
Use the arrows below the map to switch between the 1838 and modern map. Move your mouse over the highlighted sections to see what they are, then click on the highlight to learn about the history of that location.
Poe's Baltimore. Note: This link will open a new browser window.
