Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: Maryland's largest art museum showcases a dazzling collection of ancient mosaics, European masters classics, contemporary art, and sculpture gardens adjacent to the Johns Hopkins University campus; the main building was designed in the 1920s by renowned architect John Russell Pope and an impressive wing for contemporary art was added in 1994; its home to an impressive collection of artwork by Matisse, Picasso, Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin and van Gogh; along with its extensive collection of 18th and 19th century American art, the museum has 16 galleries filled with one of the country’s best collections of 20th century Post-Impressionistic pieces and a permanent exhibit of African art; wheelchair accessible and features an eclectic gift shop and scenic restaurant
ADMISSION:  FREE
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Fri 11a-5p; Sat-Sun 11a-6p
ADDRESS: Art Museum Drive at North Charles Street and 31st Street  MAP
PARKING: Johns Hopkins University South Parking Garage and on street
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 410-396-7100
WEBSITE: http://www.artbma.org

Peabody Institute
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1857 by George Peabody, it has become one of the nation’s major sources of professionally trained musicians and dancers of every age and at every level; the library court is a architectural lesson in how to design great interior spaces – a magnificent treat for the eyes; Peabody Institute became a division of Johns Hopkins University in 1977
ADMISSION: free, its a school
DAYS & HOURS: Friedheim Library Mon-Thu 8a-10p, Fri 8a-6p, Sat 10a-5p, Sun 1p-10p
ADDRESS: 1 East Mount Vernon Place  MAP
PARKING: nearby garage
TRANSIT: Centre Street Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-659-8100
WEBSITE: http://www.peabody.jhu.edu

Walters Art Museum
DESCRIPTION: Acclaimed as one of America's greatest art museums with a collection spanning 55 centuries, 30,000 objects are housed in three wings; presents art from pre-dynastic Egypt to Greek sculpture to Roman sarcophagi to Old European Master paintings and now 20th-century Europe, Art Deco jewelry and 19th-century masterpieces; a recently completed renovation dramatically presents many more objects on view for the first time; an extensive gift shop and café are on the premises on this treasure in Mount Vernon Place
ADMISSION: FREE; but fee-based guided group tours are available
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sun 10a—5p
ADDRESS: 600 North Charles Street  MAP
PARKING: staffed parking lot on Cathedral & Centre Streets
TRANSIT: Centre Street Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-547-9000 x232
WEBSITE: http://www.thewalters.org

Contemporary Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1989, this daring museum blurs the line between art and activism by specializes in art that addresses controversial political and social issues relevant to local communities; prepare for a thought-provoking experience with any of its changing exhibits
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Students with ID $3
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sun Noon-5p
ADDRESS: 100 West Centre Street  MAP
PARKING: nearby garage
TRANSIT: Centre Street Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-783-5720
WEBSITE: http://www.contemporary.org

Maryland Historical Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded In 1844 by the Maryland Historical Society, it’s first building was completed in 1847 near Washington Monument; contains Maryland historic artifacts and a research library; the 3-building complex includes the renovated Art Deco Greyhound Bus Garage as a gallery; a Black Heritage note: it contains a mural exhibition of the Royal Theater, Pennsylvania Ave and the former Afro-American Newspaper headquarters on Eutaw Street
ADMISSION: Adults $4,
 Ages 13-17, 
Students & Seniors $6
DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sun 10a-5p, library closed on Sunday
ADDRESS: 201 West Monument Street  MAP
PARKING: nearby garage and on street
TRANSIT: Centre Street Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-685-3750
WEBSITE: http://www.mdhs.org

Baltimore Arts Tower
DESCRIPTION: Long time natives remember it as the Bromo-Seltzer Tower and more recently as home to the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Art and Culture; it has been transformed to studio space for visual and literary artists; 15-story building also features an exhibition gallery and small coffee bar; emerging artists display and sell work at the Tower's art gallery; call more information on the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower project
ADMISSION: by event
DAYS & HOURS: by event
ADDRESS: 21 South Eutaw Street  MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
TRANSIT: Camden Yards MARC Station and Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-752-8632
WEBSITE: http://www.bromoseltzertower.com

American Visionary Art Museum
DESCRIPTION: A hard to describe, critically acclaimed architectural jewel housed in a 35,000-square-foot main building that was formerly a paint factory; the museum contains six galleries filled with cutting edge art presented in novel ways; the adjoining barn, formerly a whiskey warehouse with 45-foot ceilings, makes for light spirits as you wander among it ample sculptural exhibits, which include We Are Not Alone: Angels and Other Aliens; best experienced rather than categorized
ADMISSION: Adults $11, Students $7
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-6p;
ADDRESS: 800 Key Highway  MAP
PARKING: on Covington Street and Key Highway
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 410-244-1900
WEBSITE: http://www.avam.org

Star Spangled Banner Flag House
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1927; glimpse the small rooms of home life in the early 19th century at this museum dedicated to the story of Mary Young Pickersgill; she who made the 30 x 42-foot Star-Spangled Banner that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became our National Anthem; her original flag now hangs at the Smithsonian Institution in DC, a replica is displayed in the garden; located behind the Reginald Lewis Museum
ADMISSION: Adults $6, age 18 and under costs $4
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-4p, last tour begins 3:15p
ADDRESS: 844 East Pratt Street  MAP
PARKING: Central Parking Harbor Park one block away
TRANSIT: Shot Tower/Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-837-1793
WEBSITE: http://www.flaghouse.org

Public Works Museum
DESCRIPTION: Housed in a stately old pumping station, it is the first American museum to explore fascinating technology that creates tunnels, bridges, roadways, and clean public water; take the kids into the Streetscape exhibit for a fun educational experience that illustrates utility wiring and piping
ADMISSION: Ages 6+ $3, Seniors, Students & Military $2.50
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-4p
ADDRESS: 751 Eastern Ave at President Street  MAP
PARKING: Central Parking Harbor Park one block away
TRANSIT: Shot Tower/Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-396-5565
WEBSITE: http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/dpw/museum

Baltimore Maritime Museums
DESCRIPTION: Discover the city’s fascinating maritime history at these museum, which isn’t a building, but rather a set of docked ships tin the Inner Harbor and Fells Point; begin with the USS Torsk, also known as the “Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast.” During WWII, this submarine helped end the war by sinking Japan’s last two warships; next, step aboard the Chesapeake – a floating lighthouse that still works; the last ship, the Taney, is the only ship from the battle of Pearl Harbor still afloat
ADMISSION: pricing based on 1-ship, 2-ships, 4-ships; see website
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-5:30p Mar-Oct; 10a-4:30p Nov-Feb
ADDRESS: Inner Harbor Piers 1, 3 & 5  MAP
PARKING: on nearby streets and garages
TRANSIT: bus
PHONE: 410-396-3453
WEBSITE: http://www.baltomaritimemuseum.org

B&O Railroad Museum
DESCRIPTION:Train buffs are drawn to this museum like moths to a flame; it is the oldest continuously operated railroad facility in the world; the museum also features a "Ports, Waiters, and Chefs: Portraits African American Railroad Hospitality on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad" exhibit; note: prior to automobiles becoming a dominant part of our life, railroad porters and chefs were the largest category of Black workers in America
ADMISSION: Adults $14, Ages 60+ $12, Ages 2-12 $8
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-4p, Sun 11a-4p
ADDRESS: 901 West Pratt Street  MAP
PARKING: free on premises
TRANSIT: 7 blocks west of Camden Yards MARC Station and Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-752-2490
WEBSITE: http://www.borail.org