European colonization of Maryland began on March 25, 1634, when merchantman "The Ark" carrying 140 colonists arrived at St. Clement's Island in the Potomac River. Streets in the city such as King George, King Queen, and Caroline Streets were named to show loyalty to the mother country. Today's old Baltimore was situated on Bush River in the present-day Aberdeen Proving Ground. The colonists sporadically engaged in warfare with the Susquehanna, whose numbers were massively reduced primarily from infectious diseases such as smallpox. The General Assembly of Maryland created the Port of Baltimore for the tobacco trade in 1706. The town of Baltimore was founded and laid out on July 30, 1729. The first printing press was established in the city in 1765 by Nicholas Hasselbach. The equipment used at the printing press was later used in printing Baltimore's first newspaper. The production of tobacco and grains for sugar-producing Caribbean colonies helped Baltimore enjoy tremendous growth in the 18th century. As the county seat, a courthouse was built in Baltimore in 1768 to serve both the city and county. Baltimore's Public Market System was established in 1763, with the Lexington market opening in 1782. The Lexington Market is one of the country's oldest continuously operating public markets.

Restaurant Scene
Selfish about Shellfish? Baltimore is the place for you. While Baltimore has a diverse cuisine, there's nothing like their crab. Whether it is a crab feast, oysters in the half shell, or lobster rolls, Baltimore Chesapeake Bay has got you covered. The city is known for its blue crabs caught in the Chesapeake Bay, steamed in Old Bay seasoning, and then served hot for devouring. To enjoy the full experience of this popular staple, you should tailor your visit or move to the crab season (middle of April till November). Thousands of people from neighboring cities come around to have a taste of this wholesome meal.

Away from crabs, the city is also home to thousands of restaurants specializing in different cuisines. Devour the city's best steak at Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse. Prefer something Italian? Head to Sotto Sopra in Charles Street to enjoy the best Italian cuisines and wine the city offers. Treat yourself to spicy Mexican food at La Cuchara on Clipper Mill Road.

⁠Sports
Apart from spending time eating, another favorite Baltimore pastime is going to show support for local sports teams, including one named after Edgar Allen Poe's poem. The city's NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens mascots used to be three ravens; one named Edgar, one named Allen, and one named…; you should be able to figure out the rest. The Super Bowl XLVII Champions have won the city over with their excellent play and tendency to always leave their fans with something to celebrate. These guys have made it to the playoffs more times than you can count with your two hands and have secured two AFC titles over four appearances.

The Baltimore Orioles, who play in Major League Baseball, are the city's second professional team. With the Orioles, you have got to be ready to stick by them the many bad and good days. The team can go from absolutely breathtaking to ridiculously poor within weeks. The decision on which team to support is left to you, maybe both?