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Key Attractions Harborplace Located in Baltimore’s vibrant Inner Harbor, Harborplace and The Gallery, with their twin glass pavilions, are the natural starting points for any sightseeing in Baltimore. There is a promenade of two linked malls, overlooking the water, with shops, cafés, restaurants, boats and architecture, all designed to give a sense of the maritime nature of the city. The Gallery has a stunning six-storey atrium looking out over the water. This is not just a tourist location, however. Over half the customers here are from Baltimore itself. Many major cultural attractions are nearby and it is a starting point for many tours, particularly water tours, on diverse craft such as a Clipper ship, a paddle steamer, a schooner, an oyster boat or water taxi. The open-air Harborplace Amphitheatre is a site of summer festivals and particularly favoured by street performers. A waterfront path leads eastwards to the World Trade Center, with its Observation Level, as well as the National Aquarium and the Maritime Museum with ships and a submarine to visit. Inner Harbor, 200 East Pratt Street Tel: (410) 332 4191. Fax: (410) 547 7317. E-mail: info@harborplace.com Website: www.harborplace.com Transport: Metro Subway Charles Center. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-2100, Sun 1100-1900. Admission: Free. National Aquarium In terms of visitor numbers, the National Aquarium – opened in 1981, on the harbour front – is the city’s most popular attraction. Over 1.6 million people per year marvel at over 10,000 marine and freshwater creatures housed in several different environmental galleries on seven levels and across two piers. The latest permanent exhibit is an indoor ‘Amazon Rainforest’ and home to 75 species, including the dwarf caiman. This is the first clue to realising that this is more than just an aquarium. There is a lot more for visitors to see than just marine life – such as Poison Dart Frogs, anacondas, puffins and conehead lizards. A tour can last around two hours and 30 minutes, with a lot of walking – comfortable shoes are recommended. Next door, at the Marine Mammal Pavilion, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins leave the crowd open-mouthed and smiling with their live antics. The attraction gets very busy and visits before 1100 are recommended. After 1500, the crowds may have eased but the Aquarium might also have sold out by this time. Advance tickets are therefore recommended. These are available for purchase up to 30 days in advance from the Aquarium, however, if visitors plan to purchase tickets the day before attending, these must be bought by 1500 from Ticketmaster (tel: (410) 481 7328 or (800) 551 7328). Pier 3, Inner Harbor, 501 East Pratt Street Tel: (410) 576 3800. Website: www.aqua.org Transport: Metro subway Charles Center or Shot Tower Marketplace; Light Rail Convention Center station. Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1800, Fri-Sun 0900-2000 (Jul-Aug); Sat-Thurs 0900-1700, Fri 0900-2000 (Mar-Jun and Sep-Oct); Sat-Thurs 1000-1700, Fri 1000-2000 (Nov-Feb); visits continue for two hours after the ‘closing’ time. Admission: US$17.50 (concessions available). National Historic Seaport Water and ships have played a major role in the history of Baltimore, ever since the 1600s. Underscoring this importance is The National Historic Seaport, which includes several Baltimore attractions, such as Fort McHenry National Monument (see below), the historic neighbourhoods of Federal Hill, Canton and Fells Point, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the USS Constellation, a 150 year-old all-sail war ship that logged 90 years of service for the US Navy, and the Baltimore Maritime Museum. Unlike the average museum, the Baltimore Maritime Museum is a combination of the 1833 Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse and three historic ships – Coast Guard Cutter Taney (a survivor of Pearl Harbor), WW II submarine Torsk, and lightship Chesapeake. The Seaport Day Pass, costing US$15, includes entrance to the Maritime Museum, USS Constellation and water transport to all National Historic Seaport sights and Fort McHenry. Inner Harbor, 802 South Caroline Street Tel: (877) 643 7678. E-mail: nycport@natlhistoricseaport.org Website: www.natlhistoricseaport.org Transport: Metro Subway Charles Center or Shot Tower Marketplace; Light Rail Convention Center station; MTA Bus 1. Baltimore Maritime Museum Inner Harbor, 802 South Caroline Street Tel: (410) 783 1490. E-mail: admin@baltomaritimemuseum.org Website: www.baltomaritimemuseum.org Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 1000-1730, Fri-Sat 1000-1830 (summer, spring and autumn); Fri-Sun 1030-1700 (winter). Admission: US$6. USS Contellation Pier One, 301 East Pratt Street Tel: (410) 539 1797. Fax: (410) 539 6238. E-mail: administration@constellation.org Website: www.constellation.org Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (1 May-14 Oct); daily 1000-1600 (15 Oct-30 Apr). Admission: US$6.50. Baltimore Museum of Industry 1415 Key Highway Tel: (410) 727 4808. Fax: (410) 727 4869. Website: www.thebmi.org Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700. Admission: US$7. Maryland Science Center In the modern vein, there are plenty of interactive exhibits at the Maryland Science Center, with a child-friendly layout over three storeys. Keeping up with current space exploration, there is even an interactive Hubble Telescope on display. The hands-on areas range from discovering mathematics, participating in a dinosaur dig and experimenting with general science (including optical illusions, sound, magnetism, lasers and light). Live demonstrations and presentations change regularly and include topics such as chemical reactions and Special Effects (SFX) for TV and film. The Visible Human Exhibit takes visitors on a virtual journey, turning the body inside out with life-size images and holograms. The real human body that was used was donated by Paul Jernigan, a criminal who wanted to ‘make things right’ after his execution. His corpse was then mapped in one-millimetre sections. A female corpse was later mapped on a seemingly microscopic scale of one-third-of-a-millimetre sections. The centre also contains an IMAX cinema, which includes a film of the weird and wonderful Cirque du Soleil, and a Planetarium, which runs Sungazing Sundays (through safe lenses) and Stargazing Thursdays. 601 Light Street Tel: (410) 685 5225. E-mail: guestservices@mdsci.org Website: www.mdsci.org Transport: Metro Subway Charles Center; Light Rail Camden Yards station. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1200-1700. Admission: US$7.50 (IMAX); US$12 (exhibitions); US$15.50 (combination IMAX and exhibitions); concessions available. Fort McHenry National Monument This star-shaped fort, built in 1803, has a special place in American hearts and larynxes, as the US national anthem was written here. During the war – declared by the USA and starting in 1812 – and the subsequent attempt to conquer Canada, the fort withstood a 25-hour bombardment in September 1814, from British naval forces trying to stop America gaining its independence. Mary Pickersgill sewed the star-spangled flag at Star Spangled Banner Flag House, South President Street, which became the emblem of that victory. Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old poet and lawyer, wrote the poem, ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, in honour of that same victory. It became the national anthem. The fort remained intermittently active for a century, after its famous battle, before becoming a national park and shrine in 1833. The monument and grounds cover 17 hectares (43 acres). Military ceremonies and drills are performed during the summer. Flag changes take place twice every day, throughout the year (0930 and 1930 in summer and 0930 and 1630 in winter). Exhibits not only include historical and military artefacts but also an electric battle map, as well as new exhibits in the Commander’s Quarters, Guard House, Powder Magazine and the Enlisted Men’s Quarters. The Visitors Center, next door, has a 16-minute historical film, The Defense of Fort McHenry, as well as other interesting exhibits. East Fort Avenue Tel: (410) 962 4290. Fax: (410) 962 2500. E-mail: fomc_superintendent@nps.gov Website: www.nps.gov/fomc Transport: Bus from Harborplace along Fort Avenue; water taxi. Opening hours: Daily 0800-1700 (Sep-May); daily 0800-2000 (Jun-Aug). Admission: US$5 (concessions available). Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum Being a trainspotter is not a necessary prerequisite for enjoying the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum. The museum, covering 16 hectares (40 acres), is located on the site of the America’s first railway depot and station. It is a tribute to the railroads and their huge influence in the settling of this massive country. The ‘B&O’ is actually the world’s oldest continuously operating railroad facility. The Annex is the place for visitors to begin, with its ‘America’s Great Road’ exhibit. From there, the huge Roundhouse (restored and dating from 1884), with its 37.5m-high (123ft) skylight, contains 130 exhibits, including some of the classic heritage trains. Delving into the history of the railroad brings the whole social and scientific fabric of America to life. For example, visitors gain an insight into slavery through the exhibit about Henry ‘Box’ Brown, who spent 25 hours incarcerated on a train. Other exhibits recreate various 1830s experiments in propulsion, using dogs, horses on treadmills, hand-powered cranks and even the ‘Hobus’ sail-powered carriage shaped like a boat. Samuel B Morse sent his first message to the Mount Clare Depot, located here, from Washington, DC, 64km (40 miles) away. Not only was the B&O the first railroad, it also suffered the first railroad workers’ union strike in 1840. Artwork of posters, early photographs and press cuttings are fascinating in themselves. Short 15- to 20-minute overview tours are available, as well as full guided tours, lasting 60-90 minutes. 901 West Pratt Street Tel: (410) 752 2490. Website: www.borail.org E-mail: feedback@borail.org Transport: Metro Subway Charles Center or Shot Tower Marketplace; Light Rail Convention Center station. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700. Admission: US$8 (concessions available). The High Flyer Visitors can rise to new heights at Baltimore’s newest attraction, the High Flyer. Although tethered to the ground by a steel cable, the huge helium-filled balloon rises over 137m (450 feet). From its enclosed gondola, passengers are able to enjoy fabulous views of the harbour. 35 Market Place Tel: (410) 727 8120. Website: http://marylandnightlife.com/hiflyer.htm Transport: MTA Bus 7, 10, 19 or 20; Metro Subway Shot Tower Marketplace. Opening hours: Sun-Wed 1000-2000, Thurs-Sat 1000-2400 (May-Sep), Sun-Wed 1200-2000, Thurs-Sat 1200-2400 (Sep-Oct), Sat-Sun 1200-2000 (Nov-Apr). Admission: US$12. |
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