When the Irish arrived en masse to the United States in the late 1840's, many settled in Southwest Baltimore City.
What made Baltimore, Maryland so appealing to immigrants was the hope of finding work on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
Their legacy is celebrated today at the Irish Railroad Workers Museum, an Irish American historic site in Baltimore. The museum officially opened on June 17th, 2002.
Table of Contents
From Famine to Fortitude
Today I'm delighted to sponsor a reader giveaway. The prize is a DVD, From Famine To Fortitude, produced by The Irish Railroad Workers Museum. It recounts the story of the Irish experience in Baltimore, and will appeal to history buffs, or Irish Americans with an interest in our ancestors' journey.
Before I share the details of our giveaway, let me first tell you about my visit to this wonderful museum....
An Irish Tourist's Experience In Baltimore, Maryland
A few years ago my family took an east coast summer trip to visit New York, Washington DC, and to see our favorite soccer team, Liverpool, play a friendly game in Baltimore.
While there, I sneaked in a quick visit to "The Irish Shrine". I should have remembered to leave my four kiddos with their Dad at the hotel. But being a good Irish American mom I thought I might introduce them to their heritage and possibly kindle within them a burning love of history.
Bad move. I should have known my trio of then five year olds, and eight year old son, wouldn't have the slightest scrap of interest in a museum, unless of course it was a Children's Museum with flashing lights, knobs to twist, levers to pull, and a plethora of interactive activities.
A Museum Trip
Have you ever heard your kids groan when you mention the idea of visiting a museum. It's then I ask myself...
What's happening to the world?
Kids are addicted to playing gadgets. An overexposure to electronics is dulling their minds, so that unless they are bombarded with snippets of visual stimuli, they are unable to appreciate the depth of knowledge before them. I'll get off my soap box now, because let's face it - that's a topic for another day.
And to tell you the truth, I simply wasn't thinking. My kids were just too young to really understand the wonderful experience offered at this quaint, little museum.
The reason it has taken me two years to share these photos is that they were just plain terrible. That is until now. I recently discovered the incredible power of photo editing, with lighting adjustments.
Little hands and fingers, heads and turned backs, which were ruining my shots have all been chopped and cropped. Bad lighting has been somewhat compensated for, and now I believe these photos are worthy of sharing, especially if they help spread the word about this urban, historical gem.
This site consists of a group of 5 alley houses, originally the homes of Irish immigrants who worked for the adjoining railroad.
The museum is housed in two of these houses, at 918 and 920 Lemmon Street.
"The Irish Railroad Workers Museum is part of a larger history-rich community, unusual because it is still intact, consisting of the places where the Irish lived, worked, worshipped, and were buried."
Description from the Irish Railroad Workers Museum website
The homes in this historical district were slated for demolition back in 1997, but luckily a group of concerned citizens recognized these houses were not just bricks and mortar, but could be a surviving monument to the lives of the Irish who first called Baltimore home.
Thanks to their efforts and dedication this historical district still stands today and includes the B&O Railroad Museum, St. Peter the Apostle Church, the Hollins Street Market, and St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery.
Watching Children in a Museum
This old chest of drawers is a treasure trove for anyone who enjoys a good immigrant tale. Within the drawers lie pictures of Irish men and women from days gone by. Each picture is linked to an audio recording, telling of that immigrant's experience.
I could have spent hours listening to these stories, but alack and alas, it was not to be. I had listened to possibly two sentences of the first narration, when I had to interrupt with a gentle plea:
"Don't touch that!"
followed shortly afterwards by a louder motherly yell:
"Don't break that."
My Irish accent bellowing from the top floor may have led visitors on the lower level to believe the place was haunted by an Irish motherly ghost from many moons ago.
Speaking of the supernatural, look at the middle portrait of the three, poised on the old trunk. I can't remember if this old black and white photo was so eerie looking in real life, or if this is some illusion from my camera.
Or perhaps, she is an Irish mother of old, whose spirit was stirred by my crew's high jinx. She was probably joining in my chorus, warning them not to lay a finger on anything.
My kids didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to any of the beautiful memorabilia housed within the museum, until low and behold we went out to the small back yard.
And there it stood!
The highlight of our tour!
The one!
The only!
The OUTHOUSE!
The moment my kids laid eyes on this wooden cubicle, they were fascinated. I was flabbergasted. It took an unexpected encounter, with a rest room from days gone by, to stir my little ones' interest in the past.
"But what if it was raining?" they asked.
"They ran for it," I explained.
"And what happened in the snow?"
"Rain, hail or shine, this was the loo."
The outhouse was a conversation piece for the rest of our trip.
Thank You For a Wonderful Tour
I wish to extend my gratitude to the lovely gentleman who took us on our tour of this fabulous museum. I know I wrote your name on a little piece of paper, which got buried in the filing cabinet of my purse, never to be seen again.
Thank you for your patience, your kindness, and your wonderful lessons on the Irish American experience. I thoroughly enjoyed our chat.
And thanks for reassuring me, not to worry about my kiddos' eagerness to keep moving on, and checking things out. You truly made our visit to The Irish Railroad Workers' Museum a pleasure.
Above all, I appreciate the hours you volunteer to preserve the stories of our immigrant forefathers, who paved the way for us in this vast and amazing country.
The Giveaway
While at the museum I purchased copies of the DVD From Famine To Fortitude: The Irish Experience in Baltimore. This wonderfully researched documentary tells the story of Irish immigrants who left Ireland at the time of the Great Hunger to make a new life in America.
To enter our giveaway just leave a comment on this blog post by noon on Saturday, August 23rd, 2014 at noon. You can leave any comment you wish. What you write does not affect your chances of winning.
If you need some inspiration, why not tell us if you have visited any Irish American historical site in the US that commemorates our ancestors.
A winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail will not be published or shared, just used to for contact purposes.
The winner will be announced on Saturday August 23rd, at the end of this post. I’ll send the winner an e-mail so I can mail the prize.
Best of luck to all our entrants.
Saturday, August 23rd, 2014: - The winner of this DVD is Debbie Chartoff. Thanks to all who entered and supported this little giveaway.
Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Here are some more recipes and ramblings you might enjoy...
Never Let The Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story
Maria Crocvker
Thank you for this! I'm a Marylander and had no idea this museum existed! I come from Irish immigrant stock and my dad's people were all B&O men!
Irish American Mom
Maria - Sometimes we don't know of the little treasures right on our doorsteps. When I go back to Dublin I'm often amazed at all the hidden spots still waiting for me to discover. No matter how well I think I know my hometown, I always find something new on every visit. I hope you get to check out this little spot. It's so good to know that history is being preserved, and the wrecking ball is not having its way everywhere.
All the best, and thanks for stopping by.
Mairéad
Kelly Gordon
Love historical museums! Took my family to the Heinz history Museum in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
I want my kids to know how there ancestors worked so hard for a new beginning ! 🙂
Irish American Mom
Kelly - If I ever make it to Pittsburgh, PA I'll have to check out the Heinz museum. I love museums, especially when the past is brought to life.
All the best,
Mairéad
Lisa
Lovely history! Would love to have the DVD. Thanks!
Irish American Mom
Lisa - thanks for entering and supporting this little giveaway.
Mairéad
Deirdre
I had never heard of it either - if I'm there I would like to visit it
Irish American Mom
Deirdre - I had never heard of it either, until I saw a pamphlet for it in our hotel lobby. It's a simple museum, but I was so glad I checked it out. If I had been on my own, I would have spent hours listening to the recordings of immigrant tales.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Keri
If I ever get to the east coast I am checking this museum out!
Irish American Mom
Keri - It's definitely well worth a visit. On the second Saturday of every month they feature special events and educational sessions.
Take care,
Mairéad
Aimee
I love it Mairead!! Of course the outhouse would be the highlight for little ones- especially boys! 🙂 I'll have to put this museum on our list of things to visit when my husband is feeling better! It looks wonderful! And I could see my 10 yr loving this, which would just make my heart swell and I'm sure bring a few tears to my eyes.
Irish American Mom
Aimee - My list of places to visit in the US and Ireland keeps getting longer and longer. I still haven't made it across the river to Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home in Indiana. Someday soon...... 🙂 I love to introduce my little ones to history. Life is so easy for them today. At least when I was growing up I realized my parents and grandparents didn't have it so easy, but my kids have no idea how hard life used to be. Slowly but surely I hope to sow the seeds of inquiry about the past.
Best wishes, and I hope your husband is feeling better each and every day.
Mairéad
Aimee
It is true- they really don't know just how easy they have it. And there really are so many places to see and go! Thanks for your thoughts Mairead!
Kay G.
Why did they have the crescent moon on the outhouse? I have read some thoughts about it, but maybe you know! I am from the South, and I remember outhouses but I am glad they are a thing of the past!
Irish American Mom
Kay - I've only ever noticed a crescent moon on an American outhouse. Research on the internet indicates that the crescent moon indicated womens facilities and a star was for en. This signage may date back to colonial times. Whether that's true or not, who knows, but it seems to be an American thing, not an Irish thing.
Best wishes, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Mairéad
MARGIT O'BRIEN
Grandpa was a train man so family members have a natural interest in train memorabilia. Sound like an interesting place to visit. Thanks for sharing.
Irish American Mom
Margit - I'm so glad to be able to introduce you to a place that would be of such interest to all your family.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Fuschia
This museum looks fascinating - I always love these kinds of museums which bring it all to life. I'll have to put on the list if I ever go near! I went to the Tenement Museum in New York a few years ago, which shows what life was like for many immigrants when they went over. We took the Irish tour, which was quite haunting!
Irish American Mom
Fuschia - I used to work in Manhattan and live in Hoboken, N.J. in the early 1990's. I find New York's history so interesting. The museum had just opened its doors when I moved south to Florida, so I'll have to visit the Tenement Museum next time I'm in New York. Of course, I'll have to take the Irish tour too.
All the best,
Mairéad
Debbie Chartoff
For years growing up and listening to my dad, I thought all good Irishmen settled in the Bronx! Never knew about the Baltimore settlement or the Museum. Thanks for sharing.
Irish American Mom
That's funny, Debbie. It's amazing how the Irish spread far and wide across the United States. Believe it or not, Butte, Montana was one of the most Irish cities in the US in the early 1900's, with many Gaelic speakers living there. That I suppose, is a blog post for another day.
Thanks so much for checking out this post, and if you're every in Baltimore, it's worth checking out.
All the best,
Mairéad
Noreen Rafferty
Terrific story about the Irish Railroad Workers Museum. My daughter attends Loyola University in Baltimore and we intend to visit the next time we are down there. Thank you for sharing this great American treasure that we all should try and visit.
Irish American Mom
Noreen - Glad you enjoyed my ramblings about this wonderful museum. It truly is a treasure and I hope you get the chance to visit next time you're in Baltimore.
All the best,
Mairéad
Peggy Miller Hopes
Thanks for sharing about the museum and the DVD opportunity. I've not had the chance yet to visit any museums yet. I'm afraid if I do I might become a relic or would need a crane to pull me out as I think I could stay for some while just looking and listening.
Peggy
Irish American Mom
Hi Peggy - I could have spent hours listening to the stories recorded on the tapes held within the old chest of drawers at the Baltimore museum. I'm afraid I didn't get a chance trying to keep an eye on my little ones, but if I ever return I'll be sure to go alone so that I can take it all in. I laughed when you said you're afraid you might turn into a relic in a museum such as this. One time I took my kids to the local museum in Jeffersontown, Kentucky where displays focus on local Kentucky history. One cabinet was full of Ladybird books - the kind I read as a child. I really felt like a relic when I realized mementos of my childhood are deemed fit for museum display. Boy how time flies!
All the best,
Mairéad
Irish American Mom
Thanks to everyone who entered this little giveaway, and for all your comments and insights. Our winner is Debbie Chartoff. I'll be in touch with Debbie to mail her the DVD. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend.
Best wishes,
Mairéad