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History 21201:
Interesting, amazing and factual*
accounts covering some of
Baltimore's firsts (and a few special key happenings) - this list is compiled from various websites and
directories... the best creative use of "Baltimore's Firsts" are on the menus at
Tug's
Restaurant at the Tremont Plaza Hotel.
1743
First professional sports organization in the United States -
Maryland Jockey Club
1773
First US stage coach route - Baltimore to Philadelphia
1783
First dredger in the world - the Baltimore Mud Machine, was invented
by Andrew and John Ellicott
1784
First balloon ascension in the US with a person on board - Edward
Warren
1792
The first monument to Columbus in the United States was built
1792
First water company chartered in the United States - Baltimore Water
Company
1796
First sugar refinery in the United States - founded by Garts &
Leypoldt
1797
First war ship from the United States to capture an enemy vessel:
Constellation
1803
First electric refrigerator – named and invented by Thomas Moore
The Refrigerator Patent
- U.S. Patent Office
1814
Birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner - written by Francis Scott
Key at Fort McHenry
1815
First manufacturers of silverware in the United States - Samuel Kirk
Company
1815
The first permanent monument to George Washington was built
1816
First city to illuminate streets with hydrogen gas
1828
First American umbrella factory - William Beehler
1828
First railroad for commercial transportation of passengers and
freight B & O railroad
1830
First coal burning steam locomotive built - Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb Racing
the Horse and Rail Wagon
1830
First operating railroad depot in the United States - Mt. Clare
Station
1837
Baltimore Sun began publication
1840
First steam boating company in the US - Baltimore steam packet Co.
1844
World's first telegraph line established between Baltimore and
Washington, DC - Samuel Morse
1848
First ice cream freezer - patented by W. G. Young
1856
First Elevator to be operated by electrical power using the
revolving drum method to store and release the hoisting cable -
invented by James Bates
1869
First candy factory to produce licorice - J.S. Young Company
1875
The first monument to Edgar Allan Poe
1876
Johns Hopkins University founded
1878
First animal welfare association - American Humane Society
1879
First synthetic sweetening agent - Saccharine, developed at Johns
Hopkins University
1885
First commercial electric street car line - Baltimore to Hampden
1886
First public Library System with branches - Enoch Pratt Free
Library
1890
First steam tanker built in America The Maverick by W.T. Malster
1891
First commercial stomach antacid seltzer - Bromo-Seltzer, made by
Captain Isaac E. Emerson
1892
First Ouija board - invented and patented by Isaac and William Fuld
1897
First practical submarine in the US - "Argonaut," invented by Simon
Lake
1900
First time duck bowling introduced - at Diamond Bowling Alleys
1904
Downtown Baltimore destroyed by fire - The Great Baltimore Fire
1916
First portable electric drill with pistol grip - Black & Decker
1916
First municipal orchestra supported by public funds - Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra
1920
First factory to manufacture stainless steel - Rustless Iron & Steel
Company
1921
First Black musical on Broadway - written by Baltimorean Eubie
Blake, Shuffle Along
1925
First triple combination fireboat in service - operated by Baltimore
City Fire Dept
1932
Venetian blinds first produced in the United States by the Eastern
Venetian Blind Company
1946
First photograph of earth from space - produced at Johns Hopkins
Applied Physics Laboratory
1966
First baseball player to be named MVP in both leagues - Frank
Robinson
1967
First African-American to serve on the US supreme Court -
Baltimorean Thurgood Marshall
* OK, a few
of these still need to be verified.
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