Live in the Living Room: Historical Narratives with Baltimore Heritage

Stories of Baltimore’s past come to life in the Living Room during part two of Historical Narratives—our live storytelling event featuring Johns Hopkins, Executive Director of Baltimore Heritage. Join us for an evening of conversation, community, and a deeper look into the city we call home.

Admission is free. Complimentary light bites and drinks available for purchase. RSVPs are requested, though walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis.

Of Clipper Ships and Presidents: Baltimore’s Tea Connection 

Tuesday, November 11
5:00pm - 6:00pm

From Alex Brown, America’s first investment banker in the early 1800s, to Jimmy Wu who owned a popular Charles Village restaurant in the middle of the 1900s, Baltimore’s roots are intertwined with trade in Chinese tea. The first shipments of tea to the newly formed United States came through our port, as did the first documented Chinese people, and the origins of Baltimore’s famed Clipper Ship lie in our competitive tea trading business. Even President Washington was eager to get in on Baltimore’s tea trade. Come learn how the import of tea has shaped Baltimore’s growth for over 200 years.

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Meet the Speaker

Johns Hopkins, Executive Director, Baltimore Heritage

Johns Hopkins has been the director of Baltimore Heritage since 2003, working to preserve historic places and revitalize historic neighborhoods in Baltimore.

Johns serves on the board of directors of Civic Works, Inc., Baltimore’s youth training and neighborhood revitalization corps, the Coppin Heights Community Development Corporation that is working to rebuild communities in West Baltimore, the Garrett Jacobs Mansion Endowment Fund, The Friends of Clifton Mansion, and the Evergreen House Foundation. He lives in an 1870 rowhouse with his wife Mary and two children, Johns and Lia, in Bolton Hill.

Baltimore Heritage

Baltimore Heritage is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historic buildings and revitalizing neighborhoods across the city. Since its founding in 1960, the organization has championed Baltimore’s rich architectural and cultural legacy through tours, educational programs, and community engagement. By celebrating the stories of the city’s people and places, and by supporting homeowners and neighborhood organizations in preserving local landmarks, Baltimore Heritage continues to foster pride and stewardship in Baltimore’s built environment.

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