WHAT A TREAT, to have caught the entire Amy Sherald exhibit and BAM! I loved this museum, and this…read moreexhibit specifically! My college campus and myself took a trip here for this, and 5/5 would recommend! So enlightening, so thought-provoking, so CHROME. ;) I'm also especially thankful for the guides that walked our group through Amy's pieces, who then were able to describe and confirm the emotions and response she wanted her audience to receive! Love love love this museum, and thank you to my campus for coordinating this.

My very first visit to the BMA will definitely not be the last. The collection in the museum is…read morehuge! It's definitely a great way to spend your day. I came here specifically for the Amy Sherald collection and was not disappointed. There is plenty of street parking and it doesn't cost much. They also have parking lots in case street parking is hard to find (I'm pretty sure it's hard to find street parking during weekdays because its in the JHU area). Check in was super easy. I was lucky enough to secure a free Thursday ticket, otherwise, there is an admission fee for the exhibit. Finding it was super easy because the staff gave great directions. It was crowded but the flow of the space made it not so overwhelming. All of her paintings were beautiful and meaningful. I loved that they included information about the pieces, what made her choose certain colors, how she chose what height the paintings should be placed and a short video of how she started her career and her process of creating. After leaving her exhibit, I wandered off to see other portions of the museum. The collections were beautiful. I didn't get to see everything because it was getting late but I look forward to visiting again soon.

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.

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.

I do not like art museums. I was done with The Louvre after an hour. The Met was nice for like 45…read moreminutes. I stayed at the AVAM for THREE (3) hours & only left because I was starving. I loved every single thing about this museum. The gift shop is fun, yes, but the art displays are all entirely unexpected & featuring mainly artists who are disabled/not professionals. There is art made from metal scraps, a ship built out of toothpicks, sculptures made by patients at a mental health institution. The passages to read about the pieces were delightfully detailed. It felt like ingesting the life story of dozens of strangers who turned to art at their darkest moments. Cannot recommend this museum enough. Also, the staff were so lovely. They genuinely cared about our experience too.

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!!!

The Walters is one of my Favorite museums to visit no matter the season . It's free and accessible…read morefor all . They're 3 buildings to roam , a cafe , interactive activities to keep you occupied. It's the perfect Museum for Dates but it's also great for families with kids .

Incredible. Such a great museum and free…read more Very welcoming, lockers, chill staff. Very helpful signs. And of course incredible art. Very diverse and expansive too, geographically, time, medium, workshop details etc. very fun and impressive/humbling collection and presentation of all the things.

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.

One of my favorite spaces in the city right in the middle of Druid Hill Park. Come any season and…read moreget lost in whatever is blooming. And this is a free space but donations are always appreciated. They throw private events, you can book them for photoshoots, a friend of mine did her maternity shoots here and the pictures were gorgeous. A wonderful oasis in the city make sure you drop in

Free to enter but $5 donation suggested. Second oldest conservatory in the United States, behind…read moreSan Francisco's. Super friendly and knowledgeable gentleman at the entrance with a map you can take a picture of, as well as similar places to visit through the northeast. Visited on a Sunday around 3, a few people walking around and a marriage proposal going on. Easy to navigate an a lot of plants and trees to see, though some don't always have labels. You can meander through and see all the rooms in like 40 minutes. Gift shop sells some succulents, stickers, postcards, and prints. A peaceful and beautiful place worth making the trip to see!

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

Absolutely beautiful location. I love that so much of the history is preserved and cared for so…read moreintensely. If I were still in school, it would certainly be my top place to find quiet while studying.

Beautiful library with a rustic and magical feel and plenty of space for studying. I was able to…read moreget free wifi and sat down in a corridor of the bottom level. Apparently the upper levels of the library aren't open to visitors, but just sitting in the main floor was stunning.