Baltimore is a capital city of Maryland state in the United States of America. The city is located in the northeast direction, 60 kilometers away from Washington DC. It is named after Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, the first Proprietor of the Province of Maryland (1632-1675).

Nearly 26 million people visit Baltimore city every year. Many dedicated museums display the rich heritage of this beautiful city. People enjoy the nostalgia that resides in the ambiance of Baltimore.

Fort McHenry, national aquarium, American visionary art museum, etc all show the significance that the city played in American history. However, there are many facts you might not know about this city.

The following is the list of facts about Baltimore that will blow your mind:

• The birthplace of a national anthem:

– America’s national anthem, ‘The star spangled banner’ was invented in Baltimore city.

– Francis Scott Key wrote a poem while watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1812. He was inspired by American flag waving in the air.

– Later, the national anthem was invented with help of his poem.

• The first research university of the nation:

– An American entrepreneur found the first university of the nation in 1876 in Baltimore. The university bears his name, Johns Hopkins.

– Johns Hopkins university ignited a revolution of education and research in all of USA.

• The inner harbor:

– Baltimore’s inner harbor is a splendid location to view the past. The harbor is full of old ships and old buildings. These old but rigid pieces of architecture still teach lessons to young engineers.

– The harbor also has a large aquarium which houses 20000 specimens of almost 800 species. Roughly, more than 1.5 million people visit this attraction.

– USCGC Taney rests in the inner harbor of Baltimore city. She served in world war 2 during the attacks on pearl harbor and survived. She was afloat for more than 50 years. It has become a tourist attraction, open for people to experience the heat of battle. This city is Maryland’s largest city. Here is your Travel tips for Baltimore.

• A number of famous personalities:

– A city’s true wealth is its people. Baltimore is no exception, with it being home to many famous faces.

– Michael Phelps became the most successful swimmer in the history of Olympic games as he achieved 28 medals (23 being gold) at the age of 32 years. He is an inspiration for many youth athletes around the globe.

– Well-known horror author, Edgar Allan Poe is a native of Baltimore city. He published his first book ‘Tamerlane’ when he was just 18.

– Babe Ruth: A gem in baseball field; Babe Ruth is also a native to Baltimore. He was a left-handed baller and batter. He was the record holder was most home runs in a career.

• The racially neutral city:

– Baltimore was the first US city to have an African-American owned shipyard. Frederick Douglass and Isaac Myers bought the first shipbuilding yard to employ jobs to the youngster.

– Moreover, many free black people lived in the city without much trouble (after all, its pre-civil rights era America we are talking about).

– Overall, the city has been sympathetic towards who aim for peace and well-being of its residents.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup minced shallots
2 teaspoons curry powder, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups fresh corn or one 16-ounce bag frozen corn, thawed (about 3 cups)
1 cup vegetable stock
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste
3 cups plain soymilk, divided
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bell peppers; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the shallots during the last minute; stir until tender but not browned. Add the curry powder and salt; stir for 1 minute.

Stir in the corn, vegetable stock, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium; cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

Transfer 2 cups of the corn mixture to a blender or food processor. Add 1 cup of the soymilk. Process until the mixture is nearly smooth. Pour the puréed mixture into the saucepan; stir in the remaining soymilk. Stir gently over medium heat until the mixture is heated through, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese.

Calories 326 (47% from fat); Fat 17g (sat 3.9g, mono 5g, poly 7g); Protein 14.9g; Carbohydrate 35.7g; Fiber 6g; Cholesterol 16mg; Iron 1.4mg; Sodium 594mg; Calcium 60mg 

This recipe is adapted from Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods. It uses soy grits, which are similar to corn grits, but made from toasted soybeans that have been ground into coarse pieces.

1-3/4 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill soy grits
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 ounces processed American cheese (such as Velveeta), cubed
3 eggs, well beaten
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup minced celery
1/4 cup minced onion

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.

Bring broth to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in grits, cover and reduce heat. Simmer 5 minutes or until done, stirring occasionally.

Combine grits with remaining ingredients and pour into prepared dish and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Calories 258 (35% from fat); Fat 10g (sat. 4.6g mono 3.5g. poly 0.9g); Protein 26g: Carbohydrate 17g; Fiber 0.8g; Cholesterol 178mg; Iron 4mg; Sodium 801 mg; Calcium 251mg