Library Closed July 28, 2021
To accommodate the Summer Teacher Institute, the H. Furlong Baldwin Library will be closed to patrons on Wednesday, July 28.
Plan Your Next Library Visit
The Maryland Center for History and Culture is more than a museum and library. We provide space for discovery and developing a deeper understanding of the nation’s history and culture through the lens of Maryland.
Discover Maryland
Discover MarylandOpen Through March 2022
Who are Marylanders, why are they so obsessed with their flag, and what does duckpin bowling have to do with the Baltimore Orioles? This exhibition explores how Maryland and its people have changed since its founding in 1634. Learn how the dynamic geography of the state drove its industry, population, and the identity of Marylanders, and how the arts and culture of Maryland reflect on its past. For traveling visitors and lifelong Marylanders, Discover Maryland shows there is much to uncover about Maryland. Open through March 2022.
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Wild and Untamed
Wild and UntamedDunton’s Discovery of the Baltimore Album Quilts—Open Through September 2022
Follow Dr. William Rush Dunton Jr. on his journey to understand the Baltimore album quilt tradition and learn how quilts served as the building blocks for his groundbreaking work in occupational therapy. Explore our internationally famous quilt collection, including never-before-seen pieces, and Dr. Dunton’s personal works to unravel a narrative that connects Dunton’s views on quilts, gender, and mental health in the 1940s. Open through September 2022.
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Losing Winter
Losing WinterOpen through July 2022
A frozen lake, a buried street, shoveling feet of snow as it begins to fall again—these special winter experiences serve as landmarks in our life and memory. Yet with each year, we find such moments are disappearing. At the heart of this participatory exhibition and art project are Marylanders’ memories about the winter season, collected by featured artist, Lynn Cazabon. These recollections intersect with individual lifetimes and places found in the film and photograph collection at MCHC and the UMBC Special Collections. Memories and images intertwine, providing a window into personal loss in the face of a changing climate. Open through July 2022.
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Flickering Treasures
Flickering TreasuresRediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters—Open Through September 2022
In 1896, Marylanders crowded to Electric Park to see the lights and attractions, including the very first moving-picture show. Movies were magical, transporting the viewers to new places, inviting them to escape their everyday lives, marvel at a new technology, gather news, and appreciate art. Movie theaters became symbols for the worlds they were unlocking, ethereal buildings where people gathered to take a journey together through the movie screen. Open through September 2022.
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Intimate Expressions
Intimate ExpressionsPersonal Diaries of Maryland Life—Open Through June 2022
A diary is a record of one’s most private thoughts, feelings, and view of life. It is also an important historical document, providing a very personal view of major moments in Maryland history. Located in our niche gallery outside of the library, this intimate space allows visitors to step into the minds of Marylanders, read their innermost thoughts, and see the world through their eyes. Open through June 2022.
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Dedicated to preserving the irreplaceable history of Maryland
The H. Furlong Baldwin Library invites visitors to explore the records of Maryland’s past and preserves irreplaceable historical materials for future generations.
Library Catalog
Digital Collections
Shake Up Maryland History!
Educational Programs
Students gain essential social studies skills by engaging with our collections in person and virtually.
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A Word From Our Members
Our members believe what we believe: history can illuminate the past, lend perspective to the present, and inform the future. Don’t take our word for it. Hear what they have to say.
Join or renewI am thrilled to see how [the MCHC] has become more open to the Baltimore community, especially in making materials more accessible through interactive exhibits and in research and scholarship. A membership is very cost-effective if you are actively researching in the collections.
Jean Lee Cole, Member Since 2013
Shaping the Future of History
With funding and support from this campaign, we are seeking to shape the future of how history is presented, connect with new audiences, and expand our national presence.
Share in Our VisionBlogs & Updates
All Updates
A ‘Triumphal’ and ‘Monster’ Parade: The June 1912 Baltimore Suffrage Parade[1]
One hundred nine years ago this month, Maryland suffragists took to the Baltimore streets in a momentous march for women’s […]
Read MoreGenerous leading support for this website was provided by the Sheridan Foundation with additional support from the Helen Clay Frick Foundation.