In 1989, Mayor Kurt Schmoke chose the phrase “The City That Reads” as Baltimore’s new official slogan. He hoped the slogan would do for literacy what Mayor William Donald Schaefer’s slogan, “Baltimore Is Best,” had done for morale. The city’s current slogan is “Baltimore: A Great Place to Grow,” chosen by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in 2011. Click here to see more Baltimore slogans through the years: “Believe,” “The Greatest City in America” and more.



(Paul Hutchins, Baltimore Sun photo, 1989)

1848: James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill in northern California, a discovery that led to the gold rush of ’49.

1908: The first Boy Scout troop was organized in England by Robert Baden-Powell.

1959: Washington’s Touchdown Club honored Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas as one of top pro players. Colts coach Weeb Eubank received the honor for professional coach of the year.

1977: Morgan State University opened WEAA-FM (88.9), Baltimore’s first black FM radio station.

1993: Retired Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall died in Bethesda; he was 84.

Compiled by Laura Lefavor and Paul McCardell.