Garrett Building

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Robert Garrett was the original owner of the thirteen-story Garrett Building. Among other things, Garrett was a banker, Olympian, collector of medieval manuscripts, and a leader in the development of recreational facilities in Baltimore. He was a participant in the first modern Olympic games in 1896. He paid for three of his Princeton classmates to make the trip and they all took home medals, much to the displeasure of the Greeks. Garrett in particular specialized in the shot put but also decided to try the discus throw for fun after realizing the discus only weighed five pounds. Unlike the Greek discus throwers who implemented the graceful throwing techniques of antiquity, Garrett appropriated the crude, brute force style of shot put throwing to the sport. Despite narrowly missing audience members on his first two throws, his final throw was spot-on and won him the gold. He also took home the gold in shot put. Garrett built 233 East Redwood Street in 1913 with the Baltimore architecture firm Wyatt and Nolting. The limestone faced skyscraper is as striking on the inside as the outside. The lobby is donned with marble walls and columns. Garrett could never turn away from his love of athletics, not even at work. He commissioned a swimming pool and gymnasium for the upper floors. The building is now home to the Gordon Feinblatt law firm.

Watch our Five Minute Histories video on this building!