MICA began when a group of Baltimore’s leading citizens gathered to imagine a new kind of educational institution. Led by 22-year-old John H. B. Latrobe, they founded the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanical Arts. As Latrobe later reflected, “The idea [of a mechanics’ institute] took my fancy greatly, and I thought it might be carried out, perhaps, in Baltimore.” From that moment, the foundation of what would become MICA was set.

Looking back on that founding vision, we see how MICA’s history has been shaped by the lives and ideas of artists, educators, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and innovators, people who shaped the College and were shaped by it in return. As we celebrate MICA’s 200th anniversary and step into our third century, we reflect on a legacy that continues to inform a vibrant present and inspire an even more ambitious future. Through the archives and through the voices of our community, MICA’s story comes alive as a living, evolving conversation.

Let’s tell the story.

If you missed President McCormick’s Charter Day announcement on Saturday, Jan. 10, marking a milestone moment in MICA’s history, we invite you to watch the video here.

And to celebrate your connection to MICA, visit our digital downloads page where you can access content (email signature, zoom backgrounds, etc.) to personalize, and show your MICA spirit.