Sights and landmarks in Baltimore

Sights and landmarks in Baltimore

1. SeeInner Harbor

   American Visionary Art Museum

   The most eclectic and interesting collection of contemporary art from non-professional artists, with many works of beauty, some of paranoia, and a fair share of sheer obsessive personality disorder!

   Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM·Adults $15.95, discounts available for seniors, children and large groups

2. SeeSouth Baltimore

   Babe Ruth Museum

   This museum is actually in the house where the Great Bambino himself was born. The museum isn't huge, but should be considered a can't-miss attraction for baseball fans. There is a white baseball "trail" leading from Camden Yards straight here, so it isn't hard to find. Plan to spend about a half hour looking at the exhibits on his life, and also the neat new one on the 500-homer club.

   Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM·$6 adults, $3 children 3-12

3. SeeWest Baltimore

   Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum

   Located in a beautiful historic railroad roundhouse is a large collection of locomotives and railcars dating back to the very earliest railroads of America. Train rides are sometimes available. Very kid friendly.

   Mon-Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 11AM-4PM·Admission $18, discounts for seniors and children available

4. SeeNorth Baltimore

   Baltimore Museum of Art

   Fantastic collection of 19th century, modern and contemporary art.

   Wed-Fri 11AM-5PM, Sat Sun 11AM-6PM, Mon Tue closed·Free

5. SeeSouth Baltimore

   Baltimore Museum of Industry

   Baltimore's museum of the common man defies the idea that history is just about politicians, wars, and artists. You'll see recreations of a cannery, a turn of the century textile factory, a printing press, Dr Bunting's old pharmacy, and exhibits on the Domino Sugar Factory. There are plenty of good hands-on activities for kids—they can even become child laborers in the textile shop!

   Tue-Sun 10AM-4PM·$10/8/6 (adults/seniors/children & students)

6. SeeDowntown

   Battle Monument

   Far less known than the Monumental City's other memorials, but no lesser in size, is the Battle Monument in the median across from the Baltimore Circuit Courts. Dedicated to the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812, it stands on an Egyptian tomb-like base, with Baltimore's fallen soldiers' names engraved. Lady Baltimore stands atop the column, bearing a wreath of victory. It is the oldest structure in this part of the city.

7. SeeDowntown

   Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower

   This beautiful old landmark clocktower dates to 1911. It was built as the clocktower for the factory (now demolished) that made Bromo Seltzer's headache and hangover cure. The city converted the building to artist studios in 2007, and installed a fire station at the bottom. The building is open to visitors on Saturdays.

   Sat 11AM-4PM·Free entry; $8 for clock room tour

8. SeeFells Point

   Carroll Mansion and Phoenix Shot Tower

   Old Baltimore Shot Tower

   This is one of the more intriguing of the lesser-known historical attractions in the city. The Carrol Mansion was home to writer Charles Carroll, who was both the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence, and its only Catholic signer. Following his death, the mansion led a colorful life as a saloon, immigrant tenement, vocational school, and recreation center. The nearby Phoenix Shot Tower was built in 1828, and for eighteen years remained the tallest structure in the country.

   Sat-Sun noon-4PM; tours of the tower begin at 4PM promptly from the museum·$5/$4

9. SeeInner Harbor

   Christmas Village in Baltimore

   German-style Christmas market with vendors offering food, holiday gifts, a beer garden and a Santa to take photos with that is open from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Eve. Free admission on weekdays (admission fee on most weekend days — check website for exact operating hours and prices).

10. SeeDowntown

    City Hall

    A beautiful, huge post-Civil War Baroque Revival building and major city landmark, the seat of the city government is partially open for visitors, who can stop by to see exhibits on Baltimore art and history (but mostly to gawk at the architecture).

    Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM·Free

11. SeeWest Baltimore

    Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum

    An early home of the American author of mystery and the macabre. Located on Amity Street in a rough neighborhood, surrounded by public housing.

    Small fee

12. SeeDowntown

    Enoch Pratt Central Library

    An excellent free library with a one-of-a-kind archive of rare books and documents, including many related to Edgar Allan Poe and H.L. Mencken, and an extensive 16mm film collection including many avant garde rarities. The children's department has a goldfish pond.

    Mon-Wed 10AM-8PM, Thu 10AM-5:30PM, Fri Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 1PM-5PM

13. SeeSouth Baltimore

    Federal Hill Park

    This big hilly park is one of Baltimore's best points for picture taking, as it overlooks the Inner Harbor, with great views of both the north and south skylines. You'll note that the cannons all seem to be awkwardly pointed at the city's central business district. The cause for this was the Union troops's suspicion of the famously irascible and rebellious Baltimoreans from siding with the Confederates in the Civil War (or simply from generally rioting). They set up on this well located hill to intimidate the city into submission.

14. SeeFells Point

    Fells Point Visitor Center and Maritime Museum

    Run by the Baltimore Historical Society, the visitor center is a nice, sleek space to stop by, with exhibits and artwork related to the maritime history of the neighborhood, as well as information on what to do and see in the area.

    Jan-March: Sun,Tue-Fri noon-5PM, Sat 11AM-7PM; Apr-Dec Tue-Thu noon-5PM, Fri 11AM-8PM, Sat 10AM-8PM·Free

15. SeeSouth Baltimore

    Fort McHenry

    Really a must-visit for any tourist in Baltimore, this is the birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner, the United States National Anthem. The fort's military history is best known for its central role in the defense of the country in the War of 1812, simply named the Battle of Fort McHenry. At the time, Baltimore was the industrial powerhouse of the United States, and was a critical producer of ships and armaments. Fort McHenry remained relevant in future wars: a prison for captured Confederate soldiers in the Civil War, a military hospital during WWI, and again an active Coast Guard base during WWII. Since 1925 it has been designated as a National Park (and since 1939 doubly listed as a National Monument), and is today a museum, with plenty of cannons and nooks and crannies to explore. Back to the National Anthem, it was Francis Scott Key, who escaped here from British captivity in the War of 1812, and joins Edgar Allen Poe, Thurgood Marshall, and H L Mencken as a preeminent icon of the city and the eponym for dishes at restaurants, bridges, and one impressive golden statue in Bolton Hill. He might be a little sad to see that the flag is not still there. It was getting extra raggedy after all these years, and was moved to the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. for preservation.

    9AM-4:45PM daily·$15, children under 15 are free

16. SeeMidtown

    Francis Scott Key Monument

    Bolton Hill is a beautiful neighborhood, but probably the single most impressionable and beautiful section is the square immediately around this huge memorial of the composer of the U.S. National Anthem. Key, cast in bronze, stands in a boat returning from captivity on an English ship along with a soldier, presenting a manuscript of what would become the Star Spangled Banner to a figure of "Columbia," who stands tall atop a marble temple, raising the flag to the sky. The enormous domed church on the square is a Masonic building, home to the "Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland," and is not open to the public.

17. SeeEast Baltimore

    Great Blacks in Wax

    Only the American Visionary Arts Museum could claim to be more unique than this very off-the-beaten-path museum, and it might be wrong. The catchy name betrays the extremely disturbing content (make sure your kids are prepared). It's appropriately disturbing, though, as much of African American history is horrifying even without seeing it reproduced with life-sized wax figures. The first room you enter sets the tone: a cramped slave ship, packed with brutalized slaves watched over by a sadistic slavemaster. The lynching scene is in a separate room downstairs, so you can get through the museum without getting those particular nightmares. It's not all doom and gloom, though, as the story of African Americans is full of personal triumphs and huge contributions to the society of not just this country, but of the world.

    Tue-Sat 9AM-6PM, Sun noon-6PM (summer days are open on Mondays as well)·$12/10

18. SeeEast Baltimore

    Greenmount Cemetery

    Greenmount Cemetery is Baltimore's most interesting after Westminster Hall downtown, with beautiful, tranquil, rolling hills, and interesting Gothic chapels and statuary. Among the most famous interred are a long list of Maryland governors, John Wilkes Booth and a few of his co-conspirators, Johns Hopkins himself, as well as William Thompson Walters and his son Henry Walters, the famous art collectors and founders of the Walters Art Museum. Fans of the HBO series, The Wire should recognize this as the location for several important scenes. Pick up a map from the office to the right of the gates at Oliver St. In May and October, you can take guided tours—check the website for details.

    Mon-Sat 8AM-4PM (office closes Sat at noon). Call ahead during bad weather to make sure you can enter

19. SeeMidtown

    Hackerman House

    An elegant late-classical-era home built in 1850, it was donated to the city of Baltimore by its last owners, Willard and Lillian Hackerman, in 1984. The city renamed the house in their honor and took advantage of its location to expand the adjacent Walters Art Museum. It now hosts the Walters' collection of Asian Art, but is open only on the weekend, and can only be accessed from within the museum. From the front rooms on the third floors you can sneak a bird's-eye view of the monument plaza.

    Sat Sun 10AM-5PM, Mon-Fri closed

20. SeeInner Harbor

    Historic President Street Station

    The surviving headhouse of Baltimore’s first railway station. The platforms and train shed no longer survive, but the building narrowly escaped demolition on several occasions, and has been operated by volunteers as a museum since 1997. Formerly the Baltimore Civil War Museum, it still includes some exhibits on the station’s role during the U.S. Civil War. Operated by Friends of the President Street Station, and being considered for inclusion in the National Park System.

    Daily 10AM-4PM·$3/adult, $2/student, children under 12 free

21. SeeInner Harbor

    Ice Rink at Baltimore's Inner Harbor

    Ice skating rink at the Inner Harbor open during the holidays from mid/late November to early/mid January (check website for exact hours and dates).

    Mon-Thu 3-8PM, Fri 3-11PM, Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun 11AM-8PM·Adults $9; kids, military, seniors $7; skate rental $4

22. SeeFells Point

    Jewish Museum of Maryland

    A museum dedicated to regional Jewish history, with lots of hands on, family-friendly exhibits, as well as artwork, historical photographs, and multimedia exhibits. Tours of two local historic synagogues are given at 1PM and 2:30PM.

    Tue-Thu, Sun noon-4PM; closed Jewish and Federal holidays·$8, $4/students, $3/children

23. SeeEast Baltimore

    Johns Hopkins Hospital

    While not really a place to visit, unless you are sick or injured, the administrative center, the Billings Building, is a beautiful work of architecture, and a principal East Baltimore landmark. Its prestige is likewise enormous, almost always named the United States' premiere hospital, and by extension, many consider it the best in the world.

24. SeeNorth Baltimore

    Johns Hopkins University

    Johns Hopkins University is a mammoth institution in Baltimore, and it is here that you will find its center on the Homewood Campus. The Homewood campus was a property purchased in 1800 by Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a wedding present for his son, who designed and oversaw the building of the outstanding federal style country house. The Johns Hopkins University was the first research university in the United States. Tourists will enjoy the Homewood House, a historic home built by Charles Carrol for his son, now a history museum, and the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame.

25. SeeSoutheast Baltimore

    Liberty Ship SS John Brown

    Tour an operational World War II troop and cargo ship. Also at Pier 13 is the NS Savannah, the world's first nuclear merchant ship (Savannah may not be open for tours).

26. SeeInner Harbor

    Lightship Chesapeake

    A floating, mobile lighthouse painted in a vibrant red; it was refitted for combat duty during World War II before returning to lighthouse purposes.

27. SeeMidtown

    Maryland Center for History and Culture

    Where you can see the manuscript of "The Star-Spangled Banner" among other things related to Maryland history.

    Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM, Mon-Tue closed·$12, Seniors $10, Students $9

28. SeeInner Harbor

    Maryland Science Center

    Great family outing, full of hands-on, interactive science exhibits for kids of all ages.

    Tue-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat Sun 10AM-5PM·General admission $26.95, discounts available for seniors, children and military

29. SeeWest Baltimore

    Mencken House

    Free public museum dedicated to work of Henry Louis Mencken- a journalist and scholar of American English. He is known for the "American Language" a study of English in the United States. This house was where he lived from 1883 to 1956 and is a national historic landmark.

    Free

30. SeeDowntown

    Mother Seton House

    A small house museum of America's first native-born saint, beatified by the Vatican for her relief work and founding of Catholic schools, and for three miraculous cures performed towards the end of her life.

    Mon-Fri noon-3:30PM, Sat Sun 1PM-3PM (calling ahead is recommended)

31. SeeInner Harbor

    National Aquarium

    One of the best aquariums in the nation, the Baltimore Aquarium is famous for its tropical rain forest exhibit, its efforts to saving marine mammals, and its large shark tanks. Well worth the price of admission, it's a draw for marine scientists and civilians alike. Due to its popularity, expect to be in long lines to purchase tickets and then have to wait to enter several hours later, especially during weekends or vacation times; to avoid this, plan ahead and purchase tickets early or online.

    Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM, Fri Sat 9AM-8PM, Sun 9AM-6PM, seasonal hours vary·General admission $49.95, discounts for seniors and children available. Half price Fridays after 5PM.

32. SeeDowntown

    National Museum of Dentistry

    Almost humorously clean, this is an unusual tourist destination, even by Baltimore standards. The collection is decidedly weird, including the first toothbrush in space, historical dental equipment and exhibits on old (and unpleasant!) procedures, and even George Washington's not-exactly-wooden dentures! Best for those who have a professional interest in dentistry, parents who want to get their kids to see (or be scared into seeing) just how good they actually have it in modern dentistry, or for grizzled veteran tourists who have lost all interest in traditional attractions.

    Wed-Fr 10AM-4PM·$10 adults; $5 seniors, students, and children under 13

33. SeeNorth Baltimore

    Negro League Baseball Museum

    Free Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in the Owings Mills Library which is housed on 3 floors of the library and contains artifacts, photos and memorabilia from the Negro Leagues. It is open the same hours as the library.

    Mon-Thu 9AM-9PM, Fri Sat 9AM-5:30PM, Sun 1-5PM·Free

34. SeeFells Point

    Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture

    This new facility is the largest museum on the East Coast that is devoted to African American history and culture, ranging from local Maryland history to national. Includes a 200-seat theater for performances theatrical, musical, dance, etc.

    Wed-Fri noon-5PM, Sat-Sun 10AM-5PM·$8, $6/seniors, children, and students, free under 6

35. SeeInner Harbor

    Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse

    The oldest surviving screw-pile lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.

36. SeeWest Baltimore

    The Maryland Zoo

    Large zoo set in a classic Victorian-era park. If you want to go on a weekend, purchase tickets in advance over the web to get the weekday rate; if purchasing tickets at the gate, you can save a buck by finding a Maryland Zoo flyer at the visitor's center that has a $1 off coupon.

    Daily 10AM-4PM, closed January, February, Thanksgiving and Christmas·Adults $11 weekdays and online ticketing, $15 weekends; discounted for seniors and children

37. SeeMidtown

    The Walters Art Museum

    An excellent museum donated to the city by father-and-son railroad tycoons William and Henry Walter, fervent collectors who purchased much of its massive and diverse collection as well as the buildings that host it. It is best known for its collection of 19th century European masterpieces (top floor), however, the ancient and medieval collections are excellent as well. Be sure to enter or exit from its Charles Street entrance, where you'll pass through a magnificent indoor courtyard modeled after the Palazzo Baldi in Genoa.

    Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM, Mon-Tue closed·Free

38. SeeInner Harbor

    Top of the World

    An observation deck on the 27th floor of the 31-story "World Trade Center", designed by I.M. Pei the tallest pentagonal building in the world and located directly on the waterfront. It provides amazing views of downtown, the inner harbor and bay, and all of the surrounding neighborhoods.

    Summer hours: Mon-Thu 10AM-6PM, Fri Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-6PM; non-summer hours: Wed-Sun 10AM-6PM; last admission one half hour before closing·Admission $8, discounts available for seniors, children and military

39. SeeInner Harbor

    USCGC Taney

    A Coast Guard cutter that survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

40. SeeInner Harbor

    USS Constellation

    The last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy and the only Civil War-era vessel still afloat. Pay attention to the ship's schedule for the day; Civil War reenactors may be on hand to demonstrate shooting a cannon!

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Baltimore (CC BY-SA 4.0).