Built in 1867 for $200,000, with its 2nd empire style and Baroque design, Baltimore City Hall is a great tourist stop. Built by 22 year old architect George E. Frederick, there are only a few government buildings with this style. Visitors can tour the chambers and view exhibits regarding vast amounts of Baltimore’s history. City Hall Plaza located across the street from City Hall was the first place the ever popular Star Spangled Banner was publicly sung.
The wax museum was the first opened in Baltimore in 1983. Its founders, Dr. Elmer and Joanne Martin opened their museum with 21 wax figures. The history of African Americans like Frederick Douglass and Thurgood Marshall in Baltimore is great. Some of the exhibits include the Magnificence of Africa which features the Egyptian Pharaoh Imhotep and Chaka Zula. Another available exhibit is the Underground Railroad, featuring Thomas Garrett and the well known Harriet Tubman.
The Lexington Market was established in 1782 and is the world’s largest continuously running market. The land for the market was donated by General John Eager Howard, a hero from the American Revolution. Merchants and farmers gathered at Lexington Market to purchase and exchange barter’s for livestock, hay, and other goods. President George Washington was said to have passed the market occasionally on his trip to and from his estate. The Lexington Market has been up and running for 220 years and still is today with such events as the Chocolate Festival and Lunch with elephants.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum is known as the birthplace of the railroad system. In association with the Smithsonian Institute, the B&O Railroad displays 120 of the oldest, full size locomotives along with their memorabilia such as dining car china, signals, artwork and other significant pieces. Visitors can dine at the Iron Horse Cafe for lunch and purchase hats, shirts, cups or other souvenirs from the museum’s store. Train rides are available Tuesday through Sundays, April through December.
Located just 10 miles South of Baltimore the Arundel Mills Mall is definitely worth the trip for those shopping enthusiasts. Frommer’s described the mall as “theme-park like” and who wouldn’t with the 1.3 million square feet of retail outlets available. There are over 200 shops to visit including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bass Pro Shop and Sun and Ski Sports. It also offers Egyptian 24 Theaters and Jillian’s for family fun!
Opened in 1962 the Baltimore Arena is Baltimore’s largest indoor sports and entertainment facility. Although renamed 1st Mariner Arena in 1986, the arena has welcomed some of the greatest entertainers such as The Beatles, Elvis and the Rolling Stones. The Baltimore Arena brings in 800,000 guests and 120 events annually with 11,000 permanent seats on 3 levels. Some of the biggest names in entertainment have performed here including U2, Janet Jackson and Kanye West. In 2006 the arena hosted the 55th Annual Miss USA Competition.
Fort McHenry is a fort best known for its role in the War of 1812 or the Battle of Baltimore, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay. It was during this time that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star-Spangled Banner, the poem that was eventually turned into the National Anthem of the United States. Fort McHenry was also used during the American Civil War as a military prision and World War II as a coast guard base.
National Aquarium One of Baltimore’s leading attractions, the Aquarium opened in 1981 and houses 16,500 animals on 4 different levels. The main gallery overlooks a pool of sharks, sting rays and a sea turtle. Up the spiral stairs you will find the rainforest exhibit, with several animals found in such environments as the Amazon. The exit spirals down the back of the main gallery surrounded by an enormous fish tank filled with a variety of fish and sharks. Zagat Survey rates the Aquarium as “one of the best travel destinations in the country for families”, making it a great cultural, educational and recreational experience for everyone.
The Maryland Science Center is located in Baltimore, Maryland’s Inner Harbor and was opened to the public in 1976. The center has 3 levels of exhibits including the Dinosaur Mysteries exhibit with over a dozen full size dinosaurs including a T-Rex and Astrodon along with Fossil Quests and Newton’s Alley. Some of the shows available at the Maryland Science Center include the IMAX with the Deep Sea in 3-D, the Planetarium and the Observatory. The Maryland Science Center focuses on physical sciences, space, the human body, and blue crabs that live in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Baltimore Zoo, now known as the Maryland Zoo (the name changed in 2004), is located in Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland. Home to over 2,000 animals, the zoo was created in 1876 and is the 3rd oldest zoo in the country. The 160- acre zoo has over 200 species of reptiles, birds and mammals. Some of the exhibits that the Maryland Zoo include the Polar Bear watch which showcases the lives of polar bears in the Artic along with the Children’s Zoo and the African Journey.