Washington Hill in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Thomas Wildey Monument
Photographed by William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007
1. Thomas Wildey Monument
Thomas Widley, born January 15, 1782.
Thomas Widley, died October 19, 1861.
He who realizes that the true mission of man on earth is to rise above the level of individual influence and to recognize the fatherhood of God overall and the brotherhood of man is natures true nobleman.
The site for this monument was unanimously voted by the Mayor and City of Baltimore, Anno Domini MDCCCLXV.
This column erected by the joint contributions of the lodges, encampments and individual members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the United States of America and, jurisdiction thereunto belonging, commemorates the founding of the Order in the City of Baltimore on the 26th day of April 1819 by Thomas Wildey.
Erected 1865 by Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the United States of America.
Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1770.
Location. 39° 17.598′ N, 76° 35.638′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Washington Hill. It is on North Broadway 0.1 miles Fayette Street, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 123 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21231, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and monument is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Regarding Thomas Wildey Monument. “Thomas Wildey (1782–1861) rose quickly through the chairs of the Odd Fellow Lodge in his native London, and two years after moving to Baltimore, established the first Odd Fellows Lodge in the United States, known as the Washington Lodge Number One.” —Smithsonian Institution Research Information System
Photographed by William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007
2. Top of Monument
Marble monument, sculpted by Edward F. Durang and approx. 52 feet high, is a tall doric column is topped by a depiction of Charity. Charity holds a child in her arms and is looking down at another child at her side.
Photographed by William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007
3. Top of Monument
Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, April 13, 2008
4. The Monument
Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, May 16, 2009
5. Thomas Wildey Grave
Buried in Greenmount Cemetery in Baltimore
Photographed by William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007
6. Thomas Wildey, Born January 15, 1782
Photographed by William Pfingsten, September 9, 2007
7. Odd Fellows plaque on opposite side of monument.
Seal reads, “Amicitia Amor et Veritas. Grand Lodge of the United States of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 1834. We command you to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan. ”
Photographed by Meg Fairfax Fielding, February 15, 2026
8. Thomas Wildey Monument
Using my drone to get some close up images of the top of the Wildey statue
Photographed by Meg Fairfax Fielding, February 15, 2026
9. Thomas Wildey Monument
Taken with my drone.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 6,182 times since then and 207 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 10, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4. submitted on April 13, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 5. submitted on July 11, 2009, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 6, 7. submitted on September 10, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 8, 9. submitted on February 16, 2026, by Meg Fairfax Fielding of Baltimore, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
