Downtown | Greater Baltimore
10 Art Museum Drive, 21218; 443-573-1700
Located in Charles Village near the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus, the Baltimore Museum of Art is one of the city’s preeminent art and cultural institutions. The museum features artwork from around the world, boasting an impressive collection of contemporary art; renowned collections of prints, drawings, and photographs; African art spanning from early Egypt to contemporary Zimbabwe; and European masterpieces, including a large selection of works by Henri Matisse on permanent display. The BMA’s Sculpture Garden also features a flourishing landscape of art and horticulture set across three acres. Free Family Sundays feature different activities each week that include hands-on workshops and gallery tours. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for limited hours, families can check out the self-guided FunPack kits that invite kids to dress up, sketch, and sing their way through the galleries. Children 4–12 years old will enjoy playing with the Costume Pack and identifying a range of ethnic costume styles represented in works throughout the museum.
4545 N. Charles Street, 21210; 410-516-0341
The Evergreen Museum & Library is housed in the Gilded Age estate, which was home to the wealthy Garrett family for two generations (1878–1942). Set on 26 landscaped acres between the College of Notre Dame and Loyola College campuses, the mansion holds a collection of fine and decorative art, rare books and manuscripts assembled by the Garrett family, and their extraordinary, vibrant, and eclectic belongings. Visitors can enjoy a concert in the carriage house, a lecture in the Bakst Theatre, or an exhibition opening of regional artists. Permanent collections and changing exhibitions are available through guide tours offered on the hour. Weddings, holiday parties, and other momentous occasions are often held in the museum grounds.
535 Hampton Lane, Towson, 21286; 410-828-9480
The Hampton National Historic Site was once home to enslaved African Americans, indentured servants, industrial and agricultural workers, and the owners of the property—the wealthy Ridgely family. The Hampton Mansion, completed in 1790, was the largest house in the United States at the time and surrounded by 63 acres of property that included the original farmhouse that predates the mansion, a slave quarters, and two 19th-century stables. Visitors to the site can also view the family burial grounds, formal gardens, and historic trees. Hampton offers free public programs on the second Sundays of each month, and includes several annual activities that include jousting, old-fashioned pony parties, carriage rides, and free concerts.
2200 St. Paul Street, 21218; 410-889-4458
Considered the Mother Church of American Methodism, the Lovely Lane Museum holds a collection of items dating from the 18th through the 21st centuries, and includes slides, mounted photographs and pictures, oil paintings, lithographs, Baltimore Album Quilts, and a large collection of Methodist memorabilia. Contact Lovely Lane for tour information.
1500 Washington Boulevard, 21230; 410-837-3262
Located within Carroll Park, the Mount Clare House was once the centerpiece of the Georgia Plantation and home to Charles Carroll, Barrister, a leading patriot and one of our state’s first senators. Completed in 1790, the home contains nearly 3,000 objects from the 18th and 19th century, including painting, furniture, and decorative art that once belonged to the Carroll family. Mount Clare visits begin with an introductory video, followed by a guided tour of the house.