Lloyd Street Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lloyd Street Synagogue |
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Former Lloyd Street Synagogue
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation |
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| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Ownership | Jewish Museum of Maryland |
| Status |
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| Location | |
| Location | 11 Lloyd Street, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Baltimore
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) |
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| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| General contractor | Messrs Curly and Sons |
| Date established | 1830 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1845 |
| Construction cost | $20,000 |
| Materials | Brick |
The Lloyd Street Synagogue is a very old and important building in Baltimore, Maryland. It was once a Jewish place of worship, called a synagogue. This building is special because it is the third oldest synagogue building in the United States. It was also the very first synagogue built in Maryland.
The building is designed in the Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek temples. Today, the Lloyd Street building is owned by the Jewish Museum of Maryland. It is open to the public as a museum in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore.
Contents
History of the Building
The Lloyd Street Synagogue was built by a Jewish group called the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. This group started in 1830. For the first 15 years, they met in a small room above a grocery store.
The synagogue building was finished in 1845. It was a big moment for the Jewish community in Baltimore.
Changes Over Time
The building has had a few different owners and uses. In 1889, it was sold to a Catholic church called The St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church. This church served many immigrants from Lithuania. They used the building until 1905.
In 1905, the building was sold back to a Jewish group. This time, it was an Orthodox Jewish congregation called Shomrei Mishmeres HaKodesh. They were immigrants from Eastern Europe. They used the building as a synagogue until 1963.
Saving the Synagogue
By 1963, the building was in danger of being torn down. People wanted to save this historic place. This effort led to the creation of the Jewish Historical Society of Maryland. This group is now known as the Jewish Museum of Maryland. They saved the building, and now it is a museum.
Building Design
Two architects from Baltimore, Robert Cary Long, Jr. and William Reasin, designed the synagogue. They used the popular Greek Revival style. The building has four large columns that support a triangular roof section, called a pediment. These parts are painted light pink. The main part of the building is made of brick.
The Lloyd Street Synagogue is very similar to another building designed by Robert Cary Long, Jr. in 1842, called St. Peter the Apostle Church.
Oldest Synagogues
The Lloyd Street Synagogue is the third oldest synagogue building in the United States. This means only two other synagogue buildings are older and still standing. Those two are the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island and the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue in Charleston, South Carolina. Both of these older synagogues are still used for worship today.
Historical Recognition
Because of its importance, the building has received special recognition. It was named a Baltimore City Landmark in 1971. Then, in 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is also located within the Baltimore National Heritage Area.
Ancient Discovery
In 2011, archaeologists made an exciting discovery under the synagogue. They found a mikveh. A mikveh is a special bath used for ritual cleansing in Judaism. Experts believe this might be the oldest known mikveh in the United States!
See also
- Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Synagogue
- History of the Jews in Baltimore
- Jewish Museum of Maryland
- Oldest synagogues in the United States
