Watch CBS News

East Baltimore Historical Library Holds Grand Opening In Eager Park

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An idea that's been nearly two decades in the making became reality on Wednesday when city and community leaders celebrated the grand opening of the East Baltimore Historical Library.

Mayor Brandon Scott was on hand for the grand opening. Scott was joined by Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels and other community leaders for the ceremony, which was held in honor of the late Del. Hattie Harrison, who is credited with championing the library project.

Featuring galleries and exhibits showcasing the history of the neighborhood, the East Baltimore Historical Library resides within three historic row homes that were preserved during the construction of Henderson-Hopkins Elementary School.

Plans for the library began to take shape in 2002 when a development swept up 2,000 properties, forcing roughly 750 families to leave the neighborhood, according to Johns Hopkins University, which said community activist Nia Redmond rallied support for a place where residents could study East Baltimore's history.

Library visitors will be greeted by collections of photographs, documents, artwork, and other artifacts of East Baltimore. Besides galleries and exhibits, the library has space for events, from genealogy workshops to storytelling sessions.

The establishment of the library was made possible in part by support from Johns Hopkins and East Baltimore Development, Inc.

Wednesday's grand opening ceremony is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. at Henderson-Hopkins Elementary before moving to the library itself.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.