War Memorial Plaza facts for kids
War Memorial Plaza is a special public space in Downtown Baltimore. It's like a small park located between City Hall and the War Memorial Building. This plaza is surrounded by Holliday Street, East Fayette Street, North Gay Street, and East Lexington Street. It's a place where people can gather and remember important history.
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A Look Back in Time: The Plaza's History
This area has a long and interesting past! Before it became War Memorial Plaza, many important buildings stood here.
Early Schools and Famous People
In the 1850s, Loyola High School and Loyola College first opened their doors on the northwest corner of this square. Later, a famous writer named Henry Louis Mencken went to a school nearby in the late 1880s. He became a well-known reporter and author for "Baltimore Sun" newspaper.
The Holliday Street Theatre and the National Anthem
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One of the most famous buildings here was the Holliday Street Theatre. It was a very popular playhouse in Baltimore for many years. Something truly special happened there in September 1814, during the War of 1812. It's believed that the future National Anthem, "The Defence of Fort McHenry," was first publicly sung on its stage!
This poem was written by Francis Scott Key. He wrote it after watching the British attack Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. The poem was later set to music, becoming the song we now know as "The Star-Spangled Banner."
A Hub for Social Life and Learning
Next to the theatre was the "Old Assembly-Rooms." Built in 1799, this building was a center for social events like dances and receptions. It also housed an important library. Later, in the 1840s, the "Central High School of Baltimore" moved into the building. This school was later renamed the "Baltimore City College" and is one of the oldest public high schools in America.
Changes and New Beginnings
In 1873, a big fire destroyed both the Holliday Street Theatre and the Old Assembly-Rooms. The theatre was rebuilt, and its owner, John T. Ford, also owned Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
By 1917, the entire block, including the rebuilt theatre, was torn down. This was done to create a new "civic center" for Baltimore. The goal was to make more space for city buildings and to open up the view of the beautiful Baltimore City Hall, which had been built nearby.
The War Memorial Building was then constructed in the early 1920s. It was dedicated in 1925 to honor Marylanders who died in World War I. This building is one of many memorials around the world built to remember "The Great War."
War Memorial Plaza Today
Today, War Memorial Plaza is an important part of Baltimore's city center. It's part of the Baltimore National Heritage Area, which helps protect and share the city's history.
The "Negro Soldier" Statue
In the plaza, you can see a statue called "Negro Soldier." It was created by local sculptor James E. Lewis in 1971. This statue honors African American soldiers. It was moved to War Memorial Plaza in 2007, so more people could see and appreciate it.
