Photograph of the Washington Monument by Baltimore Sun photographer Gene Sweeney Jr.
The ayes have it: Your pick for the symbol of Baltimore is a landmark with a name that makes most Americans think of an entirely different city.
The Washington Monument, built between 1815 and 1829 in the city's Mount Vernon neighborhood, actually predates the better-known obelisk constructed in George Washington's honor in the city that bears his name. Baltimore's arguably cooler Washington Monument was the most popular choice in the (far from official) Wonk poll, with 21 percent of votes cast.
Second: The star-shaped Fort McHenry, of national anthem fame, with 17 percent of the vote.
The Bromo Seltzer Tower came in third, with 13 percent, followed by the Natty Boh brewery building, at 11 percent.
The various choices -- there were more, including Camden Yards (10 percent) and the National Aquarium (9 percent) -- were all suggested by readers.
One that wasn't on the poll but proved a strong write-in candidate was the Domino Sugar sign, which got 10 votes -- about 4 percent. (To put that into perspective: the Battle Monument, which is actually on Baltimore's flag, got 2 percent of the vote.)
Several readers wrote in the rowhouse, which is certainly vintage Bawlmer. "Especially one that is covered in formstone," wrote Pete from Highlandtown.
And one person (or perhaps not a person?) wrote in the Male/Female sculpture, that much-maligned bit of public art at Penn Station.
A separate poll asked you what you thought of the metal sculpture proposed for the redevelopment of Westport in Baltimore, the news item that originally started this discussion about symbols. Thirty-one percent dislike the sculpture, 30 percent can take it or leave it, 22 percent hate it, 13 percent like it and the rest -- about 3 percent -- love it.
That's a thumbs down from just over half and a thumbs up from 16 percent, with the rest saying "meh."
Thanks for playing, folks. That was fun. Care to start a debate about the symbol of Maryland?