Like many Baltimore-based conferences, AFS was at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Unlike the tour I took on my first day, this is one of the most accessible areas of the city. Instead of a folklorist guide, my dog joined me in my explorations on this gorgeous October day. He did not provide much by way of background on the area, but as always, he provided good company.
Historically, while Baltimore has always been an important harbor town, the Inner Harbor was too shallow to sustain heavy shipping and it and the area surrounding it fell into decline over the early part of the 20th century. Starting in the 1950’s, a number of redevelopment projects began and expanded outward into the surrounding neighborhoods. By the 1980’s, Inner Harbor had become a renewal success story, major tourist destination and model for urban planning and redevelopment. The area is thriving.
Mostly, I remember the beauty of the day, and my dog’s efforts to keep me out exploring instead of attending the conference sessions.