Mr. Johns Hopkins died, and Baltimore mourned. But something wonderful also happened: Our university and health system were born.
Each year, on the anniversary of his death in 1873, appreciative community members meet at Mr. Hopkins' grave in Baltimore's Green Mount Cemetery to thank him for leaving $7 million in his will to establish the Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, two institutions that have done so much for humanity.
This year's gathering will be held on a different date because Dec. 24, the 144th anniversary of Mr. Hopkins' death, is a Sunday, when Green Mount will be closed. For this year only, the commemoration will shift to Saturday, Dec. 23.
The 19th consecutive annual observance of the day that Johns Hopkins made Johns Hopkins possible will begin at 10 a.m. at the Hopkins family gravesite (directions below).
The brief, informal ceremony will be led, as always, by university Vice President and Secretary Emeritus Ross Jones. The focus this year will be on Mr. Hopkins' life at Clifton, his summer home just minutes away from Green Mount. Those gathered will hear from a member of the Hopkins family, along with two representatives of Civic Works, the nonprofit that currently occupies—and is restoring—Clifton Mansion: John Ciekot, special projects director, and Susan Brooks, legacy education coordinator.
Attendees are invited to visit Clifton Mansion immediately after the observance for refreshments, tours, decorations, and a lighted Christmas tree gallery. Clifton is at 2701 St. Lo Drive, less than 2 miles from the cemetery. Maps will be provided.
To learn more about Mr. Hopkins' final days and his death, you can read the text of his Baltimore Sun obituary.
Directions to the Dec. 23 commemoration of Mr. Johns Hopkins:
Enter Green Mount Cemetery's main gate at 1501 Greenmount Ave., about five blocks south of North Avenue; drive up the hill, park near the crest, and look for the group gathering to the right.
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