Court Square Building-Business and Government Historic District - Baltimore MD - NRHP Historic Districts - Contributing Buildings on Waymarking.com

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.

Generally the buildings feature classical detailing, symmetry, brick or smooth stone facades, and a heavy cornice at the roof line, however there is a wide range of styles in this heterogeneous, urban district. Among the most distinctive structures in the district are the small classical banks, early high rise office buildings, "revival buildings" (small commercial structures designed as a revival of a foreign architectural style) and the courthouses.

The street plan conforms to a fairly strict grid pattern. Major landscaping features are Monument Square centered on the 52 foot marble Battle Monument erected 1815-1825, War Memorial Plaza to the west of the War Memorial building, and the open space in front of the Fish Market.

Court Square Building-200 East Lexington Street

Nomination Form Page 12
By 1925, the rebuilding effort after the Baltimore Fire was complete. Except for some deterioration and a little new construction, there have been few changes to the basic early twentieth century fabric of the district, as compared to other sections of downtown Baltimore. In the late 1920s, two high rise buildings were constructed which depart from the classic design of earlier high rise structures. The Court Square Building (200-204 East Lexington Street) featured Gothic detailing.

Name of Historic District (as listed on the NRHP): Business and Government Historic District Link to nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com page with the Historic District: [Web Link] Address: 200 East Lexington 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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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/29/2021 Don.Morfe visited it