Design
Baltimore, Then and Now (1911 to 2013)
A peek at how the city's changed on its 284th birthday.
Baltimore, founded on July 30, 1729, wears a lot of its history on its sleeve. Though the city aggressively pursued urban renewal initiatives in the mid- to late 20th century, it has managed to preserve a surprising amount of its infrastructure over time, making for a unique balance of architectural styles.
A hand-drawn map from 1911 designed by Edward Spofford (and via the Library of Congress) shows just how quickly the city rebuilt after the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, which destroyed 1,500 buildings over 140 acres of downtown land.