NIRSA Region 1 Conference (Baltimore) October 19 – 21, 2006
"Learning & Leading Outside the Classroom"
Do MORE u Learn MORE u Meet MORE u B’ MORE
"Baltimore – A City of Firsts"
(from the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association)
One of Baltimore's many nicknames is "City of Firsts,"
for its nearly one hundred instances of first events in the US
1743: First professional sports organization in the United States -
Maryland Jockey Club
1772: First umbrella used in the United States manufactured in India (see 1828 for first umbrella manufactured in Baltimore)
1774: First Post Office system in the U.S. inaugurated by William Goddard
1778: First Independent Corps in the Revolutionary War army organized by Count Pulaski
1784: First U.S. balloon ascension in this country by Edward Warren in vicinity of the area now occupied by the Washington Monument.
1784: Methodist Church in America established Lovely Lane Meeting House.
1789: First Roman Catholic Bishop in the U.S.: Father J. Carroll and
1791: First Roman Catholic seminary in the U.S.
1792: First U.S. Monument to Columbus.
1797: First station using flag semaphore in this country: Captain David Porter, Sr.
1797: First US war ship to capture an enemy vessel - Constellation
1800: First investment banking house in America founded by Alexander Brown.
1804: First stationer in the U.S.: Lucas Brothers, Inc.
1808: First U.S. Army horse artillery in the U.S formed at Fort McHenry.
1811: First to import and package tea in America.
1814: Birthplace and first printing of the Star Spangled Banner in the United States
1815: First existing makers of silverware in this country.
1815: First formal monument to George Washington in the U.S.: Mt. Vernon Place completed July 4, 1829
1816: First U.S. manufacturer of gas (hydrogen) &
1817: First gaslight company in country chartered
1819: First agricultural publication in the U.S.: The American Farmer
1821: First U.S. Catholic Cathedral: the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption
1827: First public carrier railway in the U.S.: Baltimore and Ohio Railroad &
1830: First railroad depot in the U.S.
1828: First American umbrella factory in the U.S.
1829: First U.S. African-American religious order in America: Oblate Sisters of Providence
1831: First National Nominating Conventions for President in the U.S.
1838: First iron steamboat built in this country
1839: First dental college in the world: Baltimore College of Dental Surgery (part of University of Maryland Baltimore)
Baltimore – A City of Firsts (continued)
1842: First Jewish Congregation founded on Reform principles in this country: Hai Sinai Congregation
1844: First telegraph line in the U.S.: Samuel Morse between Washington and Baltimore
1844: First publicly supported high schools for girls: Eastern High School and Western High School
1845: First Order of Christian Brothers in the U.S.: Calvert Hall College
1851: First commercial ice cream factory in America
1854: First Jewish Community Center in the U.S.
1856: First elevator to use electric power.
1859: First YMCA erected in America
1867: First pediatrician and gynecologist in the U.S.: University of Maryland Medicine
1875: First monument to Edgar Allan Poe in the U.S.
1878: First animal welfare association - American Humane Society
1879: First synthetic sweetening agent - Saccharine, developed at Johns Hopkins University
1883: Invention of the typesetting machine
1883: First vocational school in the country
1885: First Commercial electric car line in the Western Hemisphere
1891: First commercial stomach antacid seltzer - Bromo-Seltzer
1892: First bottle cap in the U.S.
1893: First elevated electric railway in the U.S.
1895: First U.S. Catholic College for women: College of Notre Dame of Maryland
1897: First practical submarine in our country: "Argonaut" constructed by Simon Lake
1901: First woman professor at medical school in the U.S. - Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
1916: First city municipal symphony orchestra in the country - Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
1921: First rehabilitation school for war veterans established at Fort McHenry
1928: First traffic-actuated traffic signal in the world: Charles Adler Jr., placed at Belvedere Avenue and Falls Road
1931: First outdoor polo game at night: Homewood Field, July 2.
1946: First photograph of earth from space - produced at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
1966: First baseball player to be named MVP in both leagues - Frank Robinson
1967: First African-American to serve on the US supreme Court - Baltimorean Thurgood Marshall
1979: First scheduled water taxi transportation system in the country.
1995: First American city to win championship in the Canadian Football League - Baltimore Stallions