Bearings Of Baltimore, Circa 1815 On Digital Display At Md. Historical Society
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- High-tech maps are one of the most effective ways to travel in 2014, but what about two centuries ago? What did Baltimore look like then?
As Gigi Barnett explains, there's one exhibit at the Maryland Historical Society that zooms in on Charm City, circa 1815.
The digital display is so large that it cannot be viewed with a regular computer. In fact, if you want to view the whole image of Baltimore, circa 1815, you would need about 1,200 HD television screens.
The touch-screen cutting-edge technology is definitely 21st century, but the building on the interactive map are nearly 200 years old.
A team of UMBC researchers spent the last two years sourcing historical documents like newspapers, insurance forms and city maps.
What emerged is a 3D representation of what the city looked like back in 1815 shortly after the bombing of Baltimore during The War of 1812.
It's on display at the Maryland Historical Society to mark the citywide celebration of the 200th anniversary.
"The things that happen during these kinds of anniversaries are lots of fireworks and lots of hoopla. Everybody has a good time and then it's over. Well, this is the kind of things that's going to be left behind," said Burt Kummerow, Maryland Historical Society.
Tamara Peters led the team of researchers on the project called Bearings of Baltimore, circa 1815. She says while some streets are renamed and building are gone; some landmarks remain.
But what draws many people to the display is the technology.
"We are so used to today living through our smart phones and our iPads. I think this is just a natural way for people of this generation to learn and to be exposed to things," Peters said.
Bearings of Baltimore, circa 1815 stays on display indefinitely.
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