For decades, Baltimore carried a reputation many Americans knew long before ever setting foot there. Crime headlines, abandoned factories, and political scandals painted the city as a symbol of urban struggle. By the 1990s, Baltimore’s once-powerful port economy had faded, leaving behind empty warehouses, shrinking neighborhoods, and a downtown many travelers simply bypassed.

But cities, like people, rarely remain trapped in a single chapter forever.

The first major turning point came when Baltimore began reimagining its neglected waterfront into what would become the modern Inner Harbor. Promenades replaced decaying piers. Attractions such as the National Aquarium brought visitors back downtown. Restaurants, hotels, sports stadiums, and waterfront parks slowly transformed not only the city’s appearance, but also the way it wanted to be seen.

Still, changing the image of an entire city is never easy.

Even into the early 2000s, Baltimore’s rough reputation continued to dominate public perception, reinforced globally by the HBO series The Wire, which portrayed the city’s drug trade, corruption, and struggling institutions with striking realism. Although fictional, the series shaped how millions around the world imagined Baltimore.

Yet this city never tried to polish itself into something artificial like many American metropolises. Instead, it embraced something far more unusual: authenticity.

That spirit was perfectly captured in the now-iconic slogan created by local artist Julia Kim Smith:

“Baltimore: Actually, I Like It.”

The slogan emerged about a decade ago during a difficult period, when Baltimore struggled with national perceptions tied to crime, unrest, and urban decline following waves of riots and negative headlines. Smith created the phrase almost as an ironic yet affectionate response to the way outsiders constantly criticized the city. The wording intentionally sounded surprising. As if someone expected Baltimore to disappoint, only to discover its charm, creativity, neighborhoods, waterfront, food scene, and deeply human character.

It quickly resonated with locals who felt it perfectly captured........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)