Baltimore, long known as the "Monumental City", was the first municipality in the United States to design a comprehensive program for the preservation of its outdoor monuments. The Baltimore City Commission for Historical and Architectural preservation (CHAP) guided the program design and has coordinated this stewardship effort for more than three decades. A collection of monuments and memorials can be dowloaded from here.

In 1977, CHAP was asked by the Mayor to produce an inventory of all City-owned monuments and historic buildings to be used for monitoring the maintenance, condition and (in some cases) the operation of such sites. CHAP was given this responsibility because of its mission, expertise and ordinance requirements. This inventory, with 123 individual entries, included house museums, important municipal buildings, war memorials, stone monuments and numerous outdoor bronze monuments. This launched the long history of CHAP's involvement in the preservation of City-owned outdoor monuments and sculpture.

In 1980, five Mount Vernon Place bronzes by Antoine Louis Barye (War, Peace, Force, Order and Seated Lion) were determined to be priorities for treatment. Their aesthetic and historical importance, coupled with their apparently poor condition, warranted the City's immediate attention. The City moved quickly to evaluate possible conservation treatments and select an appropriate method.

On September 27, 1980, a team of metals conservators and consultants were invited to advise on the condition of these monuments. Their study was followed by a day long symposium to inform a diverse group of City officials, conservators, museum staff, artists and concerned citizens of the nature of the conservation problem and possible directions for treatment. While a number of decisions had to be made in the selection of a treatment, a given in the process was that use of the gentlest means possible was a goal. CHAP, who would later manage the conservation project, applies this strict standard when reviewing treatments for maintaining historic building fabric.

A "hot wax" method of bronze conservation was recommended by the panel of experts and accepted by the City for use on the Mount Vernon Place monuments. This method, in summary, consists of a thorough cleaning with an aqueous solution, application of microcrystalline wax to the heated bronze surface and a final "sacrificial" application of cold wax on the hot-wax treated surface. This method is consistent with the treatment applied to bronze sculpture before it leaves the foundry.

In Spring of 1981, the first phase of the Baltimore Bronze Project began in the Mount Vernon Place Parks. The four park squares, and buildings surrounding the Washington Monument, are considered to be among the finest urban spaces in the nation, and the focal point of both a National Register and a Baltimore City Historic District. Conservator Steven Tatti was selected by the City to complete the conservation project. His expertise in developing the hot-wax treatment method and his background in monument conservation guided the selection.

By 1986, the City of Baltimore, through CHAP's coordination, had provided conservation treatment to all forty-five of its municipally-owned, outdoor bronze monuments. The Department of Recreation and Parks for many years provided an annual budget ranging from $10,000 to $ 30,000 for maintenance treatment. Conservator Steven Tatti has returned to Baltimore every year since 1981 to care for the City-owned monuments.

Timeline: CHAP has provided annual conservation of City-owned monuments every year since 1981.

• 1981-Phase I-Mount Vernon Place Bronze Project-14 monuments ($ 48,000)
• 1982, 1983- Phase II-City-wide Bronze Project- 16 additional monuments ($60,000; including $30,000 from the State of Maryland, Maryland Historical Trust. Easements donated for all).
• 1984-Phase III-City-wide Bronze Project -3 additional major monuments added. "Key/Orpheus" Fort McHenry, "Key" Eutaw Place, "Pulaski Monument." ($ 30,000)
• 1985-1986-Phase IV-City-wide Bronze Project 12 additional monuments added ($39,000 and private contributions)
• Each year CHAP and Recreation and Parks fund annual maintenance for all in Phase I-IV. ($ 10,000 budget is insufficient to maintain all 45 bronze monuments; however, monuments on Mount Vernon Place are first priority. They receive conservation treatment each year, regardless of budget).
• 1993-CHAP, representing the City of Baltimore, is awarded national "Save Outdoor Sculpture-SOS!" grant. CHAP hires Cindy Kelly to complete inventory of all outdoor sculpture in the city. Baltimore's survey is incorporated in national survey. Original inventory and records are in CHAP's library, available for public review.
• 1993-CHAP, in partnership with Municipal Art Society and MICA, hosts Outdoor Sculpture Symposium. Cindy Kelly coordinates the Symposium. Importance of annual maintenance of all public sculpture (not just historic and monuments) is one of the topics.
• 1993-Inspired by discussion at the Symposium, an Adopt A Monument Program is launched. Community "adopters" supplement limited Recreation and Parks Department dollars to maintain monuments in the Mount Vernon area.
• 1997-The Baltimore City Bicentennial Celebration focuses on a series of "Mayor's Monument Rededication Ceremonies", held City-wide. CHAP staff writes rededication programs and serves as staff to the Mayor's Office in planning each event. CHAP staff prepares "List of Famous Public Monuments" for the public's appreciation. (See 2008 update prepared by Eddie Leon).
• 1997 (1994-1997) - CHAP's signature stewardship contribution to the Baltimore City Bicentennial is the restoration of the Battle Monument. The nation's first formal war memorial and emblem of the City seal, received comprehensive conservation through CHAP's program. The total project cost is $250,000. Project planning and fundraising begins in 1994. There are many contributors to the project; however, the City (CHAP in the Housing Department) is the principle funder. The monument was rededicated by the Secretary of the Army, the Mayor, and State and local officials in September of 1997.
• 1998-1999 - "Key Monument" Eutaw Place Restoration. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton announces the national "Save America's Treasures Program" at the Key Monument. CHAP/City of Baltimore receives one of the first "Save America's Treasures" grants to restore the Key Monument. Target Company is a sponsor of the program and donor to the conservation project. CHAP coordinates major conservation project completed by Conservator Steven Tatti. The total project cost is $ 125,000. The "Save America's Treasures" grant funds half of the project. The State Military Monuments Commission and the Friends of the Key Monument provide contributions. Most of the balance is funded by CHAP in the Department of Housing. The monument is rededicated by the Mayor on September 11, 1999.
• 2001- "Pulaski Monument" Patterson Park-CHAP coordinates major conservation ($ 51,000 project) on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of this monument, designed by sculptor Hans Schuler. Friends of the Pulaski Monument raise money for conservation and future maintenance. CHAP in Department of Housing substantially funds the project.
• 2003- "Martin Luther" Monument (Lake Montebello) and "Franzoni Arch" (Peale Museum) are included in annual program. These major projects cost $21,000 and $22,500, respectively.
• 2004-CHAP merges with Department of Planning and receives additional support for monument conservation.
• 2007- 2008 Department of Planning CIP budget includes increased dollars for CHAP monument conservation program. This is consistent with "LIVE, EARN, PLAY, LEARN" Master Plan. In addition to annual maintenance, current CHAP/Planning projects include "Billie Holiday" Monument (in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks) and "Reese Monument" (in partnership with Eastern High School Alumni Association).
• 2007 Cindy Kelly and Sandy Sparks re-establish a new City-wide Adopt A Monument Program, intended to supplement the City's investment in monument conservation. The new program is operated by the Baltimore Community Foundation. CHAP is authorized to receive funds for "adopted" monuments to supplement available City funding. “Adopted” monuments on the Mount Vernon Place Squares and throughout the City receive conservation treatment.
• 2008-2009 The CHAP/Planning Department CIP Monument Conservation Budget provides $ 40,000 in funding. Funding is supplemented by contributions to Adopt A Monument. Mount Vernon Place and “adopted” monuments throughout the City receive conservation treatment. Grace Turnbull’s “Reese Monument/Good Shepherd” is moved and re-installed at the (former) Eastern High School. CHAP completes the move and conservation, with funding support of the Eastern High School Alumni Association. The “Billie Holiday” Monument is completed, with CHAP coordinating the installation.
• 2010-2011 The CHAP/Planning Department CIP Monument Conservation Budget provides $ 40,000 in funding. Funding is supplemented by contributions to Adopt A Monument. Mount Vernon Place and “adopted” monuments throughout the City receive conservation treatment. The large-scale “Maryland Line/SAR and “Martin Luther” monuments receive major conservation treatment.
• In 2011, CHAP will conserve the Baltimore Battle Monument and numerous monuments associated with the War of 1812, in anticipation of the “Star Spangled Banner” Celebration in 2012.

For additional information contact CHAP staff at (410) 396-4866.

Lafayette Monument

CHAP provides the “Lafayette Monument with special conservation treatment every year. Andrew O’Connor-Artist. Thomas Hastings-Architect. 1924. Located in the South Square of Mount Vernon Place.

Billie Holiday Monument

The “Billie Holiday Monument” was first installed in 1983. In 2009, James Earl Reid-Artist, received support to complete his original design. 
CHAP, in partnership with the artist and conservator, carefully reinstalled the completed sculpture on a beautiful new base. The completed monument was then officially rededicated. Located at 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue in the Upton community.