Discovering LGBTQ History

Preservation Maryland will lead a collaborative of academic, municipal, and community stakeholders in a statewide strategy to document and  include the important and lasting contributions of Maryland’s LGBTQ community and the places associated with their lives with new and updated nominations to the National Register of Historic Places.


Partners: Maryland Historical Trust, University of Maryland, City of Baltimore Commission on Architectural and Historical Preservation, Montgomery County Planning, Baltimore Heritage

The Problem

There are only 18 historic sites recognized for LGBTQ history out of a collection of 1.4 million contributing resources, buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects, on the National Register of Historic Places. None of the are in Maryland.

The Fix

Preservation Maryland will lead a collaborative of academic, municipal, and community stakeholders in a statewide strategy to document and include the important and lasting contributions of Maryland’s LGBTQ community and the places associated with their lives with new and updated nominations to the National Register of Historic Places.

Updates

OCTOBER 2020

During National LGBTQ History Month, Preservation Maryland is proud to announce the completion and acceptance of Maryland’s groundbreaking LGBTQ Historic Context Study. The Context Study is a milestone in Preservation Maryland’s multi-year commitment to LGBTQ heritage visibility and diversification of the historic record. The full report is now available online to the public.

Press Release

Access Full Report

JUNE 2020

With a grant from the Maryland Historical Trust through the Certified Local Government Program of the National Park Service, Preservation Maryland has selected Dr. Susan Ferentinos to begin work on the state’s first National Register nominations for properties significant for their LGBTQ heritage. In Baltimore City, the properties that are planned to be nominated to the National Register include the site of early 1920-30s social events and drag performances in West Baltimore, a long-running bar, and a health clinic important in the era of the AIDS epidemic that is still serving Baltimore’s LGBTQ community. In Montgomery County, the residences of two influential and out Marylanders will be documented and submitted to the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties.

Press Release

September 2019

Preservation Maryland is seeking proposals for the preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations and amendments for sites related to LGBTQ history in Montgomery County and Baltimore City. This project is supported with a grant from a Certified Local Government grant from the National Park Service through the Maryland Historical Trust.

Access the RFP Online

See More Updates

RESOURCES

02/2019
Resource Guide: Looking for LGBTQ+ History on Your Campus
Preservation Maryland

12/2018
A Place to Start: A Toolkit for Documenting LGBTQ Heritage in Baltimore City (And Beyond)
University of Maryland, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation

2018
Maryland Historical Society LGBTQ Collection Acquisition Information
Maryland Historical Society

2018
LGBTQ America HistoryPin Map
National Park Service

2016
LGBTQ Heritage Theme Study
National Park Service

2011
LGBTQ Heritage Initiative
Baltimore Heritage

Save History Today

The Six-to-Fix program allows Preservation Maryland to take direct action to fulfill its mission to protect the best of Maryland. Your donation helps provide technical assistance through Preservation Maryland staff and preservation experts to threatened and underutilized historic places – your donation has a direct impact on saving Maryland architecture and history.

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Be Part of the Fix

You can help. Six-to-Fix rallies the Maryland preservation community around discrete and necessary tasks and projects to advance each project. Folks with all skills and interests are encouraged to sign-up. You will receive periodic announcements with opportunities to participate, and we hope you can join us to save history together.

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