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Key Attractions Inner Harbor - Harborplace Harborplace and the Gallery, with their twin glass pavilions, are the natural starting points of 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 Baltimore. The Gallery has a stunning six-storey atrium and looks 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 by water on diverse craft, such as a Clipper ship, a paddle steamer, a schooner, an oyster boat or The Water Taxi. The open-air Amphitheatre is a site of summer festivals and particularly for street performers. A waterfront path leads eastwards to the World Trade Center with its Observation Level and to the National Aquarium, the Maritime Museum with ships and a submarine to visit. 200 East Pratt Street Tel: (410) 332 4191. 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', making a 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 to see than marine life, such as Poison Dart Frogs, anacondas, puffins and conehead lizards. A tour can last around two hours 30 minutes with a lot of walking, so comfortable shoes should be worn. 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; visits before 1100 are recommended. After 1500, the crowds may have eased but the Aquarium can also have sold out by this time. 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: Daily 0900-2000 (Jul & Aug); Sat-Thurs 0900-1700, Fri 0900-2000 (Mar-Jun, Sep & Oct); Sat-Thurs 1000-1700, Fri 1000-2000 (Nov-Feb). Visits may continue for two hours after the 'closing' time. Admission: US$15 (concessions available). Tickets can be bought on the day but advance tickets are recommended. These can be bought up to 30 days in advance from the Aquarium; however, if purchasing tickets the day before visiting, they must be bought by 1500 from Ticketmaster (tel: (410) 481 7328 or (800) 551 7328). Same-day readmission is allowed by getting a hand stamped before leaving. 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 a Hubble Telescope on display with interactive use of its pictures and data. The hands-on areas range from discovering mathematics, doing a dinosaur dig and experimenting with general science (including optical illusions, sound, magnetism, lasers and light). Live demonstrations and presentations change regularly and include areas such as Special Effects (SFX) for TV and film and chemical reactions. The Visible Human Exhibit takes you 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. There is also an IMAX cinema, which includes a film of the weird and wonderful Cirque du Soleil. There is also a Planetarium, which runs 'Sungazing Sundays' (through safe lenses) and 'Stargazing Thursdays'. 601 Light Street Tel: (410) 685 5225. E-mail: dbellomo@mdsci.org Website: www.mdsci.org Transport: Metro Subway Charles Center; light rail Camden Yards station. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat and Sun 1000-1800. Admission: US$13 (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, 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 Flag House and 1812 Museum, South President Street) that 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 - and 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 43 acres. Military ceremonies and drills are performed during the summer. Twice-daily flag changes take place throughout the year (0930 and 2130 in summer, or 1630 in winter). Exhibits include historical and military artefacts, of course, 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, and other exhibits. East Fort Avenue Tel: (410) 962 4290. Website: www.nps.gov/fomc Transport: Bus from Harborplace along Fort Avenue. Opening hours: Daily 0800-1700 (until 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 to begin where there is the '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 understanding of 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 this Mount Clare Depot, located here, from Washington, DC, forty 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 (60-90 minutes). 901 West Pratt Street Tel: (410) 752 2490. Website: www.borail.org Transport: Short walk from Inner Harbor. Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700. Admission: US$6 (concessions available). |
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