Marble steps Culture of Baltimore

marble steps, east fort avenue, locust point, august 2014

marble steps used @ front entrances of rowhomes in baltimore. use of marble steps due presence of high quality white marble in cockeysville, town 17 miles north of baltimore s inner harbor highway. indeed, marble found there attractive, stone hauled way northern maryland town nation s new capital, instead of local potomac marble quarries, use in decorative construction around washington, d.c., including washington monument, , 108 columns of capitol building. during construction phase of washington monument, through middle of 19th century, marble gained in popularity decorative stone , used omnipresently steps of row houses surrounding baltimore s inner harbor , in fells point. scrubbing marble steps has become tradition in baltimore. ritual includes scrubbing marble bon ami powder , pumice stone.