MIDTOWN-EDMONDSON HISTORIC DISTRICT
OFFICIAL LISTING 02/21/25
The Midtown-Edmondson Historic District was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in February of 2025, recognizing its architectural significance and vital role in African American history in Baltimore. Covering approximately 80 blocks, the district includes more than 1,000 contributing structures—predominantly early 20th-century rowhouses—built between 1880 and 1940. These homes feature a variety of architectural styles, including Italianate, Classical Revival, and Art Deco influences, unified by consistent brickwork, flat roofs, and signature Baltimore marble steps.
The designation acknowledges Midtown-Edmondson’s importance as a stable, middle-class African American community during the era of racial segregation and disinvestment. It was home to educators, clergy, laborers, and professionals, and it thrived as a self-sufficient neighborhood with businesses, churches, and social institutions that served its residents during times when opportunities in other parts of the city were restricted.
The National Register listing helps preserve this cultural and architectural legacy by making properties within the district eligible for tax credits and incentives for historic rehabilitation. It also raises the neighborhood’s profile as a place of historical value, helping to inform planning and development efforts that honor the community’s past. Inclusion on the Register was driven by local advocacy and a desire to preserve not only buildings but the stories and identity of a proud neighborhood.
As Baltimore works to revitalize its urban core, Midtown-Edmondson’s historic designation underscores its potential to lead a preservation-based approach to equitable development, merging heritage with forward-looking investment.