Last updated February 7, 2022
So you want to learn a bit more about Baltimore but have come up a little dry with a google search? I’ve picked out a few books that will help you get to know the history, architecture, and culture of Charm City, and might help you understand how we got where we are today (it’s not all pretty, but the stories need to be told.)
Ballpark: Camden Yards and the Building of an American Dream
By Peter Richmond
I’m starting with this one because this is the book that brought me back to Baltimore, and in some ways changed the course of my life. It is the book that introduced me to the field of urban planning—which I ended up studying in grad school—and ultimately led me to Baltimore after 30 years (I left when I was 6 months old). In short, it’s a really engaging telling of the story of the building of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the wheeling and dealing, and the characters that made it happen. And you will learn how lucky we are that the iconic warehouse made it into the final design. It will really make you appreciate this great ballpark even more!
In short, it’s a really engaging telling of the story of the building of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the wheeling and dealing, and the characters that made it happen. And you will learn how lucky we are that the iconic warehouse made it into the final design. It will really make you appreciate this great ballpark even more!
The Baltimore Rowhouse
By Charles Belfoure and Mary Ellen Hayward
Nothing says “Baltimore” quite like the iconic rowhouse. While Baltimore has many types of housing, it is really characterized by the rowhouse. This book describes the evolution of the rowhouse as the city expanded outwards, starting with tiny worker rowhouses on alleys to the more “mansiony” rowhouses as you head out of town. It is really a treat to know more about the architecture as you get the opportunity to visit more and more rowhouses (i.e. when your friends invite you over). Read it and you will be the life of the party with your new knowledge!
A Guide to Baltimore Architecture
By John R. Dorsey
This book is a great reference for a brief history of Baltimore’s ordinary and extraordinary special buildings. The cool thing is that it is organized into fifteen walking or driving tours organized geographically or by theme. So pick one and get to know a section of Baltimore, a little bit at a time. Since the most recent edition is from 1997, it’s also fun to see how things have changed in 20 years.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
By Rebecca Skloot
It doesn’t take long to figure out how important Johns Hopkins University and Hospital are to the city of Baltimore. I’m sure there are medical miracles happening there every day—but it’s important to recognize that some of those miracles are on the backs of the unwilling and unknowing, and Henrietta Lacks is surely the most prominent example. Her cells were something special and have been used in countless studies to advance medicine—but neither she nor her family ever received credit or compensation. I’m sure you’ve seen the Oprah-produced movie on HBO, but the book is also worth a read. It all happened right here in Baltimore. If the movie doesn’t make you hoppin’ mad with injustice, console yourself with the knowledge that Johns Hopkins recently named a building after Henrietta Lacks.
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
By Wes Moore
It’s not a stretch to say that Baltimore is a tale of two cities: black and white, rich and poor, the haves and the have nots…This story is particularly interesting in that two young boys named Wes Moore came from a similar background, both with Baltimore ties, but ended up in two wildly different places—and it explores why and how that happened. This book gave me both hope that individuals have the power to change their fate, and a sense of hopelessness about our collective ability to change the systems that lead to poor outcomes for so many of Baltimore’s youth, particularly young Black men.
Baltimore: The Building of an American City
By Sherry H. Olson
At almost 500 pages, this book is not going to make it onto everyone’s list. But to all you history buffs and urban planners, this tome paints a comprehensive picture of how Baltimore grew from a small port town on the Chesapeake, to a booming industrial city of 1 million people, to the present-day post-industrial city of over 600,000 people. It is a very comprehensive and well-researched book with lots of cool historical maps and photos.
Not in My Neighborhood
By Antero Pietila
Like many major cities in the United States, the Baltimore we see today is shaped in so many ways by the discriminatory policies of the past. This book delves into how policies and tools such as restrictive covenants, redlining, and predatory lending shaped the neighborhoods we have today. The book is about Baltimore, but I’m sure you would find parallels in most major US cities.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
By Frederick Douglass
I’m sure you have heard of Frederick Douglass, but you might have missed that he has some serious Baltimore connections, starting when he first arrive at around seven or eight years old. In this autobiography, he describes the tribulations of his upbringing as a slave and eventual escape to freedom. My favorite quote: “Going to live at Baltimore laid the foundation, and opened the gateway, to all my subsequent prosperity.” Even if you never set foot in Baltimore, you should give this a read (it’s a short book, I promise!).
111 Things in Baltimore You Must Not Miss
By Allison Robicelli
This fun new-ish book (part of the “111 places in X place you must not miss” series) offers up some unusual and very “Baltimore” places to visit. There were a bunch I had never heard of (I’m looking at you, first portable drill), even after living here almost 20 years. Even one year after publication, however, some of the places are closed—just one more reason a blog can be better than a book for these kinds of things! It’s still worth checking out if you want to explore unusual attractions off the tourist track.
Where to find books in Baltimore
Now that you are itching to get your hands on those books (but don’t want to feed the Amazon machine), check out this The City That Reads: Where to Find Books in Baltimore post to see if there is a bookstore or a library near you.