Cultural Heritage Attractions

Baltimore is home to the Preakness Stakes. Whether you favor walking tours, ball games, horse racing or nightlife, Baltimore has it all. Thousands travel to Baltimore each year for the Preakness, an annual horse race held at Pimlico Racetrack. African Americans played a central role in the early days of the race. According to journalist Ed Hotaling, Baltimore's African American jockeys were among America's first professional athletes. In Baltimore, African American history is a thread running through arts, culture and leisure.

Even the National Aquarium has a connection to African American history. Local African American engineer, inventor and philanthropist Henry Hall donated his entire rare fish collection to the National Aquarium in 1977. Today, the aquarium honors Hall with the Henry Hall Youth and Scholarship Fund, which provides funding and internships to science students. The aquarium remains one of the Inner Harbor's most popular attractions, with more than 11,000 aquatic animals and stunning exhibits. Visit www.aqua.org for more details.

The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum 1601-03 E. North Avenue; 410-563-3404www.greatblacksinwax.org: The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum began as the dream of husband and wife team Elmer and Joanne Martin. The Drs. Martin (both Ph.D.s) purchased four wax figures in 1980, and personally transported the figures to schools, churches and community venues for educational presentations. Today, Dr. Joanne Martin carries on the legacy of history, education and service that she and her late husband began. A multi-million dollar renovation is underway at the The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, creating additional gallery space, a multimedia theater, and other amenities. Among the most talked about displays at the museum is the renowned slave ship exhibit, a moving and emotional representation of the Middle Passage. Modern-day Baltimore heroes like Dr. Ben Carson, pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, are memorialized in the museum's Maryland Room.
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture 830 E. Pratt Street; 443-263-1800www.africanamericanculture.org: Baltimore is now home to the largest African American museum on the East Coast. Designated a Smithsonian Affiliate, The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture includes a 200 seat theater, an oral history studio, classrooms and spacious exhibition space. The Inaugural Exhibition of the museum explores three areas: Family and Community, Labor that Built a Nation, and Arts and Enlightenment. The museum’s striking architecture is an expression of Maryland’s African American spirit—one of beauty, grace, strength and power. Its physical location has historical significance as well. The museum’s entrance faces what was once a pre-Civil War slave market; a somber yet inspirational reminder of our history and our survival.
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum 901 W. Pratt Street; 410-752-2490www.borail.org: Comprised of the oldest and most comprehensive collection of railroad history in the Western Hemisphere, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, Inc. is a unique cultural and educational institution. Exhibits contain new interpretive panels that discuss the social and economic impact of the railroad on American culture including the people that were imperative to the growth of railroading as an industry.
Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum 216 Emory Street; 410-727-1593 www.baberuthmuseum.com: A tribute to Babe Ruth and baseball, this cozy museum is chock-full of memorabilia and history, including exhibits on the Negro League. Baltimore had two teams that were part of the Eastern Colored League (ECL) which was later replaced by the American Negro League (ANL): The Baltimore Elite Giants and The Baltimore Black Sox.
Baltimore Civil War Museum-President Street Station 601 President Street; 410-385-5188 www.mdhs.org/explore/baltcivilwar: A documented stop on the Underground Railroad, the President Street Station is the home of the Baltimore Civil War Museum, and the oldest big city railroad station still standing. Visitors will find a special exhibit on Baltimore's Colored Troops who fought in the Civil War.
Baltimore Museum of Industry 1415 Key Highway; 410-727-4808www.thebmi.org: In 1860, there were more free African Americans living in Maryland than any other state. This large and cohesive community provided a support network for African Americans moving into the city from rural areas and for Blacks who started their own businesses. The role of African Americans is explored in various Baltimore industries including food processing, machine tool shop work, the garment industry and printing.
Brodie's Jewelers and Gifts 6120 Baltimore National Pike; 410-869-0400: Brodie's offers a wide range of jewelry, collectibles, gift items and art.
Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch400 Cathedral Street; 410-396-5430www.pratt.lib.md.us/: The African American Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library offers a comprehensive collection of historical and contemporary materials relating to African Americans worldwide, with a special emphasis on Maryland. Researchers and readers can gain access to the treasures of the Eddie and Sylvia Brown African American Collection, in the Juanita C. Burns Reading Room of the Pratt Central Library Annex.
The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center 847 N. Howard Street; 410-225-3130 www.eubieblake.org: Located on Baltimore's historic Howard Street, the Eubie Blake Cultural Center is the home of permanent exhibitions on Baltimore jazz legends like Cab Calloway, Chick Webb and its inspiration, Eubie Blake. The center is also home to jazz concerts, cultural events and performing arts classes.
Frederick Douglass - Isaac Myers Maritime Park c/o National Historic Seaport of Baltimore 802 S. Caroline Street; 410-783-1490 www.natlhistoricseaport.org: Frederick Douglass and Isaac Myers, along with 14 fellow African Americans, started the first African American owned shipyard in the United States. With its debut in 2005, this park will incorporate a working shipyard/maritime railway and deep-water pier, monuments to Douglass and Myers, exhibits on African American maritime history, and the restored "Sugar House," the oldest remaining industrial building on the waterfront.
Mahogany Exchange/ Out of Africa Gallery III 111 W. Saratoga Street (between Park Avenue & Cathedral Street); 410-752-5808: Mahogany Exchange features African and local artwork, antique museum artifacts, furniture, and textiles. Here you can shop for gift and home items such as dinnerware, glassware, baskets, dolls, stools, jewelry, custom clothing, and fabrics. Rooms for meetings and reunions are available.
Maja 1744 Aliceanna Street; 410-327-9499: Style, culture and art live at Maja in Fell's Point. You'll find clothing, hand-crafted jewelry, incense, candles and home décor from Asia, Africa and the Americas and a selection of both African art and locally crafted stained glass creations.
Maryland Historical Society Museum 201 W. Monument Street; 410-685-3750 www.mdhs.org: Maryland's history is captured in objects, archives and art and the Historical Society is home to an impressive collection. The museum features paintings by Joshua Johnson, (see Historic Landmarks) and the acclaimed Mining the Museum exhibit, a critical exploration of how African Americans have been represented in museums.
Mount Clare Museum House 1500 Washington Boulevard/Carroll Park; 410-837-3262 www.mountclare.org: This 1760 Georgian mansion houses a collection of approximately 1,000 rare 18th- and 19th-century objects, many of which belonged to the builder, Charles Carroll, barrister, and his heirs. It is the oldest mansion and only surviving plantation house in Baltimore City.
The Royal Theatre Monument Lafayette and Pennsylvania Avenues: During its heyday in the 1920s and '30s, the Royal Theatre was home to some of the greatest acts in jazz and blues. The Royal Theatre Monument, dedicated in 2004, celebrates the great hall that hosted music legends like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Visitors can hear recorded music as they walk through the site.
Sandarac Gallery and Gifts 220 West Read Street; 410-625-9993: With an eclectic combination of pottery, silk goods, art, travel books and furniture, Sandarac Gallery promises an exciting collection of high-end ethnic crafts from five continents. Sandarac's pieces from Morocco, Indonesia, China, Mongolia and Cambodia have been purchased directly from the artisans.
Thir-Tea-First Café and Tea Room 414 East 31st Street; 410-889-7112 www.thir-teafirststreetcafeandtearoom.com: Whether you are planning an afternoon tea party, Saturday brunch, or a candlelight dinner for two, this Charles Village/Waverly gem is the place to be. In a quaint Victorian setting, crème tea, afternoon tea, and high tea are served throughout the week. This African American-owned establishment accepts reservations for special events such as rehearsal dinners and bridal showers.Voted one of Baltimore's best tea rooms in Baltimore Magazine.
USS Constellation Museum Pier 1, 301 E. Pratt Street; 410-539-1797 www.constellation.org: Built in 1854, USS Constellation is the last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy and the only Civil War era naval vessel still afloat. History comes alive with hourly "hands-on" demonstrations and tours. The USS Constellation was the flagship of African Squadron from 1859 to 1861. This anti-slavery patrol captured three slave ships: brig Delicia, bark Cora and brig Triton.