Lloyd Street Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Lloyd Street Synagogue is an 1845, Greek Revival style synagogue building in Baltimore
, Maryland. One of the oldest synagogues in the United States
, Lloyd Street was the first synagogue building erected in Maryland and is the third oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States. Lloyd Street is now owned by the Jewish Museum of Maryland and is open to the public as a museum in the Inner Harbor
area of Baltimore. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lloyd Street was built by the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
, incorporated on January 29, 1830. In 1889 the building was sold to The St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, a parish that served mainly immigrants from Lithuania
, which occupied the building until 1905. In 1905 it was sold to congregation Shomrei Mishmeres HaKodesh, an Orthodox Jewish congregation of immigrants from Eastern Europe, which continued to use the building until 1963, when the building was threatened with demolition. The effort to preserve Lloyd Street was the impetus for the founding of the Jewish Historical Society of Maryland, now the Jewish Museum of Maryland.
Baltimore architects Robert Cary Long, Jr.
and William Reasin designed the building in the fashionable Greek Revival style. Four doric columns support a classic pediment, all painted white. The body of the building is brick. The building is a near-twin of St. Peter the Apostle Church
, designed by Long in 1842.
Lloyd Street is the third oldest synagogue building in the United States (several earlier buildings are no longer standing.) The two oldest synagogue buildings, both still in active use, are the Touro Synagogue
in Newport, Rhode Island
and Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue, in Charleston, South Carolina
.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978.
In 2011, archaeologists uncovered a mikveh under the synagogue. It is believed to be the oldest known mikveh in the United States.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland. One of the oldest synagogues in the United States
Oldest synagogues in the United States
The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
, Lloyd Street was the first synagogue building erected in Maryland and is the third oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States. Lloyd Street is now owned by the Jewish Museum of Maryland and is open to the public as a museum in the Inner Harbor
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
area of Baltimore. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lloyd Street was built by the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation is a synagogue and Jewish community in Baltimore. It is affiliated with the Reform Judaism movement.Originally named Nidche Yisroel, the synagogue was founded in 1830, and for the first fifteen years of its existence, services were held in a small room above a local...
, incorporated on January 29, 1830. In 1889 the building was sold to The St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, a parish that served mainly immigrants from Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, which occupied the building until 1905. In 1905 it was sold to congregation Shomrei Mishmeres HaKodesh, an Orthodox Jewish congregation of immigrants from Eastern Europe, which continued to use the building until 1963, when the building was threatened with demolition. The effort to preserve Lloyd Street was the impetus for the founding of the Jewish Historical Society of Maryland, now the Jewish Museum of Maryland.
Baltimore architects Robert Cary Long, Jr.
Robert Cary Long, Jr.
Robert Cary Long, Jr. was a nineteenth century architect who practiced in Baltimore. His works in the city included St. Peter the Apostle Church, the Lloyd Street Synagogue, and the Baltimore American Building.-See also:*List of architects...
and William Reasin designed the building in the fashionable Greek Revival style. Four doric columns support a classic pediment, all painted white. The body of the building is brick. The building is a near-twin of St. Peter the Apostle Church
St. Peter the Apostle Church
St. Peter the Apostle Church is a Roman Catholic church located at the corner of Hollins and Poppleton Streets in Baltimore, Maryland. It is often referred to as "The Mother Church of West Baltimore." The church was built in 1842 to minister to the growing Irish population of West Baltimore, who...
, designed by Long in 1842.
Lloyd Street is the third oldest synagogue building in the United States (several earlier buildings are no longer standing.) The two oldest synagogue buildings, both still in active use, are the Touro Synagogue
Touro Synagogue
The Touro Synagogue is a 1763 synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, that is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States,the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America, and the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
and Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue, in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978.
In 2011, archaeologists uncovered a mikveh under the synagogue. It is believed to be the oldest known mikveh in the United States.
External links
- Lloyd Street Synagogue, Baltimore City, including undated photo, at Maryland Historical Trust
- Lloyd Street Synagogue, Lloyd & Watson Streets, Baltimore, Independent City, MD: 4 photos and 9 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey
- The Jewish Museum of Maryland website
- National Park Service website