Mount Washington, Baltimore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Washington Mill Historic District
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 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1330--1340 Smith Avenue and 1405-1407 Forge Ave., Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 4.8 acres (1.9 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000727, 01001376 |
| Added to NRHP | May 4, 1990, December 28, 2001 (Boundary Increase) |
Mount Washington is a neighborhood in northwest Baltimore, Maryland. It is known as a historic district. This means it has special buildings and areas that are important to history. The neighborhood is split into two main parts: South Road/Sulgrave and Dixon's Hill.
The Mount Washington Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This list includes places important to the history of the United States. More areas were added to the district in 2001.
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What is Mount Washington Like?
Mount Washington was once a very small area. Today, many people in nearby areas also say they live in Mount Washington. This includes parts of the 21209 and 21215 ZIP codes. Most of Mount Washington is inside Baltimore city. But some parts are in Baltimore County, near Pikesville.
The Mount Washington Improvement Association helps the neighborhood. This group works to make the area better for everyone.
Mount Washington is mostly a place where people live. But it also has two small shopping areas:
- Mount Washington Village: This area is near the Jones Falls Expressway. It has restaurants and shops. You can also find the Baltimore Light Rail's Mount Washington Station here.
- Mount Washington Mill: This used to be a textile mill. Now, it has been updated. It holds stores, shops, and offices. People often call this area Historic Mount Washington.
These two areas used to be connected. But the building of Interstate 83 separated them. Now, you have to travel a bit further to go between them.
A Look at Mount Washington's History
In 1854, two men, George Gelbach and Elias Heiner, bought a large piece of land. It was 314 acres near a mill village called Washingtonville. At first, the homes built here were for summer vacations. But Gelbach hoped Mount Washington would become a suburb of Baltimore. A suburb is a town or area just outside a big city.
More houses were built after the Civil War. Developers like John Graham built groups of homes in the South Road area. The northern part, Dixon's Hill, started when Thomas Dixon bought land in 1855. He developed it in the 1860s. Many people think Mount Washington was Baltimore's first suburb. It was part of Baltimore County until 1914. That is when it became part of Baltimore City.
Before 1968, some communities in Baltimore had rules about who could live there. These rules sometimes stopped African-Americans and other groups from buying homes. A newspaper ad from 1921 described Mount Washington as a "restricted community." This meant not everyone was allowed to buy houses there.
Major Roads in Mount Washington
Several important roads go through the Mount Washington area.
Right in the neighborhood:
- Interstate 83, also called the Jones Falls Expressway (JFX)
- Falls Road
- Kelly Avenue
- Greely Road
- Smith Avenue
Nearby roads that serve the wider area:
- Greenspring Avenue
- Cross Country Boulevard
- Pimlico Road
- Northern Parkway
- Lake Avenue
Other communities close to Mount Washington include:
- Village of Cross Keys (south)
- Cheswolde (west)
- Pimlico (west)
- Rodgers Forge (east)
- Ruxton (north)
Getting Around: Public Transportation
Mount Washington has good public transportation. It is run by the Maryland Transit Administration. The most famous is the Central Light Rail line. It has a stop in Mount Washington Village. The Light Rail can take you to downtown Baltimore, Hunt Valley, and BWI Airport. Trains usually come every 10 to 15 minutes.
The MTA also runs three bus lines in Mount Washington Village. All of these buses start at the Reisterstown Plaza Metro Subway Station.
- Route 27: This bus goes to areas like Hampden, downtown Baltimore, and Cherry Hill.
- Route 58: This bus goes to the Fallstaff area. It ends its route in Mount Washington.
- Route 60: This bus also serves Fallstaff. It continues north to Greenspring Station and Stevenson University.
Schools in the Area
The local public schools for Mount Washington are The Mount Washington School and Northwestern High School. However, many students from the community go to special "magnet schools." These include City College or Polytechnic Institute. Many families also choose to send their children to one of the private schools nearby.
Sports and Athletics
Mount Washington has a strong sports history. The Mount Washington Lacrosse Club started here in 1904. This club was very successful in lacrosse for much of the 20th century. Since 1999, the club has shared its home field, Norris Field, with the all-girls Bryn Mawr School.
Mount Washington is also home to the Meadowbrook Swim Club. It opened in 1930. Many famous swimmers trained here in the 1930s and 1940s. Today, it is used by the North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC). The NBAC is one of the best swimming clubs in the world. Many Olympic swimmers have trained with NBAC, including Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff, and Allison Schmitt. Paralympians Ian Silverman, Jessica Long, and Becca Meyers also train here.
Famous People from Mount Washington
- Elizabeth Turner Graham (1837-1920): She helped people during the Civil War. She also worked to organize women's movements and gave money to good causes.
- Charles L. Bennett: An astrophysicist, someone who studies stars and space.
- Duke Cameron: A heart surgeon.
- Katie Hoff: An Olympic swimmer.
- Doug Turnbull (1903–1906): A famous lacrosse player who is in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
