The Peale's storytelling program launched in the summer of 2016, in conjunction with the MuseWeb Foundation. The storytelling program is a new way to discover the people and places of the city, as told by the residents of Baltimore. To date, we have shared more than 1,500 stories online, through live events at the Peale, and in Baltimore’s communities.
What surprises people about Baltimore?
Eve: So, I'm going to record. What's your name?
Kevin: Kevin
Eve: So, Kevin, why don't you talk about something that might
surprise people about Baltimore.
Kevin: The city . . . I guess the harbor. It's pretty cool, oh and, the Memorial Building. There's like a Memorial Building up on Maryland Avenue. It's on Federal Hill, actually, up near that way. There's like big statues, different statues, like slave statues. Then you go down to the harbor, you've got a piece of a ship, half of a ship from back in the slave days, back in the days when they ships down in the harbor, and you go down the street and you've got the Federal Building down there. You've got statues of the police and things, and then you got right down here, Negro Soldiers League. That's surprising because we're known for all the killings, so there's a couple of surprises here--good surprises though, and good people.
Eve: How long have you lived in Baltimore?
Kevin: My whole life. I'm 23. My whole life.
Eve: You sound like you've been knowing those statues and things since you were a little kid.
Kevin: Yeah, there are some good sights to see.
Eve: So, you just said you think Baltimore is known for killing.
Kevin: Yeah, that's what I think. It's been known for doing wrong, and not for doing good. It's time for the people to change that, I guess.
Eve: Where did you go to school, if you want to say?
Kevin: What high school?
Eve: Sure.
Kevin: Wood Lawn, Wood Lawn High School
Eve: What did you think of Wood Lawn?
Kevin: It was good. It was out in Baltimore County, the county. It was good. It was better than going to a city high school.
Eve: You look like you're just coming from playing basketball
Kevin: No, I just got out of the shower.
Eve: (Laughs) So, you're here trying to get some ice cream. Tell me what you think about ice cream!
Kevin: Ice cream is great! Definitely strawberry!
Eve: Strawberry is your favorite flavor?
Kevin: Yes! French Vanilla!
Eve: Where do you usually go to get your ice cream?
Kevin: It depends. Like if it’s a store, I might just get ice cream, popsicles, or . . . If I pass an original ice cream store, I go knee deep in there. If I’m down at the Harbor, it’s Ice Cream Stair.
Eve: Tell me about like a childhood memory of eating ice cream.
Kevin: At Chuck E. Cheese, I would eat ice cream, and it came out of my nose! I was a little kid.
Eve: Any last words you want to say to anybody listening about Baltimore.
Kevin: Just come and sightsee. Don’t just listen to what you hear. Come see for yourself.
Asset ID: 8250
