Downtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Peale Museum
This structure is the oldest museum building in the United States. Designed by Robert Cary Long, Sr. for Rembrandt Peale, the museum opened to the public in 1814 as "an elegant Rendezvous for taste, curiosity and leisure." For a 25-cent admission fee, Baltimoreans came to admire "birds, beasts ... antiquities and miscellaneous curiosities" as well as paintings by members of the Peale family.
The audience was dazzled on June 11, 1816, when Rembrandt Peale illuminated the museum with burning gas. This feat led to the founding the same year of The Gas Light Company of Baltimore, the first commercial gas company in the country.
In 1830, the City bought the museum for use as the first City Hall. In 1876, the building also served as a public school for African-American children.
Erected by the City of Baltimore, William Donald Schaefer, Mayor, rededicated 2005, Martin O'Malley, Mayor.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Baltimore City historical markers series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1935.
Location. 39° 17.509′ N, 76° 36.613′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Downtown. Marker is on North Holliday Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 North Holliday Street, Baltimore MD 21202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Peale's Baltimore Museum (here, next to this marker); Peale's Baltimore Museum - 1814 (here, next to this marker); The Municipal Museum of the City of Baltimore (here, next to this marker); The Harris Bus (a few steps from this marker); Zion Lutheran Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Hiltgunt Margret Zassenhaus (within shouting distance of this marker); Discover Holliday Street: A Stage for Culture, Politics, and Worship (within shouting distance of this marker); Baltimore City Fire Department (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
More about this marker. The marker features an illustration, labeled Peale's demonstration of gas lighting as imagined by painter McGill Mackall in 1833.
This marker appears to replace a similar (or identical) one erected during the term of Mayor William Donald Schaefer.
Also see . . . Peale Museum. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 5, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,449 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 16, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 2. submitted on December 5, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on March 16, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 4, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.