Federal Hill

Federal Hill is named for the hill at its northern edge, which took the name in 1789 after a parade and celebration marking ratification of the federal Constitution. Before that it was known as Signal Hill, for a maritime observatory that signaled arriving ships. In May 1861 Union troops occupied the hill and built a small fort with cannon aimed toward downtown, and a few cannons, a large flag, and a small monument remain in the park today.

The housing is mainly brick rowhouses, many of them renovated since the 1970s, alongside condos, newer townhomes, and apartment buildings. The Federal Hill Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1970, is described in Federal and Greek Revival styles, and the Federal Hill South Historic District was added to the National Register in 2003. Traditionally the neighborhood is a rough triangle bounded by Hanover Street, the harbor along Key Highway, and Cross Street.

Federal Hill Park, on top of the hill above the Inner Harbor, hosts Shakespeare on the Hill in summer. Cross Street Market, at 1065 South Charles Street, traces back to an open-air shed built around 1846, was rebuilt in 1871, rebuilt again after a 1951 fire, and reopened in phases in 2019 after a full renovation. The American Visionary Art Museum is at 800 Key Highway, near the Maryland Science Center.

On transit, the western side of the neighborhood is within walking distance of the Hamburg Street and Camden Station/Camden Yards stops on the Light RailLink. The Charm City Circulator's Purple Route runs between 33rd Street and Federal Hill, and the free Harbor Connector water taxi runs a route between Pier 5 and Federal Hill.

Federal Hill buyers commonly look at Baltimore City's Homeownership Incentives Program, which includes the First-Time Homebuyers Incentive, Live Near Your Work, and Buying Into Baltimore, as well as the Maryland Mortgage Program. See our Maryland programs page for current terms.

Before you buy with renovation plans, know that Federal Hill is a Baltimore City CHAP local historic district. CHAP reviews all exterior changes there, including work not visible from the street, through an Authorization to Proceed filed with the building permit. Federal Hill South is listed on the National Register only, not as a city district.