Editing Inner Harbor

{{for|the Port of Baltimore|Port of Baltimore}}
{{Other uses|Inner Harbour (disambiguation){{!}}Inner Harbour}}
{{Use American English|date = March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
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| name                    = Inner Harbor<!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in -->
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| settlement_type         = [[List of Baltimore neighborhoods|Neighborhood]] <!-- such as Town, Village, City, Borough etc. -->
| image_skyline           = Inner Harbor 2020.jpg
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| image_caption           = The Inner Harbor in [[Baltimore]] in August 2020
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| population =  	1,839<ref name="pop">{{cite web|url=https://statisticalatlas.com/neighborhood/Maryland/Baltimore/Inner-Harbor/Overview|title=Overview of Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland (Neighborhood)|website=Statistical Atlas|access-date=April 30, 2021}}</ref>
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The '''Inner Harbor''' is a historic [[seaport]], [[tourist attraction]], and [[landmark]] in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]]. It was described by the [[Urban Land Institute]] in 2009 as "the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the world".<ref>"Announcement of 2009 ULI Awards for Excellence." Urban Land Institute, Atlanta, April 24, 2009.</ref> The Inner Harbor is located at the mouth of [[Jones Falls]], creating the wide and short northwest branch of the [[Patapsco River]].  The district includes any water west of a line drawn between the foot of President Street and the [[American Visionary Art Museum]].

The name "Inner Harbor" is used not just for the water but for the surrounding area of the city, with approximate street boundaries of [[President Street (Baltimore)|President Street]] to the east, [[Lombard Street (Baltimore)|Lombard Street]] to the north, [[Greene Street]] to the west, and [[Key Highway]] on the south. The harbor is within walking distance of [[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]] and [[M&T Bank Stadium]]. A [[Baltimore Water Taxi|water taxi]] connects passengers to [[Fells Point, Baltimore|Fells Point]], [[Canton, Baltimore|Canton]], and [[Fort McHenry]].

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Washington Monument, 1849, from Federal Hill 1a.jpg|thumb|Baltimore's Inner Harbor seen from [[Federal Hill, Baltimore|Federal Hill]] with the [[Washington Monument (Baltimore)|Washington Monument]] in the background in 1849]]
[[File:InnerHarbor.jpg|thumb|The Inner Harbor neighborhood is centered on a tourism-friendly plaza that surrounds part of the harbor.]]
While [[Baltimore]] has been a major U.S. seaport since the 18th century, the historically shallow water of the Inner Harbor prior to its manipulation through dredging was not conducive to large ships or heavy industry. These were concentrated in [[Locust Point, Baltimore|Locust Point]], [[Fell's Point, Baltimore|Fell's Point]], and [[Canton, Baltimore|Canton]].

In the mid-20th century, Baltimore suffered from the economic decline of restructuring common to many industrial cities in the United States. Old harbors were abandoned with the arrival of [[container ship]]s after World War II. Later, the old harbors were adapted as focal points to reconnect cities with their waterfronts, and develop public spaces, tourism, business, and housing.<ref>Ann Breen and Dick Rigby, "Waterfronts: Cities Reclaim Their Edge," ''The Waterfront Center,'' McGraw-Hill, 1994, pp. 20–23.</ref>

During the 1940s, John H. Threadgill, the head of the Steamship Trade Association, initiated a study for a cross-harbor bridge.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|543162584}} |title=Dinner To Boom Trade With Baltimore Held By Cincinnati Groups |work=The Sun |location=Baltimore |date=25 February 1938 |page=9 }}</ref> A bridge across the Inner Harbor of Baltimore was one idea that was discussed frequently. In his capacity as head of the association, Threadgill ultimately recommended that the idea for a cross-harbor bridge be abandoned, due to the fact that Baltimore relied heavily on a shipping trade and fears that the bridge would negatively impede the flow of shipping traffic at the [[Port of Baltimore]].<ref>Report to Honorable Theodore R. McKeldin on the proposed Cross harbor bridge. 1944. Baltimore, Md.: Steamship Trade Association of Baltimore.</ref> Threadgill was named head of Baltimore's Port Commission during the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|539009298}} |title=Shipping Group Elects Agent: U.S. Lines Officer Named to Port Commission |work=The Sun |location=Baltimore |date=3 July 1951 |page=13 }}</ref>

In the 1950s, economic changes ended both the freight and passenger use of the Inner Harbor, such as the [[Baltimore Steam Packet Company|Old Bay Line]]'s steamers. Rotting warehouses and piers were eventually torn down and replaced by open, grass-covered parkland that was used for recreational purposes and occasional large events.

The waterfront was gradually transformed with award-winning parks and plazas surrounded by office buildings, hotels and leisure attractions, which reversed the city's decline and became a model for urban renaissance in cities around the world.<ref>Jenni Hewett, "Here's a Man-Made Waterfront Aristotle would have liked," ''Morning Herald'', Sydney, Australia, October 27, 1983, p. 12.</ref> The renewal of Baltimore's Inner Harbor area began with the adoption of the {{convert|33|acre|adj=on}} [[Charles Center]] project by the City Council and Mayor [[Thomas D'Alesandro]] in March 1958. Between 1958 and 1965, Baltimore renewed the center of its business district by rebuilding Charles Center with office buildings, hotels, and retail shops.

At the beginning of mayor [[Theodore R. McKeldin]]'s second term in 1963, the redevelopment program was expanded to include {{convert|240|acre}} surrounding the Inner Harbor. Corporate headquarters and hotels were built around the shoreline of the Inner Harbor. A public park and promenade were added for leisure activity and community gatherings.

On July 4, 1976, following the rendezvous of Tall Ships in New York for the [[U.S. Bicentennial]], eight ships from other nations visited Baltimore, where they attracted a huge number of tourists. This interest helped spur the development of other tourist attractions&nbsp;– including the [[National Aquarium in Baltimore|National Aquarium]], [[Maryland Science Center]], and the [[Harborplace]] [[festival marketplace]] (operated by [[The Rouse Company]]), which opened on July 4, 1980.<ref>Martin L. Millspaugh, "Critical Mass," ''Evening Sun'', Baltimore, July 1, 1980, p. A11.</ref> The nearby [[Baltimore Convention Center]] and [[Hyatt|Hyatt Regency]] Baltimore Hotel added to the services and resulted in population density and visitors.

With the success of the Inner Harbor in the 1970s and 1980s, Baltimore became a worldwide tourist destination and model of urban planning and development. It influenced more than 100 other cities and won more than 40 national or international awards, including a citation by the [[American Institute of Architects]] in 1984 as "one of the supreme achievements of large-scale urban design and development in U.S. history".<ref>American Institute of Architects, press release, Washington, D.C., Feb 5, 1984.</ref>

In recent years, the area along the waterfront to the east of the Inner Harbor (in the direction of Fells Point and [[Little Italy, Baltimore|Little Italy]]) has been developed with condominiums, retail space, restaurants, and hotels&nbsp;– an ongoing project known as [[Inner Harbor East, Baltimore|Harbor East]].

While little development land remains around the Inner Harbor, the available land has been subject to many plans, which have not been realized. Recently completed projects include mixed-use developments incorporating office space, street-level retail, and condominiums, as well as hotel projects such as the [[Ritz Carlton]] Residences, a condominium project on [[Key Highway]] at the southeast corner of the Inner Harbor.

In September 2003, the Inner Harbor area was flooded by [[Hurricane Isabel]]. The [[Baltimore World Trade Center]] remained closed for a month, but all the other buildings were saved from flooding by the Inner Harbor development controls, which were created by the master developer team of Charles Center-Inner Harbor Management, Inc.

In March 2004, a [[water taxi]] capsized during a storm on the Northwest Branch of the [[Patapsco River]] near Fort McHenry. While occurring over a mile downstream of the Inner Harbor, the accident was associated with the Inner Harbor by news reports and casual observers. Five passengers died in the accident, which the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] determined was caused when the small pontoon-style vessel encountered unpredictable strong winds and waves.<ref name=ntsbsptx>{{cite web | url = http://www.marinelink.com/Story/NTSB:++Insufficient+Stability+Caused+Passenger+Vessel+to+Capsize-202310.html | title = Insufficient Stability Caused Passenger Vessel to Capsize | publisher = MarineLink.com | access-date = July 26, 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928175244/http://www.marinelink.com/Story/NTSB:++Insufficient+Stability+Caused+Passenger+Vessel+to+Capsize-202310.html | archive-date = September 28, 2007 }}</ref>

{{wide image|Baltimore-inner-harbor-sunset-2017-panorama.jpg|3000px|alt=Panorama of the Inner Harbor|[[Baltimore]]'s Inner Harbor at sunset in 2017 (panorama scrolls left and right)}}

==Attractions==
[[File:Aerial View of Baltimore Marine Center Inner Harbor and Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|View of Inner Harbor Marina and Lighthouse in July 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baltimoremarinecenters.com/About-BMC/Overview.aspx |title=Overview |publisher=Baltimore Marine Centers |access-date=December 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220190604/http://www.baltimoremarinecenters.com/About-BMC/Overview.aspx |archive-date=2016-12-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>]]

===Museums===
*[[American Visionary Art Museum]]
*[[Baltimore Public Works Museum]] (opened 1982; closed 2010)
*[[Baltimore Museum of Industry]]
*Civil War Museum at [[President Street Station]]
*[[Geppi's Entertainment Museum]] (opened 2006; closed 2018)
*[[Jewish Museum of Maryland]] at Lloyd Street Synagogue
*[[Maryland Science Center]]
*[[National Museum of Dentistry]]
*[[Port Discovery (museum)|Port Discovery Children's Museum]] on the site of the historic Baltimore fish market
*[[Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture]]
*[[Ripley's Believe It or Not!#Museums|Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium]]  (opened 2012; closed 2020)
*[[Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards]] (opened 2005; closed 2015)

===Ships===
[[File:Baltimore Inner Harbor in 2007.jpg|thumb|View from the Inner Harbor in April 2007]]
*[[Historic Ships in Baltimore]]:
**[[USCGC Taney (WHEC-37)|US Coast Guard Cutter WHEC-37]] – last fighting ship still afloat that survived the [[Pearl Harbor attack|attack]] on [[Pearl Harbor]]
**{{USS|Torsk|SS-423|6}}&nbsp;– [[Tench class submarine|''Tench''-class submarine]]; last ship to sink enemy vessel in [[World War II]]
**[[Lightship Chesapeake|Lightship ''Chesapeake'']]
**[[Seven Foot Knoll Light]]house
**{{USS|Constellation|1854|6}}&nbsp;– only [[American Civil War|Civil War]]-era ship still afloat
*Vessels on active/reserve status:
** {{SS|Wright|T-AVB-3|6}}&nbsp;– US Navy Aviation Logistics Support (roll-on/roll-off) container ship
*Former vessels
** {{USNS|Comfort|T-AH-20|6}}&nbsp;– US Navy hospital ship (in Baltimore through March 2013)

===Entertainment venues===
[[File:Baltimore Inner Harbor sunset.jpg|thumb|Sunset at Baltimore's Inner Harbor with the top of the [[Pier Six Pavilion]], a music venue on the Inner Harbor, visible in the foreground]]

====Sports====
*[[Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum]]
*[[Baltimore Grand Prix]], a street race for [[Indycar]] and [[American Le Mans Series]]
*[[Camden Yards Sports Complex]]
**[[M&T Bank Stadium]], home of the [[Baltimore Ravens]]
**[[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]], home of the [[Baltimore Orioles]]
**[[Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards]] (closed 2015)

====Concert halls and arenas====
*[[Baltimore Convention Center]]
*[[CFG Bank Arena]] (formerly known by various other names)
*[[Pier Six Pavilion]]
*[[Power Plant Live!]], a collection of bars and clubs that includes [[Rams Head Live!]]

===Notable architecture===
* [[National Katyń Memorial]]
* Bnai Israel&nbsp;– an active [[Moorish Revival]] synagogue
The Lloyd Street Synagogue, just up the street, is a museum. Between the two synagogue buildings is the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

===Other attractions===
[[File:BaltimoreNationalAquarium.JPG|thumb|The [[National Aquarium in Baltimore|National Aquarium]], one of the world's largest aquariums, in the Inner Harbor]]
*[[National Aquarium in Baltimore]]
*[[Harborplace|Harborplace and the Gallery]]
*[[Maryland Science Center]]
*The [[Pratt Street Power Plant]] (containing [[Hard Rock Cafe]] and other restaurants, and formerly the original [[ESPN Zone]], which closed in June 2010.)
*Top of the World at the [[Baltimore World Trade Center]]
*Holocaust Memorial
*Columbus Center, home of the [[University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute]]
*Lockwood Place
*[[Baltimore Visitor Center]]
*[[Lloyd Street Synagogue]], the [[Oldest synagogues in the United States|third-oldest synagogue in the United States]], now a museum
*[[McKeldin Square]]

==Free speech==
[[File:Pedestal base of Christopher Columbus statue 2.jpeg|thumb|Only the pedestal base of the Christopher Columbus statue remains in Inner Harbor; on July 4, 2020, the statue was thrown into the harbor as part of the [[George Floyd protests]].]]
As a central and busy part of Baltimore, the Inner Harbor has been the site of much political and artistic activity. The city is involved in ongoing disputes over [[free speech]] in the area. One early conflict concerned marchers for gay rights, whose permit was revoked by the city. (The city announced that only five or fewer people could march, and that they could not carry signs.)<ref name=Gunther21Sept84>{{cite news|last=Gunther|first=Katie|title=City rescinds gay-rights march permit at harbor|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=21 September 1984|location=Proquest|id={{ProQuest|536612295}}}}</ref>

[[The Rouse Company]], which began operating [[Harborplace]] in 1980, has long been in conflict with street performers. The company regulates performances, and has often been accused of suppressing free speech.<ref name=CP02 /> These disputes came to a head in 2002–2003, when two events triggered a lawsuit against the city.

===ACLU lawsuit===
On October 21, 2002, street performer Jerry Rowan was banned from the area for making an "insensitive" joke. Discussing the then-current [[Beltway sniper attacks|D.C. sniper]] case, Rowan said: "I was driving downtown this morning, and on the radio I heard that they've finally come out with a composite of the sniper, so there should be an arrest forthcoming. Apparently, he's a white guy that speaks Spanish and looks like he's Arab."<ref name=CP02>{{cite news|last=Ditkoff|first=Anna|title=Send Out the Clowns|url=http://www2.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=4730|access-date=13 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore CityPaper|date=6 November 2002}}</ref> Police officers overheard the joke and reported it to Rouse. The company had previously sent a letter to Rowan admonishing him for "off-color humor", as well as "lack of respect for program administrators". After this report, the company banned him from the area.<ref name=CP02 />

On April 4, 2003, a police officer asked Baltimore's Women in Black to disband.<ref name=Wilson8Oct03>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Kimberly A.C.|title=First Amendment lawsuit against the city expanded|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/10/08/first-amendment-lawsuit-against-the-city-expanded/|access-date=18 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=8 October 2003}}</ref> The group had (and has) gathered in [[McKeldin Square]] every Friday since September 11, 2002.

Rowan and the Women in Black filed suit against the city of Baltimore on October 7, 2003, arguing their right of free speech. They were assisted by attorney Rajeev Goyle on behalf of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]].<ref name=Wilson8Oct03 />

The lawsuit was resolved in 2013 in a settlement that resulted in a [[consent decree]] with the city, creating "instant permits" for spontaneous demonstrations and waived permit requirements for groups of 30 people or less. The negotiations with the ACLU, the city, The Rouse Company, and The Waterfront Partnership in the settlement yielded other specific results in favor of free speech activities. [[McKeldin Square]], Rash Field, Kaufman Pavilion, the area West of the Visitor Center, and Area 10 were all designated as official free-speech zones.  Additionally, the settlement required the City of Baltimore to pay the attorney's fees for the ACLU.<ref>{{cite web |title=Free Speech Rights Significantly Expanded in Baltimore's Inner Harbor |url=https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/free-speech-rights-significantly-expanded-baltimores-inner-harbor |website=American Civil Liberties Union |access-date=10 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Elsewhere, police enforce rules against protest. On May 21, 2011, teacher Bruce Friedrich was threatened with arrest while handing out animal rights pamphlets.<ref name=Hermann27May11>{{cite news|last=Hermann|first=Peter|title=Baltimore police tell teacher to stop leafleting at Inner Harbor|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/05/27/baltimore-police-tell-teacher-to-stop-leafleting-at-inner-harbor/|access-date=18 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=27 May 2011}}</ref> On September 18, 2011, police arrested artist Mark Chase for selling his paintings "in or near" the Inner Harbor amphitheater. "Your constitutional rights have nothing to do with the law," said the arresting officer when Chase objected on [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] grounds.<ref name=Hermann19Sept12>{{cite news|last=Hermann|first=Peter|title=Arrest at Inner Harbor renews free speech debate|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/09/19/arrest-at-inner-harbor-renews-free-speech-debate/|access-date=18 July 2012|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=19 September 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Baltimore/Inner Harbor}}
{{commons category|Baltimore Inner Harbor}}
*{{HAER |survey=MD-86 |id=md1325 |title=Baltimore Inner Harbor, Northwest branch of Patapsco River south of Pratt Street & between Light Street & Jones Falls, Baltimore, Independent City, MD |photos=1 |data=16 |cap=1}}
*{{HAER |survey=MD-86-A |id=md1326 |title=Baltimore Inner Harbor, Pier 5, South of Pratt Street between Market Place & Concord Street |photos=17 |data=16 |cap=3 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=MD-86-B |id=md1327 |title=Baltimore Inner Harbor, Pier 6, South of Pratt Street between Concord Street & Jones Falls outlet |photos=10 |data=10 |cap=3 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=MD-86-C |id=md1585 |title=Baltimore Inner Harbor, Pier 4, South side of Pratt Street between Frederick Street & Market Place |photos=7 |data=14 |cap=2 |link=no}}

{{geographic location
|Centre =Inner Harbor
|North =[[Downtown Baltimore]]
|South =[[Federal Hill, Baltimore|Federal Hill]]
|Northwest =[[Westside, Baltimore|Westside]]
|West =[[Camden Station|Camden Yards]]
|Southwest =[[Otterbein, Baltimore|Otterbein]]
|Southeast =[[Patapsco River]]
|East =[[Inner Harbor East, Baltimore|Inner Harbor East]]
|Northeast =[[Jonestown, Baltimore|Jonestown]]}}

{{Baltimore neighborhoods}}
{{Portal bar|Maryland|Baltimore}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Inner Harbor, Baltimore| ]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Neighborhoods in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in the United States]]
[[Category:Ports and harbors of Maryland]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Downtown Baltimore]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Patapsco River]]