Celebrating Jim Dilts, President of the Board of the Peale Center

Jim Dilts at the opening of “Birdland and the Anthropocene” at the Peale Center, October 6, 2017.

It is with deep sadness that we must share the news that the Peale Center’s Board President, James D. Dilts, passed away unexpectedly on May 8, 2018. Jim was a true friend of Baltimore and a tireless champion for its history and architecture – above all, the historic Peale Museum building. He was also a master storyteller, a veteran of the Baltimore Sun, and author of numerous books on Baltimore architecture, including with John Dorsey, the definitive  A Guide to Baltimore Architecture; historic railroads, with his latest, The World the Trains Made: A Century of Great Railroad Architecture in the United States and Canada, due out in September; and jazz, which he brought to historic buildings across the city in a concert series, “Jazz in Cool Places.” Thanks to Jim’s vision and leadership, the Peale’s exterior is now restored and the building is open again as a center to experience Baltimore’s past and imagine its future through cultural storytelling and innovative exhibitions, programs and events. He helped us all “see Baltimore in a new light.” Penny Williamson, Jim’s wife, asks that donations be made to the Peale’s Capital Campaign in lieu of flowers.

Checks can be made payable to:
The Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture, P.O. Box 1742, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Jim Dilts lighting the Peale’s “Magic Ring of Fire,” November 29, 2017.
Jim Dilts and BGE engineer, Steve Pedri, with the historic gas streetlights restored by BGE, in front of the Peale, November, 2017.

Author: The Peale

The Peale is based in the first museum to be purpose-built in the United States, designed by architect Robert Cary Long Sr. and opened by artist Rembrandt Peale in 1814. It is a building of many firsts, and today in the creative spirit of its founder is relaunching as an innovative Center to celebrate the unique history of Baltimore, its people and their buildings through the authentic stories of the City. Currently under renovation, the Peale is open for occasional hardhat tours, and all of its programs are available online with live captioning and ASL interpretation.

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