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Discover Worlds of Culture

Culture is art, music and dance.  It’s language, tradition and history.  It’s what we eat, what we wear and how we live.  Culture is an open door, inviting us to learn more about each other—and ourselves.  In families, neighborhoods and cities across America, cultures meet, blend and expand.

So it was in Baltimore.  In 1729, immigrants began to arrive here to build neighborhoods and communities.  People of Native American, European, Asian and African descent were among Baltimore’s first residents.  In the early 1800s, when slavery was still a legal institution in the United States, many African-Americans found freedom in Baltimore, forming one of the largest “freed” communities in the country.

The complexity of our nation’s history—from colonialism and American slavery to immigration and international trade—reflects a reality as global as it is American.  America’s story is Baltimore’s story.

We invite you to see Baltimore anew, from a cultural perspective.  Baltimore: Discover Worlds of Culture is our way of introducing you to the many voices that make up Baltimore’s cultural mix.  As you explore our city, listen for these voices.  Look for yourself in their stories.  You’ll be surprised and inspired by what you find.