STEM students and space enthusiasts of all ages are invited to learn about one of Baltimore’s farthest-reaching industries–space exploration–through a presentation from University of Baltimore students who are creating an augmented reality project to assist astronauts as part of the 2021 #NASASUITS design challenge.
Free, no registration required: This program will be hosted as a Premiere on the BMI’s YouTube channel
Date: Saturday 4/24/2021
Time: 2:00PM
Making Steel on the Patapsco: The Rise, Operation and Decline of the Sparrows Point Steel Mill
This program is a survey of the great, the good, the not so good; the happy and the sad; the successes and failures of a business that dominated a region and many thousands of lives for over a hundred years.
You and your group will enjoy having the museum galleries and exhibits to yourselves for a full 90 minutes to self-tour and explore in a safe and socially distanced manner. Book your experience today and enjoy:
Access for your group of up to 10 family members/friends
10% discount in the museum gift shop
Free onsite parking for the duration of your visit
Last month, Domino Sugar announced that it was replacing its 70-year-old neon sign that lights up the Inner Harbor with a new, more energy efficient version. Battered by the elements, the steel was deteriorating and the neon was unable to be continuously replaced in a piecemeal fashion. The design and colors of the 70 ft. by 120 ft. sign will be the same, but the letters and outline will be made of aluminum and the lighting will be advanced LED with flexible tubing, drastically reducing carbon emissions.
The Domino Sugar sign has been an iconic piece of Baltimore’s industrial history (and a cherished backdrop in many BMI wedding photos!). Now, the BMI is pleased to announce the dot on the “i” will become part of the museum’s neon sign collection and will soon be on display in the Decker Gallery. Domino has always been a great neighbor to the BMI and we are happy to keep a piece of their sign’s history alive with us.
Rust on the Domino sign.
In addition, the “D" in the sign was affected by rust and was not salvageable. Domino will be making collectible mementos out of the “D” to share with the 500 employees of the refinery and will make some pieces available to the public for sale at the Baltimore Museum of Industry to help support our mission. For updates about how you can own a piece of Baltimore history, sign up here.
The new sign is scheduled to be up by the fourth of July, making the sugar refinery once again front and center in Baltimore’s skyline.
2019 Robot Maryland Engineering Challenge.
Robots and Bridges and Cargo Ships, Oh My!
Each spring, the BMI hosts the Maryland Engineering Challenges, a series of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) projects that introduce students in grades 1 to 12 to the role of engineers in today’s society and help connect what students learn in school with real-world engineering concepts. These challenges help develop comprehension and problem-solving skills, and promote teamwork. In addition to developing students’ STEM skills, each challenge also integrates reading, writing, and public speaking with hands-on, project-based learning. Because of COVID-19, this year’s competitions are being held virtually, and competition rules and project requirements have been adjusted to enable and encourage safe participation for students and judges.
There are four Engineering Challenges being held this April and while the BMI campus isn’t open to the general public yet, some of the challenges will be streamed virtually, check the MEC page for updates.
April 17, 2021
Straw Bridge Challenge: Students will construct a paper straw bridge to support a specific weight for one minute.
April 24, 2021
Hovercraft Challenge: Students will test their hovercraft designs and see whose model is the fastest to travel across a simulated Chesapeake Bay.
Cargo Ship Challenge: Students will test ship designs that must carry containerized cargo over a water course.
April 25, 2021
Robot Challenge: Students will test their two- or four-legged robot constructed to walk under direction over uneven terrain.
Many thanks to the following sponsors for their support of the 2021 challenges: BD Diagnostics, BGE-an Exelon Company, The Engineering Society of Baltimore, KELVIN, Northrop Grumman, W.R. Grace, Michael Hinkey and Kathryn Benson, The Propeller Club of Baltimore, NAVSEA at Carderock, Michael Newman.
Cookbooks from Harris' collection.
Let’s Eat! Exploring the History of Tomatoes, Muskrat, & Food Poisoning
At the end of the 19th-century, advances in food production technology helped save time in meal preparation. It created new flavors and textures…and plenty of opportunity for ptomaines, or food poisoning agents. Join Kara Mae Harris of Old Line Plate on Sunday, April 18 at 2:00pm for Tomatoes & Ptomaines: Innovation and Endangerment in the Industrial Food Era, an interactive discussion about historic food production.
Old Line Plate is Harris’ blog dedicated to exploring the cooking traditions of the Old Line State--Maryland--likely named for George Washington’s battle line during the Revolutionary War. For more than a decade, Harris has been documenting her journey to find, cook, and eat historic, local recipes, from muskrat to Maryland White Potato Pie. Ms. Harris also maintains a Maryland Recipe Index with over 32,000 listings. Learn more about Harris’ exploration of cuisine on WYPR and Chesapeake Bay Magazine.
This event is free for BMI members and $5 for non-members. Become a BMI member today and enjoy free programs and other great benefits. Advanced registration is required. Click here to register today.
We are able to offer many of our programs for free thanks to the generous support of our members and donors. Please consider making a donation or joining the BMI so we can continue doing so.
