Esports, a digital port and innovation jobs: Help us manifest Baltimore’s next 250 years

The United States is preparing to celebrate its 250th birthday next year — and Baltimore has clearly cemented its importance to the American experience since then. 

Like in 1814, when troops at Fort McHenry resisted the Royal Navy’s bombardment — and inspired Francis Scott Key to pen “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Even before 1776, though, Baltimore and the surrounding region remained crucial to the country’s economic, political and social fabric throughout the centuries. It did so even as it endured the ravages of racism, deindustrialization, political corruption and all the other problems that too often characterize it in the national consciousness.

Now, as the country Baltimore helped build prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial in 2026, we at Technical.ly are taking the opportunity to ask what it will look like in another 250 years. And we need your help to do so.

Inspired by a similar project we did in Philadelphia, we’re developing vision statements in Baltimore, DC, Delaware and Pittsburgh to envision and manifest the future for the regions we call home, as well as where our innovation scenes can make them better.

Will a new bridge turn our port into the world’s most important and digitally protected international shipping corridor? Could all the taxpayer money funneled into entrepreneurship create enough worthwhile jobs? Will the Ravens turn into an esports team? 

Whatever you think, check out some of our ideas in the form below. Select your top choices, and add your own thoughts, too. We’ll use the results to create a draft statement, which we’ll publish in early 2025.