It's only open every other Saturday seasonally, but it was a really unique and interesting Civil…read moreWar site - featuring graffiti. It delivers what it promises. This seemed pretty common for troops to occupy houses on their travels and doodle on the walls, but this was a lucky example to preserve it behind paint which was discovered in time for it to avoid demolishion. Some graffiti is better preserved/readable than others, but it is a recent site to be opened to the public, so it's a work in progress. It's interesting to think of the young men who strolled through here 150 years ago. There was a knowledgeable guide who walked us through a few rooms pointing to some of the writing, a small exhibit, and a small gift shop. It's free, but since it's all volunteers, we gave a donation. It won't take very long to go through, but it's a cool historical site to visit in the area.

Loving history and graffiti, visiting the Graffiti House was a special treat. Built in the middle…read moreof the 19th century, the house is one of the best examples of Civil War graffiti. Used as a hospital during the War and occupied by both the Union and Confederacy, many soldiers signed their names or added drawings of horses, women, men, and more. The first floor has a little shop, a meeting room, and a restroom. (The restroom has some Civil War graffiti.) It's in the second-floor rooms where the majority of the historic graffiti can be seen along with stories of a few of its artists. It's a small museum open to the public thanks to a foundation, but it's worth your time!

This review is for the Garden Lights NOT all of MSV; which I love ....while on the smaller side,…read morethe museum, garden, Glen Burnie House and trail are all lovely. While the Lights are beautuful, the overall experience is disappointing. Even though its timed entry tickets, it is crowded as you must follow a specific path that is single file most of the way. A lot of the path is not well lit and very uneven. Staff randomly positioned to keep you out of closed areas were not friendly. Seemed almost identical to prior year. I doubt we will visit next year.

Best ever ! Art , Music, hiking and more !…read more Well kept trails filled with plants , sculptures and views. MSV at Night shows are awesome not to mention the many beautiful acres to explore. It's always a pleasure to visit and see what is new. Become a member and support the Museum- it has many perks and is well worth it.

Days before D-Day, a secret message from the Japanese Ambassador was decoded in Vint Hill, a former…read moreU.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. The Japanese Ambassador was in Berlin, and had the power to get a meeting with Adolf Hitler. The U.S. gets this message and it gets sent to Eisenhower's staff. This message changed the U.S.' move. To buy time in Normandy for a few weeks, the U.S. puts on a fake ghost war, playing up Hitler's belief that Colette was significant. Fake tanks, commands and signals were staged. Germans in England who sided with allies played Hitler reinforcing Colette on purpose. (Last image is from this ghost war.) The impact of D-Day can be traced here. Very cool learning about cryptography and geospatial intelligence in the Cold War.

Happened upon this by complete happy accident and I cannot be more thankful to have discovered…read moreit!!!! Walking in we were immediately greeted by a delightful gentlemen who I unfortunately couldn't catch his name, that's on me he said it twice but I was so overwhelmed walking in! He took the time to explain exactly where everything was, what room included what, and what the key spots were. We only had a very limited time to poke around so I didn't even get to go upstairs unfortunately :( I was thrilled to see that they had merchandise, so we grabbed two amazing shirts that I've already worn. Clayton was incredibly charming ringing us up. His delightful jokes and willingness to put up with me going back and forth between sizes for 10 minutes still brings a smile to my face. I am so desperate to come back now that I know it is so close to DC (under an hour). Again, everyone was so kind and funny and just amazing and there was soooo much to look at. 10000/10, counting the days until I can come back!!!!

Cute little museum! The best part are the otters, you can see them swimming around and they are…read morepretty active. They also have some other aquatic life like turtles and fish that are cool. You can spend a hour or two in here if you wanted to

Location Just off the highway…read more Parking Large lot Tour Children's area, frog and fish area, the history of the area-boats, wildlife, and MORE! Lighthouse in the back- refurbished and furnished. Guides provide additional information. Summary Informative introduction to the area. Loved it!!

This is easily the best museum I have ever visited…read more The exhibits are epic in scope and absolutely stunning. The architecture is just as impressive--it's a fantastic homage to the iconic US Marine Corps War Memorial. Wandering the grounds is an experience in itself; they are immense and exceptionally well-maintained, reflecting the quality found inside. During my recent visit, a museum employee who overheard my dad and me discussing the landscaping nearby (not the museum's, which is pristine!) politely stopped to ask for feedback, eager to address any potential issues. That commitment to excellence blew us away. The museum also hosts events beautifully. My brother, who just transitioned from Gunnery Sergeant to 2nd Lieutenant after graduating from OCS, had his celebratory banquet catered by the museum on the second floor. The food was delicious and varied--we had fried chicken, pulled pork, mac and cheese, salad, crackers, fruit, and dessert, among other food choices, plus a small cash bar. The area was nicely laid out, and the banquet tables looked sharp. For everyday amenities, there are two spots to eat, including the iconic Tun Tavern, plus a fantastic, well-stocked gift shop (though be prepared for the prices!). This museum is an absolute must-see.

Food is spectacular! All the staff there are so welcoming, friendly, and very attentive. I adore…read morethe atmosphere in the restaurant with all the paintings and decorations overall a 10 out of 10 experience.

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.

Absolutely love this one! I was in the area and had an hour before I needed to hit the road... I…read morewas late hitting the road! There is so much to see you cannot possibly see it all in an hour. There are a ton of aircraft displays, engines, and even a few videos. A good mixture of indoor and outdoor displays. Wear comfortable shoes so you can walk around a lot. I am a history buff, and was stationed at NAS PAX in the 1980's so I was very interested in all the historical information the museum presented. I WILL be back!

My wife and I took a Saturday drive and ended up at the museum mid-afternoon. Approaching the…read moremuseum, we saw all the aircraft parked outside on their ramp. A bonus for EV drivers is their onsite fast charger. Driving here from NoVA, we could use the charge. Admission to the museum is $10 per person. There are a couple of displays inside along with a gift shop. We quickly headed outside though to check out the aircraft. My wife's favorite was the A4 Scooter with its skinny head-on profile and Blue Angels heritage. My favorite was the Osprey. I had no idea the rotors were that large on it. We took a lap inside the gift shop before heading back on the highway with a full charge. We spent about 90 minutes checking out all the aircraft there and enjoyed our visit.

We went out to a campground for a trip during Veterans day weekend. Before we set out to return to…read moreVB I wanted to visit this interesting museum that was in the area. Unfortunately the weather was cold and windy the whole time. But low and behold rental golf carts. We zoomed around to each location and really had a great time. The staff were so informative and really cared about the history being displayed. I really recommend coming to visit as a family and learn more about the area and what things were like for our ancestors.

I'd past this on numerous occasions whilst driving south on I-81 and decided that this would be the…read moreday when I would visit and check it out, having long been interested in Frontier life, particularly in America. Immediately upon my arrival just before noon on a Saturday in early april, I wished that I'd arrived closer to the opening hour as the main parking lot was packed and I ended up about a 5 minute brisk walk to the visitors center. Since I travel 81 somewhat frequently, I purchased an annual pass which cost $30. Be advised that there is considerable walking necessary, a total of 2 miles according to my walking app and fitness tracker, and not all is level.i enjoyed all of the exhibits, some of which were oridinal (from England) and were reassembled here. There was a demonstration on making stew in early England as well as nail making. Ireland and Germany were featured along with living historian type people, all of whom were amazingly knowledgeable. Having some lung issues, I needed to bolt from a smoky dwelling,neither from the stove or a coal-fired nail forge. There is a small gift shop in the visitors center where I purchased a hood sweatshirt, lio balm, and "dirt-scented" soap ( I could not resist!) It's a fun place for my interests, and I shall return, likely in mid-June. Next time I'll arrive earlier!

Holy concrete, glass and art! Glenstone is a canvas for adults' imagination. This retreat is if a…read moreminimalist billionaire and Mother Nature had a serene art child. Every turn of concrete and glass leads to a magical surprise. My favorite was the Alex Da Corte exhibits which were full of color and textures.

Glenstone is one of the country's most well-respected and influential modern art galleries. The…read moreRales' have amassed a private post-War art collection worth more than $2 billion, and they have built a private museum to showcase their collection, spending more than $200 million to build the structures over the years. The property encompasses 360 acres and includes not only the two buildings housing the art, there's also an arrival center, a cafe/cafeteria, a patio cafe/coffee shop, and a beautiful woodland walking path, along which one can experience many outdoor sculptures and pieces of art. And all of this is open to the public for free. You are advised to schedule your visit in advance via the website, but walk-ups are accommodated during the winter months. If you arrive via the Ride-On bus (the Rales' worked with Montgomery County to ensure that a bus would be routed right to the front door of the arrival center), you are guaranteed entry. Students 12 and older (including college and graduate students), educators, active-duty military members, veterans, and museum professionals enjoy guaranteed entry for themselves plus one guest, 12 or older. You might read articles about Glenstone that disparage what the Rales' have created, but the reality is that they are doing good in the world: they are making world-class art available to the public for free. I've visited Glenstone about a half dozen times over the years. There are some permanent exhibits but the majority of the galleries rotate art from their massive collection. The cafe has great food. The grounds are quiet and beautiful. The staff are all unbelievably knowledgeable and helpful. A visit to Glenstone is a gift to yourself.