The Multi-Sensory Exhibition Will Showcase Artifacts, Oral Histories, and the Economic Impact of the Key Bridge Collapse
Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) has awarded a $545,000 grant to the Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI), providing critical early support for the development of a major exhibition memorializing the victims and impact of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. This lead gift will jumpstart the BMI’s fundraising campaign and underwrite a significant portion of the exhibition’s development, allowing the museum to move forward with confidence.
This exhibition will serve as a lasting tribute to those affected by the tragedy, while also examining the bridge’s significance to Baltimore’s economy, maritime industry, and workforce.
Set to be housed in the waterfront Decker Gallery, overlooking the Inner Harbor and working terminal at Domino Sugar, the exhibition will be a centerpiece at the BMI featuring original artifacts, dramatic imagery, oral histories, audiovisual storytelling, and digital interactives. It will explore the economic and human impacts of the Key Bridge collapse, the Port of Baltimore’s vital role in the region, and the resilience of the workers and industries that keep it running.
Beyond documenting the bridge’s role in shaping Baltimore’s past and future, the exhibition offers a space for public reflection and community dialogue, ensuring that this chapter of Baltimore’s history is both preserved and meaningfully understood. The grant from BCF will support deepened community engagement and public programming, exhibition research and design, and continued efforts to build and preserve the museum’s Key Bridge collection of oral histories, objects, archival materials, photographs, and artwork. The exhibition is scheduled to open in March 2027, on the third anniversary of the bridge’s collapse. The BCF grant is one of the largest the BMI has received to date.
“This exhibit will be about more than remembrance — it’s about honoring the people behind the tragedy, uplifting their stories, and ensuring Baltimore remembers and learns from that remembrance,” said Shanaysha Sauls, president and CEO of Baltimore Community Foundation.
“The Key Bridge collapse was a moment that shook our entire city, but it also reinforced Baltimore’s resilience. We are proud to support the BMI in capturing this event and its impacts through storytelling and reflection.”
This exhibition builds upon BMI’s “Echoes from the Key Bridge” oral history project, which BCF previously funded through a $25,000 grant in summer 2024. As part of that initiative, artist and community storyteller Maria Gabriela Aldana captured the voices of port workers, first responders, immigrant families, and others affected by the tragedy.
Now, with this latest funding, BMI will expand its efforts to create an immersive installation that further commemorates the lives lost and the resilience of Baltimore’s communities. The recorded oral history interviews from “Echoes from the Key Bridge” have been transcribed and added to the BMI’s permanent collection, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
“This project is about more than preserving history–it’s about honoring resilience, labor, and community,” said BMI Executive Director Anita Kassof.
“Thanks to the Baltimore Community Foundation’s generous support, we can expand our storytelling through community engagement, public programming, and a major exhibition, ensuring the Key Bridge’s legacy and the Port of Baltimore’s vital role remain part of the city’s living history.”
The grant comes from BCF’s Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, which has raised $16 million to provide financial relief and long-term support for individuals, small businesses, and communities affected by the bridge collapse. Other funders supporting BMI’s Key Bridge exhibition include Ports of America Chesapeake and STA of Baltimore Charitable Legacy, Inc., and the Baltimore National Heritage Area.
For more information about the Baltimore Museum of Industry and its programs, visit www.thebmi.org.
