Daily Question,"Give several examples of monuments in Maryland / DC / PA that might be familiar to folks who live here but which would not be understood by outsiders without an explanation. Please include your own or public domain photos."

        In 1827, during a visit to Baltimore, President John Quincy Adams referred to the city as “Monumental City” because of the memorial monuments erected throughout the city. Geographically, Maryland ranks the 10^th smallest state in the US (including the District of Columbia) but is among one the top10 states with the most declared National Historic Landmarks. In addition to Maryland’s 71 declared historic landmarks, embedded in the middle of the state, is the District of Columbia which is also among one the top 10 states with the most declared National Historic Landmarks, having 74 of its own. Having 145 National Historical Landmarks in one small geographical area attracts millions of visitors each year to Maryland.  However, aside from the declared landmarks, Maryland has many less known monuments but ones that are equally as fascinating.  Below are some of these less known monuments.

National Katyn Memorial

Baltimore, Maryland

http://culture.polishsite.us/articles/art281fr.htm

        Since I am of Polish descent, I found the National Katyn Memorial interesting. This monument located the roundabout on Felicia Street in Baltimore City, is dedicated to all the victims of the Soviet communist rule but especially to the massacre of 15,400 Polish officers by the Soviet Secret Police in 1940 in the Katyn forest. Below is a picture of the monument.

The Reese Monument

1035 E 33rd Street, across from the YMCA

http://monumentcity.net/2009/04/19/reese-memorial-monument-baltimore-md/

        Another interesting monument is one that is located ion 33^rd Street in Baltimore. The sculptor, Grace Turnbul, dedicated this as a memorial to her friend, teacher and poet Lizette Woodworth Reese who died in 1935. The monument entitled the “Good Shepard”, was dedicated in 1939 and referenced her friend’s most famous poem, “Tears”. Both Grace Turnbul and Lizette Woodworth Reese were residents of Baltimore during their life. The monument was originally located next to Eastern High School then move to Lake Clifton High School when Eastern High School closed. It recently has been returned to its original location now occupied by Johns Hopkins University. Below is a photograph of the Reese Monument.

Columbus Obelisk

Harford Road & Walther Avenue Baltimore, Maryland

http://monumentcity.net/2009/04/12/columbus-obelisk-baltimore-md/

        The first monument dedicate to Columbus both in the United States and the world. The stone obelisk was erected in 1792 to celebrate the 300^th year anniversary of the discovery of America.  The monument is forty-four feet in height and is the oldest monument in dedication to Columbus that is still standing today. 

Black Aggie Monument

http://paranormaland.com/TheLegendofBlackAggie.html

Original location: Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore Maryland 1907

        The monument, entitled “Grief” once marked the grave of General Felix Agnus, the publisher of the Baltimore “American” and his wife Annie. Many urban legends surround the black mourning figure. Some stories told about the statue suggest that the other spirits in the cemetery meet in front of the statue nightly and that no grass ever grows in front of the statue. Stories of Black Aggie’s glowing red eyes and being haunted by ghosts if you’d sat on the statue’s lap has made this grave monument the subject of one of Maryland’s most popular ghostly legends. The statue became such a disruption to the Druid Ridge Cemetery, that it was donated In 1967 to the Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C.  After years of being in storage, it was eventually moved to the courtyard of the Dolly Madison House on Lafayette Square in Washington, DC.