Welcome to Litsy!

Baltimore may be world-famous for its crab cakes, John Hopkins University and the Orioles baseball team, but there's much more to this Chesapeake Bay city. One of the original thirteen American colonies, Baltimore has been a key seaport and industrial center, military outpost, and diverse cultural center. With lots of unique architecture, sprawling city parks, lively harbor, and colorful neighborhoods like Little Italy and Greektown. Explore it for yourself in the new compact edition of Baltimore Then & Now. * Discover Baltimore past and present! Photographs showcase some of the city's best-loved landmarks, including Druid Hill Park, the Baltimore Zoo, Pratt House, and the Patterson Park Pagoda. * Baltimore secured its place in American history when Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" about the bombardment of Fort McHenry. More than a hundred years later, the fort itself is still one of the city's favorite landmarks. * Pier 4 in Baltimore's Inner Harbor offers a visual depiction of the city's evolution. It began its life as Dugan's Wharf and later became the Merchant & Miners Co. Pier in 1910. Now, Pier 4 is the National Aquarium, home to more than 10,000 animals and a tropical rainforest exhibit. * Old Otterbein Church, built in 1785 is the oldest church building in Baltimore and still holds its own against the surrounding Baltimore convention Center and the nearby highway and ballpark. * Baltimore has its share of impressive architecture, including the beloved Bromo-Seltzer Tower. Compare its early 20th century profile--complete with a 51-foot revolving replica of the blue Bromo-Seltzer bottle--to its modern incarnation.