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Maryland Historical Society
201 West Monument St. |
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 Maryland Historical Society - Then |
The Maryland Historical Society was founded in 1844 by a group of Marylanders seeking to preserve the state's unique history. About that same time, Enoch Pratt — a wealthy businessman and founder of the public library system in Baltimore — built a house a few blocks west of the Washington Monument.
 Maryland Historical Society - Now |
The house stayed in the Pratt family until 1911, when it was sold to a neighbor. The neighbor, Mary Ann Keyser, was a friend of the Historical Society and allowed the Society to move all its holdings to the building.
Today, the Maryland Historical Society houses over 5.4 million objects. The Pratt house has been expanded three times, and the society now features many exhibits of Baltimore's history. They showcase everything from children's toys throughout Maryland's history to model ships to Francis Scott Key's original draft of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Follow these links to learn more about the Maryland Historical Society and its location at the Pratt house.