The Peale, History museum in downtown Baltimore, United States
The Peale is a three-story brick building housing exhibitions about Baltimore's local history through photographs, artifacts, and documents. The galleries display the city's past and present through various materials and objects collected from different time periods.
Built in 1814 as the first purpose-built museum building in North America, it was designed by architect Robert Cary Long Sr. Later, it served as Baltimore's city hall and housed one of the earliest schools for African American students.
The museum gathers stories from residents across Baltimore's neighborhoods and preserves them in a large urban archive. These collected narratives show how different people experience and understand the history of their city.
The museum sits near Baltimore City Hall and offers free admission to all visitors. Regular exhibitions and community history programs run throughout the year.
Founded by artist Rembrandt Peale, the building was among the first places in America designed specifically as a museum. This pioneering role in museum architecture made it a turning point in how institutions display their collections.
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