MY Community
OUR COMMUNITY
The Waterfront in My City
Brief History:
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has been central to the city’s identity for centuries. It was once one of the most important seaports in the U.S., fueling trade, shipbuilding, and immigration. In the late 20th century, it was redeveloped as a hub for tourism, culture, and public gathering, symbolizing the city’s resilience and reinvention.
Reflection
For me, the water represents both history and possibility. It reminds me of my own journey, crossing oceans from India to the U.S., carrying my roots while creating a new chapter. The harbor is a place of connection, but also a reminder that transformation requires both preservation and innovation.
Why Baltimore for fieldwork
Additional Information
I chose Baltimore because I see it as a city where elders carry both wisdom and vulnerability. Many older residents here struggle with daily challenges—remembering medicines, accessing care, or simply finding spaces where they feel safe and connected. Through my fieldwork, I want to sit with them, listen, and understand what livability truly means in their lives.
This isn’t just research—it’s personal. My hope is to explore solutions like medicine reminders and healthy aging supports that honor dignity and independence. Baltimore gives me the chance to learn directly from elders and their communities, and to imagine how placemaking can help them live not just longer, but healthier, more meaningful lives.
HISTORY OF HIGHLAND TOWN
History of Highland Town
Highlandtown began its life shortly after the Civil War, when the area—then known as “Snake Hill”—was largely undeveloped and, before that, the site of Fort Marshall, a Union-built bastion fort designed to defend eastern approaches to Baltimore. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2 After the war, Fort Marshall was decommissioned, its structures disman
Highlandtown began its life shortly after the Civil War, when the area—then known as “Snake Hill”—was largely undeveloped and, before that, the site of Fort Marshall, a Union-built bastion fort designed to defend eastern approaches to Baltimore. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2 After the war, Fort Marshall was decommissioned, its structures dismantled, and the land redeveloped. Wikipedia+1
In 1866 the area was formally laid out as a village by Irish immigrant Thomas McGuinness under the ownership of the Philadelphia Land Company, who planted trees and mapped streets—this marked the beginning of Highlandtown’s identity as a residential community. highlandtown.com Early industry followed: one of the first was the Fort Marshall Brewery (circa 1869), which became a social hub with a beer garden, dancing pavilion, and other amenities. highlandtown.com+2Wikipedia+2
By 1870 the community adopted the name “Highland Town” (later Highlandtown), inspired by the elevated terrain that gave views over parts of the city. Wikipedia+2highlandtown.com+2 Over time, the neighborhood expanded with waves of European immigrants—German, Polish, Czech, Italian, Irish, Greek, and Ukrainian workers—drawn by nearby factories, shipyards, and rail jobs. chap.baltimorecity.gov+4Homes+4Wikipedia+4 In many ways, Highlandtown grew as a working-class immigrant enclave, with rowhouses, corner stores, small industries, and strong pedestrian- and streetcar-based connectivity. Visit Baltimore+3chap.baltimorecity.gov+3Live Baltimore+3
The neighborhood was annexed into Baltimore city in 1919. Wikipedia As the city industrialized, Highlandtown’s economy also shifted: factories closed over the mid-20th century, department stores retreated, and some residents faced disinvestment and decline starting in the 1970s. chap.baltimorecity.gov+3Wikipedia+3Live Baltimore+3 Nevertheless, the area remained a cultural crossroads; in the late 20th and early 21st century, the demographic profile evolved further, with a growing Latino population joining the longer-established European and African American communities. chap.baltimorecity.gov+4Wikipedia+4Homes+4 Highlandtown is also part of the Patterson Park/Highlandtown Historic District, a designation that recognizes its role in Baltimore’s pattern of immigrant working-class settlement and its characteristic rowhouse streetscapes. chap.baltimorecity.gov+2Wikipedia+2
Today, Highlandtown is known for its vibrant arts presence, ethnic eateries, murals, community festivals, and a mix of new and old—reflecting resilience through change
