Baltimore boasts more historic structures than any other American city. Nearly one-third of all its buildings, or more than 65,000 structures, are on the National Register of Historic Places. During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” after watching bombs bursting over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. After the war, President John Quincy Adams commemorated the many fallen Baltimore heroes and toasted the kindness of the citizens of the “Monumental City”: “May the days of her safety be as prosperous and happy as the days of her danger have been trying and triumphant!” The “Monumental City” is the birthplace for treasured American icons, including Thurgood Marshall, Nancy Pelosi, and Babe Ruth. The Baltimore-Washington international airport is named for Marshall, a Supreme Court justice with deep roots in Baltimore. He was named after his great-grandfather Thoroughgood, a former slave. Three of Marshall’s grandparents lived in Baltimore shortly before serving in the Civil War. Marshall, who was educated in segregated schools, changed the course of U.S. history when he founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in 1940. In his 23 years as chief counsel for the fund, Marshall argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education. President Kennedy appointed him to the Second Circuit in 1961, where he served until President Johnson appointed him U.S. solicitor general in 1965. Johnson nominated Marshall to the Supreme Court in 1967, where he served for 24 years as its first African-American justice.Baltimore, the “City of Neighborhoods,” is home to more than 100,000 college students from across the globe. These diverse residents attend at least a dozen accredited colleges and universities, including Johns Hopkins University. The university and its hospital are two of the biggest employers in the city. College students love that Baltimore is ranked among the top 15 large cities for walkability. “Charm City” also boasts fabulous seafood (including its famous crab cakes and oysters from the Chesapeake Bay) and delicious desserts, such as Berger cookies and summer snowballs. Fortunately, a comprehensive system of bike routes and more than 4,900 acres of parks are available to work off those high-calorie delights.Baltimore also has a rich tax history. It played a key part in the American Revolution. After declaring itself independent in 1776, Baltimore briefly hosted the Continental Congress. The Maryland Line regiment fought courageously with General George Washington, resisting British excise taxes and sending staples to Boston when it was occupied
