A Historical Timeline

In 1984, the University of Maryland Medical System was formed, but our history does not begin there.

The history of the Medical System is intertwined with that of our state. 

1695 - Annapolis becomes the capital of Maryland.

1729 - The city of Baltimore is formed.

1782 - Baltimore's historic Lexington Market is founded.

1788 - Maryland becomes the seventh state admitted to the Union.

1803 - Construction is completed on the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, located in the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore.

1807 - University of Maryland School of Medicine is established as the first public medical school.

1823 - The Baltimore Infirmary opens its doors. It later becomes the University of Maryland Hospital.

1828 - The first umbrella factory in the U.S. is founded in Baltimore.

1830 - The Baltimore and Ohio (B & O) Railroad begins operations, becoming the first passenger railway in the U.S.

1873 - Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course hosts the first Preakness Stakes.

Giant Fast Forward

1980 - A centerpiece of the revival of the Inner harbor Baltimore Harborplace opens.

1981 - Baltimore's National Aquarium opens.

1983 - The Baltimore Orioles win their third World Series title, beating the Philadelphia Phillies in the "I-95 Series" four games to one.

1984 - University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) forms, privatizing the UM Hospital and making it University of Maryland Medical Center.

1984 - The NFL's Baltimore Colts leave Baltimore in the middle of the night, relocating to Indianapolis, Indiana.

1986 - Kernan Hospital (now known as University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute) joins UMMS.

1986 - The NAACP moves its headquarters to Baltimore.

1989 - The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at University of Maryland Medical Center Downtown Campus opens.

1990 - Harriett Tubman Day is established as a U.S. holiday.

1992 - The Baltimore Orioles' new ballpark, Camden Yards, opens, replacing the O's previous home, Memorial Stadium.

1993 - Homicide: Life on the Street, the NBC police drama, premieres. Set and filmed almost entirely on location in Baltimore, the series ran for seven seasons.

1995 - Cal Ripken Jr., the Baltimore Orioles' legendary shortstop and third baseman, breaks Lou Gehrig's streak of consecutive games played, appearing in his 2,131st straight game. The new streak earned Ripken the nickname "Iron Man."

1995 - A record-setting 67-pound, 8-ounce striped bass is caught in the Chesapeake Bay.

1996 - Deaton Hospital (later known as University Specialty Hospital) joins UMMS.

1996 - A new NFL franchise, the Baltimore Ravens begin play.

1999 - Maryland General Hospital (now known as University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus) joins UMMS.

2000 - UMMS expands into Anne Arundel County with the addition of North Arundel Hospital (now known as University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center).

2000 - Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital joins UMMS (joint venture with Johns Hopkins Medicine).

2000 - The Baltimore Ravens win their first Super Bowl title, beating the New York Giants 34-7.

2002 - The HBO American crime drama The Wire premieres. Set and produced in Baltimore, the critically acclaimed series ran for five seasons.

2003 - Baltimore receives over 28 inches of snow during what is dubbed the President's Day Blizzard.

2004 - After closing in 1990, Baltimore's historic Hippodrome Theatre reopens, becoming part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.

2004 - Competitive swimmer Michael Phelps ties the record for total medals of any color won at a single Olympic Games, winning eight medals, six gold and two bronze, at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

2006 - UMMS expands to the Eastern Shore with the additions of Dorchester General Hospital and Memorial Hospital at Easton.

2008 - The Eastern Shore reach continues with the addition of Chester River Health System (all collectively known as University of Maryland Shore Regional Health).

2008 - The Smith Island Cake is officially named the State Dessert of Maryland.

2010 - Queen Anne’s Emergency Care Center opens.

2011 - UMMS Expands to Southern Maryland with the addition of Civista Medical Center (now known as UM Charles Regional Medical Center).

2011 - A 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia is felt in the greater Baltimore area.

2012 - Expanding in Baltimore County, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center joins UMMS.

2013 - UMMS expands to Harford County with the additions of UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center and UM Harford Memorial Hospital.

2013 - The Baltimore Ravens win their second Super Bowl title in a matchup between the Harbaugh brothers, head coaches John (Baltimore) and Jim (San Francisco 49ers), dubbed the "Harbaugh Bowl." The Ravens beat the 49ers 34-31.

2014 - University of Maryland, College Park officially joins the Big Ten Conference, leaving the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

2016 - Torrential rainfall occurs in and near Ellicott City, causing severe flash flooding and destruction to the historic Old Town portion of the city.

2016 - Barbara Mikulski retires as the longest-serving woman in Congress.

2017 - UMMS expands into Prince George’s County with the addition of Dimensions Health (now known as UM Capital Region Health).

2019 - Dr. Mohan Suntha becomes the CEO of UMMS.

2020 - Expanding into urgent care services, UMMS acquires ChoiceOne Urgent Care (now with 14 locations across Maryland).

2020 - The World Health Organization (WHO) declares COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic.

2020 - UMMS, along with Johns Hopkins Medicine, opens the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital in response to the COVID pandemic.

2020 - UMMS frontline employees become the first in Maryland to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

2021 - UMMS transforms M & T Bank Stadium into a mass vaccination center to vaccinate large numbers of Marylanders.

2021 - Baltimore's iconic neon Domino Sugars sign is upgraded with LED lights.

2021 - UM Capital Region Medical Center opens in Largo.

2022 - Wes Moore becomes Maryland's first African American governor.

2023 - UM Laurel Medical Center opens.

2024 - UM Upper Chesapeake Health at Aberdeen opens.

2024 - The Center for Advanced Medicine opens in Largo, housing the UM Capital Region Health Cancer Center.

2024 - Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses after being hit by a large cargo ship.

2024 - Under Armour opens its global headquarters in the Baltimore Peninsula, known as Port Covington.

2024 - UMMS celebrates its 40th anniversary.