I admit, I came here for the instagram photos. I didn't get exactly what I came for because you…read moreonly see a limited number of rooms in the house and you can't take photos on the first floor (to protect the artifacts) . . . but it was still a worthwhile trip! First, call ahead (there is no online system so you do actually have to call) to make sure they are giving tours and at what times (only certain days of the week, last tour usually starts at 1 PM). This mansion is another relic from the gilded age, however this one isn't completely stuck in the past and is a living, breathing arts venue. The last residents (she died in 1956 I think) had no children and left it to Johns Hopkins University with the specification it be used as an art museum. And there is a lot of interesting and attractive art, though it's mostly art by European white men. That's just what the owners collected . . . but our docent told us they are trying to diversify the collection by purchasing pieces by artists of color. The libraries are actually part of the Johns Hopkins collection and students can make appointments to come read them or use them for research. There are some nature books and some Audubon books that are so large that they require two people to move and turn the pages. There is also a reading room for students. It was previously their bedroom, which they didn't want displayed. There are some fun little quirky rich people things (if you dissociate from today's capitalistic hell). A 23K gold bathroom. The second wife who lived in the residence was obsessed with herself and had multiple paintings and busts of herself around the home. And her bathtub was surrounded by mirrors, including a mirror on the ceiling. A bowling alley that was turned into a display space for all their expensive artificacts. A lot of Tiffany glass. Antiquities. My admission was 10 dollars with a AAA discount. I think regular admission is 12 dollars.

I do recommend calling to confirm when a docent is available, but if one is, it is definitely worth…read morecoming. There is plenty of parking as it's a bit away from the main Johns Hopkins campus. Our tour guide was really knowledgeable and explained a lot about each room and answered all of our questions. There are a lot of beautiful and unique objects, even though unfortunately photograph isn't allowed in the good rooms. The sheer amount of books they owned and how they present them is pretty inspiring. The Garrett's having their own performance/stage area is pretty unique, and you can even rent the space out if desired. At the end, there's a great display of their Asian art collection, and then suddenly you are back in the gift shop where you started, which has some good items. The tour was more than an hour, but it was really interesting, and all the employees were excited to answer questions, so you could see their passion. It's a great tour and worth doing if in Baltimore.

Not your typical art museum and that is why it is a Five Star experience. Funky and fun (and…read morepoignant) art work by those who are not typically featured in a museum. This strikes me as somewhat similar to the two excellent Kohler Art museums in Wisconsin. Super interesting and thought provoking especially the stories of many of the artists accompanying their work. The main museum building is a work of art itself. The gift shop is a riot. Hands down the best and craziest museum gift store. Thank goodness my friend recommended this stop. Heads up on parking - the meters on the street are way way cheaper then the Rusty Scupper lot across the street. This place is a gem. Don't miss it!

I've lived in the Baltimore area for quite some time now and I can't believe I've never been to the…read moreAmerican Visionary Art Museum. I mean how can you pass by the mirrored egg or the golden hand and not think to find out what type of dope art is hidden inside. With so many unique pieces to look at I took my time leisurely strolling through the two buildings for the museum. Welcomed by a half naked mannequin with wings floating in the center of the stairs, you can't help but be intrigued to learn more about the artists work. There was so much to take in with every turn. I especially liked the homage to the staples of Baltimore's culture in the second building. And we can't forget about the gift shop that I literally could've spent hours in just rummaging through all the eclectic finds. I'm happy I finally bit the bullet to visit the American Visionary Art Musuem, and I look forward to a return visit to see all the things I missed.

Very nice little but packed museum in Lutherville! I loved learning about the history of fire…read morerescue and all the tools, gadgets and trucks they used to use. The museum also gave insight into how the fire men used to live at the stations. Very interesting stuff. They also give you a free poster! Recommend!

WOW What an experience this has to be one of the best fire apparatus collections I've been to. You…read morecan tell they take great pride in the museum!!!

As members of The Walters, we were invited to the "State of the Art" event at The Walters Art…read moreMuseum for an evening of conversation and connection at the museum especially to hear Kate Burgin's vision for the next chapter of the museum. The evening started with light refreshment in the Level 1 lobby. Then, we went into the Graham Auditorium to hear Kate's vision for the future. It was really interesting. We were then encouraged to visit three floors of the museums that were open. There we could experience hands on explorations, conversations with curators, behind-the-scenes stories from conservators, sneak peak at new and returning exhibitions, and learn about volunteers programs. Being a member of The Walters really has so many benefits. On each floor, they also were serving more refreshments. We were excited to be able to see the Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture. It will be on exhibit until August 9, 2026. What an exhibition this is! We were so excited that we were able to view this without any crowds. What an incredible artist Dourien Fletcher is! Her work is just stunning. It was interesting to see the breath of her work in jewelry, costumes, film, etc. You will see simple to elaborate pieces of jewelry and so much more. Don't miss what she made for the movies Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

The Walters Art Museum is free admission all the time, yet it was the least populated attraction…read morethat we visited in Baltimore on this trip, which made it easier to pace ourselves at whatever our personal museum speed. Me, I like reading up on whatever catches my attention. It was fun to read that a certain lady's head did not belong to the body it originally arrived at the museum with. Regarding another collection, I read that the artists would inscribe their names and certain references, which weren't necessarily correct! And a piece of aged donated gold was discovered to have been crafted more recently due to its popularity amidst its lack of supply, as the wire had evidence of having been extruded, and the holes were cut with scissors. Yup, don't just go around believing everything! We spent perhaps 2 1/2 hours meandering the halls. If you get peckish, they do have a snack counter where their sandwiches and wraps top out at $13.

I visited the Amaranthine Museum with a friend this past weekend as part of Doors Open Baltimore…read more(google that if you don't know what it is!). I'm ashamed to say - as a person that lives in Hampden and loves art - that I didn't know anything about the Amaranthine Museum (or had even heard about it) before it was included in Doors Open 2024! So what is it? It's a museum dedicated to local maximalist artist Les Harris. The space is tiny but practically every surface (even parts of the ceiling) are covered in Les Harris's art (there are supposedly 250 works in this tiny little space)! Les Harris's daughter welcomed guests at the entrance, gave a description of her father's art and works, and answered questions as guests walked around. I can't emphasize enough that this is a small space - just one room! But it's packed full of fascinating art (Harris's work looks back through history - focusing on art and culture and time and consciousness) and is such a unique experience. I was blown away by the art and the space itself. Having the artist's daughter there to explain his work made the visit even more special. It's not open on a regular schedule, so if you want to visit this unique space, visit their website and click "III. Hours, Contacts, Directions etc." A very unique experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in art and special local experiences!

This was a little off the beaten path down a back walkway on the rear of the foundry building on…read morethe Doors Open Baltimore tours. This is a very unique museum showcasing the work of one man, Les Harris. Mr. Harris created over 300 pieces of art in an installation that envelopes every surface and transports the visitor through time in a fallout shelter. The entire collection was moved to its present location for all to enjoy. It is an eclectic work of art. We were in awe of the colors and textures and subject matter used.

The Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Garden is a hidden gem in Baltimore! The fact that visitors…read morecan enjoy these incredible displays of plants for free from around the globe is such a treat. They accept donations though! If able, I suggest donating to help them continue their amazing programming. In addition to free entrance, there is free street parking directly outside. If you're a nature lover, artist, educator, and/or parent, I think you'll really enjoy your visit. It is directly up the road from the Baltimore Zoo if you want to hit up two great Baltimore attractions!

A couple of weekends ago the weather wasn't that great so we were looking for something inside to…read moredo and came here. Admission is free but they do take donations (cash or by Venmo). We wandered around for a little over an hour reading about different plants and taking pictures of them. If you're looking for something inexpensive and different to do - I'd give this place a shot.

Definitely one of the first places to visit if you're in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore. We…read morestopped by as our first stop when staying in the neighborhood, since the vantage point provides perspectives and ideas of all the other places to visit afterwards. The harbor views are beautiful and vast, and the signage within the observation area talk about all the neighborhoods and give a history of Baltimore. There's even a small section dedicated to honor the memories of Marylanders lost in the 9/11 attack. Pricing is very reasonable at just $8 per person, and the elevator ride to the top is quick.

We were in Baltimore for the weekend and staying about two blocks from the inner harbor. My…read morehusband suggested going to this place Saturday morning. It was a great idea. Pricing is only 8 dollars for each adult which is a great price to go up to the 27th floor of the World Trade Center. There are four different sides of the building with written panels explaining what landmarks and buildings are out in that direction. The views are spectacular. They also have tributes to those from Maryland who perished in the World Trade Center in New York on 9-11. There are also several panels listing movies filmed in Baltimore and famous people from Maryland.

My parents are electrical/RF/satellite engineers, and I took them here on one of their visits to…read moreMaryland. While this is no Smithsonian, it is an incredibly educational and fascinating experience. The staff here are incredibly helpful and it is very sad that the museum will be shut down in October due to Northrop Grumman needing the space. Hopefully it will be relocated rather than closed permanently. For those who work in the relevant fields, like my parents, this will prove to be one of the best museums you will ever visit in your life, especially with all the unique exhibits featuring real artifacts from the defense and electronics industries. Overall, I don't think you need more than an hour or two (if you are reading every plaque carefully) to see the entire museum, we did it in 45 minutes.

Sunday, December 7 Pearl Harbor - At 7:02 a.m., two Army operators at Oahu's northern shore radar…read morestation detect the Japanese air attack approaching and contact a junior officer who disregards their reports, thinking they are American B-17 planes which are expected in from the U.S. west coast. This brand new (in 1941) Westinghouse radar performed flawlessly to its design parameters. A same type radar is on display outside of the museum. If you ever wanted to see real hardware, a comprehensive history and easy to understand technical explaination of military electronics of radar, communications, and electronic warfare for ground, air, navy and space applications under one roof, look no further than the Historical Electronics Museum. Nestled near the BWI Airport (and near some really great crab cake restaurants) this museum provides a wealth of information that will fascinate both grade schoolers and electrical engineering PhD's. I personally find this museum much superior to even the Smithsonian in providing real hardware as well as the explanations of the history and technical operations of the equipment. What is even more fascinating is that much of the hardware there is still in operating condition. There is even an active ham radio club operating out of the museum under the call sign W3HEM. The museum can also host lunches, dinners and parties. An interesting option for a Yelp event..... I have been to this museum several times and am always fascinated with something different. Best news is that this museum is free thanks to Northrop Grumman and the museum patrons and donors. 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays