If you’ve ever been to the Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore, you’ve most likely seen the Battle Monument without ever batting an eye nor realizing the significance it holds. It was the first monument in the United States that was dedicated to soldiers rather than famous generals or political leaders. The monument honors those from Baltimore who died defending the city during the war of 1812.
So on a late Saturday afternoon, I took a ride over to the Battle Monument, while also checking out the Under Armour store! Streets surround the monument placed in the center of Calvert street, between office buildings and courthouses. I say you’ve most likely seen the Battle Monument, but maybe I should say you’ve definitely passed by it without realizing if you were ever shopping or getting a bite to eat downtown. It is almost easy to ignore everything that is going on in regard to city life. Traffic, buses hissing as they come to a nearby bus stop, people honking their horns, some walking by with their heads in their phone, and construction workers walking past after grabbing their lunch. This whole setting is what made the monument feel hidden in plain sight, rather than a historic site. However, when you do look up and see the monument, it hits you. It’s not just a random statue that sits in one of Baltimore’s hot spots for no reason. You see a tall column sitting upon a large base with bald eagles at the bottom and a lady with a crown on her head, holding a wreath at the top.
The first thing I wondered was who was at the top. With a little research, I was able to find out that she is called Lady Baltimore. Even though the statue holds much significance and was sculpted incredibly, it was cool to realize that this is different in certain ways from other patriotic memorials. There’s no big staircase, tourist crowds, or a fenced-off lawn. Yes, there is a fence that guards the statue itself, but you can be right up against it, and maybe even sit on the ledge of the base. In my opinion, the closeness makes the monument feel personal simply because it’s in a busy area where people walk by it every day. The location also gave me the feeling that this isn’t something meant to be distant in history, but allowing Baltimore’s past to live with the present.
Each soldier’s name is carved directly into the stone around the column, and that meant a lot about the city’s values. It doesn’t glorify one person. Rather, it lists the actual names of citizens, who sacrificed their lives, rather than commemorating the soldiers in a broader sense as a whole. I couldn’t help but think about the culture that Baltimore holds. Baltimore has always been a place shaped by ordinary people, immigrants, blue collar workers, and middle-class hard workers in general. The fact that this monument became the symbol on the Baltimore city flag points even further to how this city is made of toughness and grit. Moreover, the topic of ordinary and middle-class made me think about the location of the monument. It isn’t placed in a huge ceremonial plaza, but rather in the middle of everyday life around the lives of hard-working people and that shows the interconnectedness between citizens and the city itself.
If you want to take a look at the roots of Baltimore’s identity, the Battle Monument is definitely worth it. I promise it will not take up too much of your time, but it will definitely give you something to think about. Like I said before, this monument is on the Baltimore city flag!! That alone should give you enough encouragement to take a visit. There are also plenty of things to do, so if you want to base your day around lunch and shopping at a few stores, make sure to make your way around to the Battle Monument! You just may gain a new appreciation for Charm City!
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