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November 29, 2010

Your pick for the symbol of Baltimore

WashMonumentSweeney.jpg

Photograph of the Washington Monument by Baltimore Sun photographer Gene Sweeney Jr.

 

The ayes have it: Your pick for the symbol of Baltimore is a landmark with a name that makes most Americans think of an entirely different city.

The Washington Monument, built between 1815 and 1829 in the city's Mount Vernon neighborhood, actually predates the better-known obelisk constructed in George Washington's honor in the city that bears his name. Baltimore's arguably cooler Washington Monument was the most popular choice in the (far from official) Wonk poll, with 21 percent of votes cast.

Second: The star-shaped Fort McHenry, of national anthem fame, with 17 percent of the vote.

The Bromo Seltzer Tower came in third, with 13 percent, followed by the Natty Boh brewery building, at 11 percent.

The various choices -- there were more, including Camden Yards (10 percent) and the National Aquarium (9 percent) -- were all suggested by readers.

One that wasn't on the poll but proved a strong write-in candidate was the Domino Sugar sign, which got 10 votes -- about 4 percent. (To put that into perspective: the Battle Monument, which is actually on Baltimore's flag, got 2 percent of the vote.)

Several readers wrote in the rowhouse, which is certainly vintage Bawlmer. "Especially one that is covered in formstone," wrote Pete from Highlandtown.

And one person (or perhaps not a person?) wrote in the Male/Female sculpture, that much-maligned bit of public art at Penn Station.

A separate poll asked you what you thought of the metal sculpture proposed for the redevelopment of Westport in Baltimore, the news item that originally started this discussion about symbols. Thirty-one percent dislike the sculpture, 30 percent can take it or leave it, 22 percent hate it, 13 percent like it and the rest -- about 3 percent -- love it.

That's a thumbs down from just over half and a thumbs up from 16 percent, with the rest saying "meh."

Thanks for playing, folks. That was fun. Care to start a debate about the symbol of Maryland?

Posted by Jamie Smith Hopkins at 7:00 AM | | Comments (5)
Categories: Architecture/art
        

Comments

Natty Boh brewery building...Natty Boh is my north star of Baltimore when I'm lost.

For Baltimore City, I'd have to say the Clock tower as #1, GW's monument as #2 and Ft McHenry as #3. For the State, the clipper ship.

Baltimore is a city of neighborhoods. Almost every neighborhood has its own identifiable symbol and culture. The Shot tower, The Pagoda, Howard Street bridge, St. Bernadines in Edmondson Village, Seventh Baptist in Charles North, The "Castle on the Hill", The Row homes in Charles Village or the Christmas homes in Hampden. I gues my point is Baltimore is more than Canton, Federal Hill and Mt. Vernon... much more. Sure, its fun hanging out in the city without seeing BPD blue lights, but visit Pete's Grille, grab a crabcake at Kocos Pub or a hot dog on Eastern Avenue and discover the charm of Charm CIty.
ps
That Man/Woman sculpture SUCKS.

Symbol of MD? I vote for the blue crab.

You mention that our Washington Monument predates DC's. But it should be added that they were both built by the same person. My understanding is that the Federal Governemnt liked the architechts Baltimore monument enough to hire him to do one in DC

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About Jamie Smith Hopkins
Jamie Smith Hopkins, a Baltimore Sun reporter since 1999, writes about the regional economy. Her reporting on the housing market has won national and local awards. Hopkins is a Columbia native and has lived in Maryland all her life, save for 10 months spent covering schools in Ames, Iowa.
She trained to become a wonk by spending large chunks of time as a geek and an insufferable know-it-all.
Baltimore Sun articles by Jamie
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