The Great Baltimore Fire started on the morning of Feb. 7, 1904, at John E. Hurst building located near present day 1st Mariner Arena. The first alarm sounded at 10:48 a.m. and the fire quickly spread, eventually destroying 1,500 buildings over 140 acres. In this particular shot The Alexander Brown and Company building was the only one to survive in the immediate area. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

Baltimore Sun photos through the years: Celebrating the paper's 185th anniversary

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The age of photojournalism had just dawned in Baltimore in 1901. Since then, the camera has recorded and compiled a historical visual record of the events that have shaped the world, nation and Maryland, in the 20th century and now the 21st. The technology has evolved from flash powder erupting in a great "poof" to today's digital imagery -- no darkroom required.

1901: First photo

The Sun made history on Sept. 30, 1901, two weeks after Theodore Roosevelt became president after President William McKinley's assassination. The Sun ran a photograph. It was a profile shot (right) of Chief Judge James McSherry of the Court of Appeals of Maryland to illustrate a brief story announcing the start of the court's fall term. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1904: The Great Baltimore Fire

The Great Baltimore Fire started on the morning of Feb. 7, 1904, at John E. Hurst building located near present day 1st Mariner Arena. The first alarm sounded at 10:48 a.m. and the fire quickly spread, eventually destroying 1,500 buildings over 140 acres. In this particular shot The Alexander Brown and Company building was the only one to survive in the immediate area. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1919: Home from the war

A homecoming parade is held for the 115th Infantry pictured are (left to right) Col. Milton Reckord, Maj. Proston Lawa, Lt. Col. John D. Markay, Lt. Col. Finley, Lt. Frank Hancock, Maj. James Knight, Maj. Bruce Wylio, and Capt. Harlan Johnson. All of them are from the 29th Division. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1927: Lexington Market

An elevated view of the Lexington Market looking west along Lexington Avenue on a busy market day. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1931: Babe Ruth

Leroy Merriken photographed Babe Ruth in his classic pose at the plate during ad exhibition game at Oriole Park in 1931. (Leroy Merriken, Baltimore Sun)

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1936: Watermelon boat

In 1936 noted Sun photographer A. Aubrey Bodine photographer workers on the docks at Long Warf loading watermelons onto a boat. (A. Aubrey Bodine, Baltimore Sun)

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1936: Hindenburg in Baltimore

A year before the crash, in 1936, Baltimoreans had been excited by the news that they would get a glimpse of the giant Hindenburg, which was to circle the city late on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 8. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1945: Nuenburg funeral

Sunpapers war correspondent Lee McCardell took this gruesome picture on May 23, 1945. American soldiers had ordered townspeople of Neunburg, Bavaria, to attend services and act as pallbearers for 161 Jews slain by SS Troops. (Lee McCardell, Baltimore Sun)

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1949: Oyster tonger

A. Aubrey Bodine’s sepia-toned photos were legendary. His 1948 “Oyster Tonger” shows his tactile use of light and reflection, which masks the back-breaking work of a Tilghman Island waterman. (A. Aubrey Bodine, Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1951: Bocce ball

In a 1951 photo that Hans Marx titled “Mind Over Matter,” a bocce ball player lets it roll as his comrades look on. (Hans Marx, Baltimore Sun)

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1952: Bay bridge construction

Famed Baltimore Sun photographer Hans Marx got a different angle as the construction of the east tower of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge looking west across the bay. In the foreground is electrician Nicholas C. Guerieri. (Hans Marx, Baltimore Sun)

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1952: Flash flood

In 1952 a flash flood caused by a hurricane washed 21 cars down the main street of Ellicott City along with household furnishings and store merchandise. Frank A. Miller photographed some of the cars piled up near the depot yard at Main Street and Maryland Avenue. (Frank A. Miller, Baltimore Sun)

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1955: Pledge to the flag

A year after the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education ruling ended school segregation, first-graders recite the Pledge of Allegiance in 1955 at Gwynns Falls Elementary School. (Richard Stacks, Baltimore Sun)

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1957: Eisenhower throws first pitch

President Eisenhower throws out the first pitch at the 1957's opening day baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Senators as Managers Chuck Dressen (Washington) and Paul Richards (Orioles) watch. (Robert F. Kniesche, Baltimore Sun)

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1958: Colts title

On December 28, 1958 Baltimore Colts fullback Alan Ameche advances through a big opening provided by teammates to score the winning touchdown in overtime period against the New York Giants during the NFL Championship football game at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Colts won 23-17 in overtime for the title and the game became known as the "greatest game." (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1962: Preakness rumble

In this prize winning photo finish of the the 1962 Preakness, Sun photographer Joseph A. DiPaola captured Greek Money on the right ridden by Johnny Rotz as he wins by a nose over Ridan ridden by Manuel Ycaza. The photo clearly showed that jockey Ycaza clearly leaning over and arm-locking his elbow into Rotz's stomach, which the track stewards had missed. In a subsequent hearing Ycaza was suspended when the Maryland State Racing Commission used DiPaola's photo as evidence. (Joseph A. DiPaola, Jr., Baltimore Sun)

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1964: Dr. Martin Luther King comes to Baltimore

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, noted civil rights leader, greets thousands of admirers on a motorcade tour up North Gay Street on his tour after winning the Nobel Prize for Peace. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1964: The Beatles in Baltimore

Surrounded by a sea of Beatles fans at today's performance, a man and boy (upper left) seem to be trying to shut out the din of music and shrieks in the Baltimore Civic Center. Witnesses said it was impossible. (Baltimore Sun file photo)

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1966: World series

Third baseman Brooks Robinson, pitcher Dave McNally (center) and catcher Andy Etchebarren exult as the Orioles win their first World Series in 1966 at Memorial Stadium, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Paul Hutchins, Baltimore Sun)

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1968: Baltimore riots

A police officer keeps the peace at Gay and Orleans streets after the riots that swept the city after the April 4, 1968, assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (Lloyd Pearson, Baltimore Sun)

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1970: Pitcher Norman Yokely

Layman Norman Yokely was considered one of the greatest pitchers ever, compared to Satchel Paige, Bob Feller and Lefty Grove. After playing for Baltimore and a number of other Negro League teams, he retired and opened a shoeshine parlor on Pennsylvania Avenue. (Ellis, J. Malashuk,Baltimore Sun)

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1976: Plane crash at stadium

It was Dec. 19, 1976, and less than 10 minutes after the Pittsburgh Steelers had crushed the Baltimore Colts, 40-14 in an AFC playoff game at Memorial Stadium when a plane crashed into the seats at Memorial Stadium. Donald Kroner, a former charter pilot, had crashed a rented, low-wing, blue-and-white Piper Cherokee into the upper deck of the end zone, losing a wing in the process. Kroner, who would serve three months of a two-year sentence for malicious destruction of property and violation of city aviation ordinances. (Lloyd Pearson, Baltimore Sun)

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1981: Mermaid

Mayor William Donald Schaefer had promised to jump into the National Aquarium seal pool if the aquarium didn’t open on July 1, 1981. It didn’t, and he did. (Lloyd Pearson, Baltimore Sun)

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1984: Colts move

Under cover of a night snowstorm, the Colts steal out of their Owings Mills complex on their way to Indianapolis on March 29, 1984. (Lloyd Pearson, Baltimore Sun)

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1984: Ballet for beginners

Mayor Wiliam Donald Schaefer and Barbara Mikulski take ballet lessons at The Baltimore School For The Arts. (Jed Kirschbaum, Baltimore Sun)

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1993: Under the fountain

There is no better excuse for an overheated photographer to jump in a cool fountain than to make a picture. During a string of 100 degree days the weather became the news and when Sun photographer Michael Lutzky saw these four kids (l-r Twedell Bell, Damond Wallace, Ernest Robinson and Raymond Wallace) in the fountains at the Inner Harbor (Calvert/Pratt), he rolled up my pants and climbed in with them. (Michael Lutzky, Baltimore Sun)

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1994: Call to post

Prior to the running of the 119th Preakness race Sun photographer Chien-Chi Chang found this interesting perspective to get a picture of buglar Joe Kelly as he sounds out the traditional start of the race. (Chien-Chi Chang, Baltimore Sun)

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1995: Good Humor

In August of 1995, John Hudson looks out from his truck at one of his younger customers John Boias, 3, of Meadowood Townhomes in Edgewood, who had to deal with a rapidly melting fudgsicle. Beth Boias (John's mother) said that after the ice cream truck it's usually time for a shower for the youngster. Because a lot of customers run to the truck barefoot, "Mr. John" will often put down a towel for them to get off the hot pavement, or pull close to the grass. (Jed Kirschbaum, Baltimore Sun)

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1995: Cal breaks the record

Cal Ripken, Jr. played in a string of 2,632 consecutive games, a major league baseball record that is known as "The Streak." On Sept. 6, 1995, he played in his 2,131st straight game, breaking Lou Gehrig's record and becoming baseball's Iron Man. (Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun)

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1996: Jesus Statue

Grayson Gilbert, 6, of Towson left a note beneath the Jesus Statue before his surgery for pancreatic cancer. Jed Kirschbaum captured a moment when he visited the statue again during an office visit to Hopkins. He had asked his mother if they could go the long way out and see the statue. (Jed Kirschbaum, Baltimore Sun)

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1996: Baptism

A mass river baptism through total immersion took place in the Big Gunpowder Falls River. Three churches participated: Solid Rock, Judah Praise, and Holy Temple of Truth. (Linda Coan, Baltimore Sun)

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1997: Ship breakers in India

Indian workers carry a 350kg sheet of steel across the Annapurna Shipyard in Alang, India. This technique is the cause of many foot and let injuries. The Sun's coverage of this story lead to a Pulitzer Prize. (Perry Thorsvik, Baltimore Sun)

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1997: Car jacking

Staff photographer Andre F. Chung chanced upon this June 1997 arrest of a carjacking suspect detained by Officer Ray Cook at Edmondson and Allendale avenues. (Andre Chung, Baltimore Sun)

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1997: Herndon Monument climb

As a right of passage from moving from the plebe-year to upperclassman, the freshman class of the United States Naval Academy must climb an obelisk monument smeared with lard. The object of the exercise is to replace a plebe's "dixie cup" with an upperclassman's cap. The one who succeeds, it is believed by some, will become the class' first admiral. (John Makely, Baltimore Sun)

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1998: Protest arrest

At the climax of the NAACP hosted protest of discriminatory hiring practices in the Supreme Court, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume is arrested for crossing the police line in an attempt to deliver resumes of minority law students to Chief Justice William Renquist. (Elizabeth Malby, Baltimore Sun)

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1999: Johnny Unitas

Hall of Fame quarterback, Johnny Unitas, poses in 1999 in Memorial Stadium where he played for the Colts. The stadium demolition began in 2000. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun)

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2000: Boxer Hasim Rahman

Sun photographer Jed Kirschbaum took this whimsical picture of heavyweight boxer Hasim Rahman as he pretends to gives in to his hard punching four year old Sharif near the end of his workout. (Jed Kirschbaum, Baltimore Sun)

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2001: Pentagon attacked

On September 11, 2001 firefighters were still battling flames when Sun staff photographer Amy Davis showed up on the scene of the Pentagon after a terrorists flew a commercial airliner into the building. Smoke could be seen for miles and a large gash could be seen where the plane had hit the west wall of the building. (Amy Davis, Baltimore Sun)

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2001: World Trade Center attack

As soon as the second World Trade Tower was attacked in New York City on September 11, 2001, Sun photographer John Makely drove to Manhattan. He didn't arrive till the early morning hours the next day. He worked his way to ground zero of the attack when the sun rose on September 12th. He took this picture as workers started climbing on the rubble that was the remnants of the north tower. (John Makely, Baltimore Sun)

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2001: Ray Lewis celebrates

Ray Lewis celebrates with confetti flying around him after the Ravens win Super Bowl XX in Tampa Bay, Florida on January 28, 2001 and Gene Sweeney Jr. was there to show us the emotion of the moment. (Gene Sweeney Jr., Baltimore Sun)

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2002: Dawson family murdered

This early morning fire on E. Preston St., killed Angel Dawson and her five children, and left her husband Carnell Dawson, in critical condition. By early afternoon when Sun photographer Amy Davis arrived to photograph the scene, teddy bears and signed condolences filled the top step of the N. Eden St. side entrance to the house. Marilyn Johnson , 10, a 4th grader at Dr. Bernard Harris Sr. E.S., where the three youngest Dawson children went to school, knew all the young victims. Neighbors said that the home had been firebombed recently after Angel Dawson had testified against drug dealers, and the common view was that this fire was retribution against the family for standing up to local drug dealers. (Amy Davis, Baltimore Sun)

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2002: A leaping fox

A young red fox plays as it leaps between rolls of harvested hay on Michael Pishvaian's, farm in Poolesville, MD. (David Hobby, Baltimore Sun)

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2003: Iraq war

Sun photographer John Makely was embedded with the 3rd Battalion, Fifth Regiment convoy on a Tuesday morning when it came under attack. U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Marcco Ware, from Los Angeles, carries an injured Iraqi soldier who was shot three times during the attempted ambush. One Marine was killed, one injured during the attack which resulted in about 40 dead Iraqi soldiers and thirty POW's. (John Makely, Baltimore Sun)

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2003: Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps darts through the water as the morning sun illuminates the Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center pool during practice and Karl Merton Ferron uses the lighting to highlight the Olympian. (Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun)

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2006: A dip in the Chesapeake Bay

Dressed as a scantily clad Darth Vader, Ed Griffin, of Reisterstown, runs into the Chesapeake Bay during his first ever Polar Bear Plunge and David Hobby photographed the moment. The air on January 28, 2006 was 60 degrees, but the water was a less inviting 37 degrees for the tenth annual event, which drew large crowds due in part to the unseasonably warm weather. (David Hobby, Baltimore Sun)

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2006: Barbaro at the Preakness

For the 2006 Preakness The Sun added an additional elevated photo position with a view of the finish line. As it turned out, it was the perfect view as Barbaro pulled up lame in front of the Pimlico Grandstands, holding up his rear leg which had been fractured. Despite many attempts by the owner to save the horse, he eventually was euthanized in 2007. (Doug Kapustin, Baltimore Sun)

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2006: Amish shooting

An Amish man is pictured in front of the Nickel Mines Amish School where unprecedented violence took place when a gunman carrying 600 rounds of ammunition burst into the one-room schoolhouse, ordered out the boys and several women, bound the girls and shot 11 of them execution-style, killing at least four. (Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun)

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2006: Celebratory players

Elizabeth Malby captured the excitement of the 2006 Maryland Terrapins womens basketball team as the All Tournament Team Most Outstanding Player Laura Harper (top) hugs teammate Marissa Coleman after evening the score and securing overtime before winning the NCAA National Championship at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. (Elizabeth Malby, Baltimore Sun)

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2007: Hon-Fest

As part of the 2007 Hon Fest in Hampden, Celine Goins, shows off her big hair on stage as she competes in the Bawlmer's Best Hon Contest. The contest began in 1994 and is a vision of the sixties-era women with beehive hairdos, blue-eye-shadow, spandex pants and something, anything with leopard print. (Chiaki Kawajiri, Baltimore Sun)

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2008: Back from the front

With tears of joy, Sophia Jones embraces her son Specialist Tony Jones with Maryland Army National Guard. Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment are returning home overseas duty supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Monica Lopossay, Baltimore Sun)

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2009: Flower Mart

Flower Mart revelers have been gathering at the foot of the Washington Monument to celebrate spring since 1917. Here, Summer Matthews and a less-than-enthusiastic Dylan Henderson in 2009. (Jed Kirschbaum, Baltimore Sun)

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2010: Snowbound

Rebecca Girvin leans out the second floor window of her home in the 700 block of East Lake Avenue in the Lake-Walker neighborhood to push snow off her front porch roof. She had trouble extending the broom far enough to push the snow over the edge of the roof. With the sun shining, area residents began to dig out after the latest snowfall, which brought the total snow accumulation in Maryland this winter to a record-breaking 79 inches. (Amy Davis, Baltimore Sun)

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2013: Super Bowl champs again

Joe Flacco holds aloft the Lombardi Trophy after the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers' 34-31 in the Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)

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2015: Riots

Protestor Greg Butler rides his bike in front of a police line at North and Pennsylvania Avenues on the day of Freddie Gray's funeral. Riots and looting broke out throughout the city. Gray died in police custody on April 19th. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

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2017: Confederate statues removed

A bystander takes a picture of the monument dedicated to the Confederate Women of Maryland after it was taken down early Wednesday morning. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

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2018: Elliott City flooding

A Special operations team remove debris from on top of cars that are wedged under a bridge on the TIber River as clean up of Elliott City begins on Monday. Heavy rains flooded the area yesterday, two years after a similar event brought extensive damage to Main Street. Much of the historic business district was rebuilt. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

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2018: Capital Gazette shooting

Participants in a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Capital Gazette march down Main Street in Annapolis. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

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2019: Healthy Holly

An FBI agent carries boxes of Healthy Holly books out of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh's home during a raid on Thursday. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

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2020: Pugh sentenced

Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh speaks with the media as she leaves the federal courthouse in downtown Baltimore after being sentenced to three years in prison, followed by three years probation as a result of her pleading guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion in her “Healthy Holly” fraud scheme. February 27, 2020. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

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2020: COVID-19

A nursing student volunteer with Hatzalah Baltimore administers a rapid COVID-19 test to Aiden Feierstein, age 4 1/2, at a drive-through site at Bnos Yisroel High School in upper Park Heights. Aiden's family, including his younger sister and parents, also got tested just as a precaution, according to his parents, who live in Summit Park. Hatzalah Baltimore, an independent non-profit volunteer organization providing emergency services to the northwest Baltimore community, offers daily COVID-19 testing at different sites. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)

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