Equitable Building-The Business and Government Historic District - Baltimore MD
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 39° 17.425 W 076° 36.745
18S E 360946 N 4350244
The Business and Government Historic District consists primarily of a group of governmental and commercial buildings that are located in the historic center of Baltimore. Included in the district is the Equitable Building.
Waymark Code: WM1437D
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 04/05/2021
Views: 2
National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form
The Business and Government Historic District consists primarily of a cohesive group of governmental and commercial buildings that are located in the historic center of Baltimore near the Inner Harbor. The district is generally characterized by classically influenced facades that line the street. The commercial buildings range from small two and three story high storefront structures to modern twenty-five story high office towers. Although there are extant buildings from the early nineteenth century to the present day, the overwhelming majority of buildings were constructed between 1900 and 1925, most in the decade following the 1904 fire.
From the plaque erected by the City of Baltimore, Baltimore Investment Associates, sponsor and William Donald Schaefer, mayor on the outside wall.
The Equitable Building-This building, designed in 1889 in the Richardson-Sullivan tradition by Charles L. Carson and Joseph Evans Sperry, was considered the first skyscraper to be erected in Baltimore. It is the oldest of the existing structures on Monument Square and once featured Turkish baths in the basement and a garden on the roof. Following the "cage form" of construction, a network of cast-iron columns and steel girders supported the floor-loads and interior of the building, while the exterior walls were entirely self-supporting.
During the Great Fire of 1904, must of the interior was damaged. The exterior walls, however, emerged relatively unscathed, and the building was immediately reconditioned by the owners.
Formerly on this site, from 1825 to 1889, stood Barnum's City Hote, internationally renowned for elegant accomodations, gracious service and excellent cuisine - including the famous diamondback terrapins which were exercised daily in the courtyard before being condemned to dinner.
Name of Historic District (as listed on the NRHP): The Business and Government Historic District
Link to nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com page with the Historic District: [Web Link]
Address:
12 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore MD 21202
How did you determine the building to be a contributing structure?: Narrative found on the internet (Link provided below)
Optional link to narrative or database: [Web Link]
NRHP Historic District Waymark (Optional): Not listed
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