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Historic can have several meanings. One might relate to the site of national historic events. Another may relate to remaining historic buildings. If one's definition of historic is tied to the number of remaining historic structures, two cities in RI would make the list.
Providence: Founded 1636, birthplace of America's religious freedom. Home to the First Baptist Church of America. Early seaport and later important industrial center. Home to Ivy League member Brown University (founded 1764).
First Baptist Church of America 1775
Brown - University Hall 1770
Market House 1775
Newport: Founded 1639. Originally an important seaport. 4th most populous city in the colonies in the mid 18th century. Home to the first synagogue in US. Later the first resort in America. Home of the Gilded Age mansions, summer homes of America's most wealthy families.
Old Colony House 1741
Truro Synagogue 1763
Redwood Library 1750
Hunter House 1748
Great Friends Meeting House (Quaker House of Worship) 1699
When discussing the "most historic" cities and towns in the US, many people automatically think of cities which were particularly important in colonial and revolutionary times, which is fair enough, but there is a lot more history in the US as well.
Philadelphia: Founded 1682, meeting place for the Founding Fathers and site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, served as an early US capital, lots of colonial and revolutionary history, and has continued to be an important city Boston: Founded 1630, tons of colonial and revolutionary history, an important city since the birth of our country Saint Augustine: Founded in 1565. Oldest continuously inhabited European established settlement in the Continental US New York: Founded 1625 by the Dutch as New Amsterdam, has grown to be the largest and most important city in the country. Washington, DC: Founded in 1790, so it is younger than many other historic US cities, but it is the capital. Think of all the decisions that have been made in DC that have affected the course of US and world history. Santa Fe: Founded in 1610. Oldest capital city in the US Charleston: Founded in 1670, a very important port in colonial, revolutionary, and early federal days. Was a top 10 city until 1840. Not as important nationally now, but that has helped it retain its historic flavor New Orleans: Founded 1718: tons of history from its days under French, Spanish, and finally US rule. Many historic buildings are still there.
Once again, no Baltimore. It was as important as any of these cities during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods and has probably as many historic sites from that era. Providence was pretty important too.
Once again, no Baltimore. It was as important as any of these cities during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods and has probably as many historic sites from that era. Providence was pretty important too.
As a true Baltimore partisan, it gives me no pleasure to tell you that you are wrong. The area was certainly settled in the Colonial/Revolutionary period but the three small towns that made up the place at the time were of no consequence. After the revolution the place became a true boomtown and by 1814 it was a place worth attacking!
The American victory in the revolution had a direct hand in the growth after the war. Baltimore was the seaport with the best access to the Ohio valley - which was opened for commerce by the American victory.
People like to underrate or forget about NYC's historic status because it has so much else to brag about whereas some of these other cities focus on their historic nature more.
There is a reason its the biggest city. It didn't just gain prominence in the modern times.
As a true Baltimore partisan, it gives me no pleasure to tell you that you are wrong. The area was certainly settled in the Colonial/Revolutionary period but the three small towns that made up the place at the time were of no consequence. After the revolution the place became a true boomtown and by 1814 it was a place worth attacking!
The American victory in the revolution had a direct hand in the growth after the war. Baltimore was the seaport with the best access to the Ohio valley - which was opened for commerce by the American victory.
Baltimore was important enough to host the Second Continental Congress in 1776, and "Baltimore played a key part in events leading to and including the American Revolution." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltim...19th_centuries I realize that Baltimore was a collection of towns prior to incorporation in 1796, but that collection of towns was still pretty important. If I'm not mistaken Philadelphia was much the same way, with Southwark and Northern Liberties being separate towns until the early 1800s.
I'm not saying that Baltimore was the most important city in the U.S. during the Colonial period, but that it was important and is often overlooked in these discussions. Putting that aside, I don't think you can honestly argue that Baltimore ISN'T one of the nations most historic cities. The historic sites/buildings there seem endless.
Tomorrow the UNESCO World Heritage Cities vote to make Philly the first American city to join the ranks under the criteria of:
Quote:
The universal principles of the right to revolution and self-government as expressed in the U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776) and Constitution (1787), which were debated, adopted, and signed in Independence Hall, have profoundly influenced lawmakers and politicians around the world. The fundamental concepts, format, and even substantive elements of the two documents have influenced governmental charters in many nations and even the United Nations Charter.
Putting that aside, I don't think you can honestly argue that Baltimore ISN'T one of the nations most historic cities. The historic sites/buildings there seem endless.
You're absolutely correct. More than 65,000 properties, or roughly one in three buildings in the city, are now listed on the National Register, according to a recent report by the local chapter of the Urban Land Institute and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which examined ways to ease the repurposing of the city's historic buildings. That's more than any other city in the nation, it said. The city also has more public monuments per capita than any other US city. Historic districts increase as city considers changes - Baltimore Sun
As of today, the entire City of Philadelphia is now a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Quote:
Add it to the list of notable Philadelphia firsts.
On Friday, Philly became the first U.S. municipality to gain the elite title of World Heritage City, joining the likes of Paris, Florence, Jerusalem, St. Petersburg and Prague.
Baltimore was important enough to host the Second Continental Congress in 1776, and "Baltimore played a key part in events leading to and including the American Revolution." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltim...19th_centuries I realize that Baltimore was a collection of towns prior to incorporation in 1796, but that collection of towns was still pretty important. If I'm not mistaken Philadelphia was much the same way, with Southwark and Northern Liberties being separate towns until the early 1800s.
I'm not saying that Baltimore was the most important city in the U.S. during the Colonial period, but that it was important and is often overlooked in these discussions. Putting that aside, I don't think you can honestly argue that Baltimore ISN'T one of the nations most historic cities. The historic sites/buildings there seem endless.
Regarding Baltimore and the colonial period:
I have read a number of books about the Revolution and the Colonial Period and honestly Baltimore is almost never mentioned. Baltimore was pretty much a backwater in the Revolution.
The British did not even bother to try and capture the city during the Revolution in contrast to cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Savannah, Williamsburg, Norfolk and Newport. And to my knowledge there were no real major battles anywhere in Maryland in contrast to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia and the Carolinas.
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It was as important as any of these cities during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods and has probably as many historic sites from that era. Providence was pretty important too.
