Illuminating Homewood: Understanding the 19th Century Lighting Revolution

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On February 7, 1817, Baltimore became the first city in the United States to have an outdoor gas street light, firmly cementing a tie between the city and the revolution of lighting that takes places in homes and cities over the course of the 19th century. This evening, curator Michelle Fitzgerald will lead audience members in an overview of the transition from candlelight to oil and gas lamps that would have occurred at Homewood while the Carrolls lived there, exploring how lighting evolution changed everything from how furnishings to daily life were experienced.

ABOUT Michelle Fitzgerald
Curator of Collections, Johns Hopkins University Museums

Michelle Fitzgerald is the Curator of Collections at the Johns Hopkins University Museums. With an interest in Chesapeake furniture in the 18th and 19th centuries, she has previously held positions at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Maryland Center for History and Culture, and the Maryland State Archives. She received her MA from the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program in American Material Culture and is published in the University of Chicago Press’ Winterthur Portfolio and AASLH’s History News magazine.

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 Event Date
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Start Time: 6:00pm EST
End Time: 7:00pm EST

 Location
Homewood Museum

3400 N Charles St
4545 N Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

 Map

 Contact
Sheridan Libraries and Museums
Jeannette Marxen
Programs Manager
4105165589
museums@jhu.edu

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