factoid

Did you know...
The "Star Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key while he was held prisoner on a boat positioned in the middle of Baltimore's harbor during an attack by the British on Fort McHenry? The battle was on September 13-14, in the year 1814 but it wasn't until 1931 that "The Star Spangled Banner" became the offical National Anthem for the United States. Fort McHenry was never attacked again, but remained an active military post for 100 years after.

Camden Warehouse (now part of Oriole Park at Camden Yards) is the LOOOONGEST building on the east coast of the United States.

President Abraham Lincoln passed through Camden Station (also part of Oriole Park at Camden Yards) on his way to deliver the famous Gettysburg Address.

The Northern Central Rail Road (now a bicycle/walking trail from Timonium to Pennsylvania) was traveled twice by President Abraham Lincoln. Once when he was alive and on his way to deliver the Gettysburg Address, another time when he was dead, to be buried in Springfield, Illinois. His son Robert, not President Lincoln, is buried in the grave site at Arlington Cemetary in Virginia.

The Baltimore Zoo is the 4th oldest zoo in the United States.

The first mile of rail road track ever laid in the United States was in Baltimore. It still remains at the B&O Rail Road Museum. The first rail road was started to help business in Baltimore compete for customers that were to be lost to companies in New York when the Erie Canal was opened.

The first Telegraph message ever sent was sent to Baltimore from Washington, DC. The message sent was "What Hath God Wrought".

Over 1500 buildings were destroyed in the "Great Baltimore Fire" in 1904

The Baltimore Orioles were originally the St. Louis Browns. They moved to Baltimore and became known as The Baltimore Orioles in 1953.

The Baltimore Ravens were originally the Cleveland Browns. They moved to Baltimore and became known as The Baltimore Ravens in 1995. They won the Super Bowl last year. In 1996, the City of Cleveland won a court judgment that would keep the name Clevland Browns along with the team colors, and today, the Cleveland Browns are once again a team playing in Cleveland.

The submarine that fired the last torpedo, and sunk the last Japanese combat vessel of World War II is the USS Torsk. The USS Torsk is moored in Baltimore's Inner Harbor next to the National Aquarium and has been a Baltimore resident since 1972. The USS Torsk also participated in the famous blockade of Cuba in 1962. Today, The USS Torsk is one of two surviving Tench Class submarines in the United States. The remaining Tench Class submaries were sold to foreign countries and may still be in service there.