History

Ridgely's Delight is the namesake of the early agricultural estate of Colonel Charles Ridgely, who occupied the open land southwest of the city's original boundaries. Ridgely acquired the estate as dowry in 1667 through his marriage to Rachael Howard. In 1732, this land, originally known as Howard's Timberneck, was combined with another property known as Brotherly Love, resurveyed and named Ridgely's Delight. In 1735, Ridgely began leasing parcels of land in Ridgely's Delight. The neighborhood is situated on what was first a Susquehannock Indian path, and in the Federal period, a main highway from Washington to Philadelphia (now Washington Boulevard).

The earliest houses within today's boundaries of Ridgely's Delight date from c. 1804. A large portion of the development of Ridgely's Delight occurred between 1816 and 1875, with particular intensity during the 1840's and 1850's. This mid-century development can be largely attributed to the establishment of the Universityof Maryland in 1812 and the growth of heavy industrial areas nearby, such as the B&O Railroad Yards and Winan's Locomotive Works. Ridgely's Delight reflected the character of these nearby employment centers with professionals and blue collar workers part of its diverse neighborhood.

This historic district represents a substantial and well-preserved neighborhood that developed during Baltimore's first period of expansion in the early 19th century. The district's residential structures run from the two- or two and one-half- story late Federal houses, representing the first phase of rowhouse development, to the three-story, corniced, Italianate versions built for the middle and upper classes toward the end of the 19th century. These residences once housed doctors, dentists, and lawyers, and thus earned Washington Boulevard the epithet "Professional Row" during the turn of the century. The neighborhood also features some store-front buildings, a few late 19th century industrial buildings, and residences that are set back from the street with postage stamp front yards.

Babe Ruth, our most famous son
George Herman "Babe" Ruth was born on the second floor of 216 Emory Street in Ridgely's Delight on February 6, 1895. The complex was saved from demolition in 1969 by a group of concerned citizens and opened to the public in 1974 as the only birthplace of an American athlete to be designated a national historic landmark.

The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Official Orioles Museum was the rented home of Babe's maternal grandfather, Pius Schamberger, a lower-middle class German immigrant who made his living as an upholsterer. Babe's mother and father, Kate and George Sr., lived above the saloon they owned and operated on Camden Street (now short-center field of Oriole Park at Camden Yards). Mrs. Ruth made the two and a half block journey to her father's home to give birth to Babe.

The historic house section of the museum is furnished with period pieces and the first and second floors are open to the public, The three adjoining rowhouses have been converted into exhibit space about Babe Ruth, the Orioles, and regional baseball.

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