Baltimore in Spring
June 6, 2007

 The first stop of the day was the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the country’s architectural masterpieces.  The Basilica was the first Catholic cathedral built after America gained independence. Begun in 1806 and dedicated in 1821, it is considered to be the masterwork of Henry Latrobe (architect of the U.S. Capitol).  The Basilica has recently reopened after a multi-year restoration project that resurrected Latrobe’s original vision for the church.  And a magnificent vision it was.  From the gleaming copper domes to the eerie undercroft that supports the weight of the structure, the Basilica provided fascinating sights and stories.

The second stop was just across the street at the Enoch Pratt library.  The Pratt is one of the oldest free public library systems in the country, begun in 1882 when Enoch Pratt gave a central library, four branches and an endowment of over $1 million to the city of Baltimore. After a general introduction to the library and its history, the group got a special look at the resources available for those interested in Maryland history.

A short stroll after lunch led to the final destination - the Maryland Historical Society.  Here the group enjoyed a special tour of the exhibition Maryland Schoolgirl Samplers & Embroideries 1738-1860.  Among the more than 100 samplers are four from HSCC's collection and several Carroll County samplers from private collections.  There was also time to explore the other marvelous exhibits, browse in the museum shop and just sit and enjoy the beautiful day.