Take advantage of your time in Baltimore with tours of some of the exciting cultural sites in the area. The local planning committee has thoughtfully curated a slate of activities to introduce you to what the city has to offer, from books to bejeweled walls!
Baltimore’s Beautiful Libraries Tour - Tuesday, March 24 • 9:00am - 11:30amBaltimore, known as the
City that Reads (and other memes), boasts a significant number of libraries and library collections, and is the hometown of writers such as H.L. Mencken, Edgar Allan Poe, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and David Simon. Set your sights on two iconic libraries during this morning tour of the recently-renovated
Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch, and the
George Peabody Library at the
Peabody Institute.
Enoch Pratt Central Library, Interior. Photo: J. Hoover
The American Visionary Art Museum - Wednesday, March 25 • 12:00pm - 1:00pmThe
American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is the universe’s only museum dedicated to self-taught artists. The docent-led tour will take you inside the Museum’s exhibition “
The Secret Life of Earth” (October 2019 - September 6, 2020):
Beckoning all Earthlings — from climate change skeptics to the world's leading eco-scientists and kid activists — to an exhibition that's one part visual Earth love feast and two parts environmental crash course on the wonders and fragility of life on our one blue homegirl planet. The building itself is a sight to behold, with a curved, mirrored-mosaic exterior. Inside, see a larger than life sculpture of Divine, and a kinetic sculpture poodle, Fifi!
The Walters Art Museum: Chamber of Wonders. Thursday, March 26 • 4:00pm - 5:00pmThis entertaining tour of a delightful “collection of collections” that educates and amazes visitors of all ages will be led by Curator Joaneath Spicer. Three galleries in the museum are installed to suggest the collection of a 17th century nobleman, including an entry hall of arms and armor, a study for intricate small objects, and a larger chamber of arts and wonders.
Stick around after the tour to experience extended hours at WAM and visit the renovated 1 West Mount Vernon Place galleries and exhibitions, and other special exhibitions: Excursions through the Collection (through October 11, 2020) and From Mucha to Morris: Books of the Art Nouveau (through April 19, 2020). After you get your museum cup filled, stroll around Mount Vernon to enjoy one of the many great restaurants in the area. Be sure to save room for a night-cap at The Brewers’ Art. Stayed tuned for more info about dine arounds on Thursday evening!
Highlights of Hopkins Tour Friday, March 27 • 2:00pm - 4:00pmTwo stops, one location! Johns Hopkins (yes, JOHNS) Homewood House Museum 2-3pm andEisenhower Library Special Collections, Highlights of Artists’ Books Collection: 3-4pm
Homewood House is one of the nation’s best-surviving examples of Federal-period Palladian architecture. Since its original occupancy in 1801, the house has been used as a private residence, a boys’ school, a university faculty club, an administration building, and a public museum. With each of its varied usages, Homewood has accumulated histories that speak to the development of the American republic, the city of Baltimore, and the Johns Hopkins University. It has operated as a full-time museum since 1987.
Eisenhower Library Special Collections has a growing and
eclectic collection of artists’ books, highlights of which will be showcased in the Richard Macksey Seminar Room and will include works by Henri Matisse, Robert Motherwell, Hanne Darboven, John Ashbery, and other contemporary artists of note.
Space is limited!
Register for one of these fascinating tours today!Meghan Gross, Baltimore Museum of ArtJodi Hoover, Enoch Pratt Free LibraryDonald Juedes, Johns Hopkins University, Milton S. Eisenhower Library
