The Baltimore Arts Tower was a 2005 addition to the Department 56 Historical Landmark Series, which celebrates famous structures. It is part of the Christmas In The City series, crafted of hand-painted porcelain, and exquisitely and faithfully detailed. It measures approximately 4.0 x 5.2 x 13.5 inches, was retired in 2008, and is becoming very difficult to find, especially in this mint condition. Originally known as the Bromo Seltzer Tower, the imposing structure was built in 1911 as the centerpiece of The Emerson Company plant. It is located in Baltimore, Maryland at the corner of Lombard Street and Eutaw Street, and. Stood as the tallest building in Baltimore until 1923. (There was much controversy a few years ago, and quite a few ruffled feathers, when the City permitted construction of a hotel between the Tower and the Camden Yards home of the Orioles, blocking what was once an unfettered spectators view of the treasured icon). Its design was inspired by the. Emerson during a 1900 tour of Europe. A similar tower also stands on the tip of Cape Cod in Provincetown, Massachusetts, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. If memory serves me correctly, it commemorates the first landfall there of the Pilgrims in1620, before sailing across Cape Cod Bay to Plymouth. The Baltimore tower once featured a revolving 51 lighted Bromo Seltzer bottle on top, which could be seen from twenty miles away. It was regularly used as a beacon by ships to navigate safely into Baltimores harbor, but removed following a hurricane in 1936, due to safety concerns. In token memory of the bottle, the upper arches of the tower presently glow blue at night, an effect which is faithfully reproduced in this figurine. The tower looks magnificent in a darkened room, with its translucent clock faces also aglow. The adjacent Emerson Bromo Seltzer plant was demolished in 1969, leaving only its signature tower. In 2007, the structure was converted into artist studios, hence its current name. It is now home to a variety of creative artists, videographers, writers, photographers, poets, and more. Both of these figurines offered are in identical mint condition. The boxes have some very light shelf wear, but are otherwise pristine; No stains, writing or tears whatsoever. I will comfortably rate them Ex. They still retain the original sales labels, original packing styrofoam and cellophane wrap and literature. The twist ties on the cords of the electric “gizmos” which light the structures appear to have never been untwisted. So while the figurines have clearly been unwrapped and removed, I doubt that they have ever been displayed. They are definitely mint in every respect. A fabulous addition to your Department 56 collection, your Christmas decorations, or the perfect and most-thoughtful Christmas present. Please feel free to ask me questions. Thank you for looking, and my best for a very Merry Christmas. The item “Baltimore Arts Tower Department 56 MIB Christmas In The City Retired Rare” is in sale since Sunday, December 03, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Decorative Collectibles\Decorative Collectible Brands\Department 56\Christmas in the City”. The seller is “threefries” and is located in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown