‘Five Minutes of Baltimore History’: short on time, long on legacy

WYPR 88.1 FM is launching a new on-air and podcast feature, “Five Minutes of Baltimore History,” hosted by Johns Hopkins, executive director of Baltimore Heritage – a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving historic buildings and revitalizing neighborhoods in Baltimore.

The feature began airing on Tuesday on WYPR at 4:44 p.m., and it will also be available on demand at wypr.org and wherever listeners get their podcasts. WYPR is a service of Baltimore Public Media.

“Five Minutes of Baltimore History” is a series featuring storytellers talking about the lives and legacies behind Baltimore’s neighborhoods, landmarks, and leaders. Episodes are short, compelling vignettes inviting listeners to learn more about Baltimore’s heritage and how it has shaped our nation.

“Not all of Baltimore’s history is easy or straightforward, but all of it is important,” Hopkins said in a statement. “Frederick Douglass escaped his enslavement from here; Holocaust survivor Gustav Brunn gave the world Old Bay seasoning from here; and William Walters gave the world Maryland rye whiskey (and gave us an art museum) from here. We hope you’ll join us each week to learn a little bit more about famous and not-so-famous people and events that continue to shape our city and our nation.”

The stories are meant to be personal, vivid, and deeply rooted in Baltimore’s history and traditions. “Five Minutes of Baltimore History” connects audiences with powerful stories of people who shaped Baltimore and offer them a moment of discovery. The segment may add an angle to what they know about the resilience of African American business leaders, teach them something new about the architecture of city rowhouses, or inspire with stories of communities that fought to preserve their neighborhoods.

“This content partnership with Baltimore Heritage represents our larger commitment to uplifting local stories through collaboration,” said Craig Swagler, president and general manager of Baltimore Public Media, in a statement. “We are excited to bring years of storytelling and research to our listeners in this new format. The series blends historical research, archival audio, and Hopkins’ engaging narration to deliver history that is not just informative, but also deeply resonant and inspiring.”