While traveling through the East Coast, make sure to plan a few good night’s stay in Baltimore. Not only is the city close enough to the nation’s capital to take advantage of all there is to do and see in Washington, D.C., but there is plenty of opportunity in the largest city of Maryland, a city that has been in operation for the last two hundred and eighty-one years. Instead of taking a look at the D.C.’s Washington Monument, you may have a look at Baltimore’s Washington Monument and Museum at Mount Vernon Place. The monument stands at about a hundred and seventy-eight feet high, and was the country’s first monument that paid honor to the nation’s first president, George Washington. Made in 1815, one hundred and ninety-five years ago, you can see terrific views of Baltimore City after you climb its 228 steps.
In Baltimore, you’ll also discover Fort McHenry’s National Monument and Historic Shrine. This is an important battle site of the War of 1812, as well as the spot in which Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner. It’s free to go here and explore the fort.
If you’ve been out to Fort McHenry, you’ll also want to drop by the Star Spangled Banner Flag House. The home became a museum in 1927 and is one of the oldest museums in the city; it’s intent is to preserve the story of the woman who made the gigantic thirty foot by forty-two foot Star Spangled Banner flag that flew above Fort McHenry during the War of 1812; her name is Mary Young Pickersgill.
There’s also the Maryvale Castle , which was constructed in 1913, and patterned after Warwick Castle in England. Maryvale Castle belonged to Walter F. Wickes, a prominent doctor, and now is owned by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and is home to the Maryvale Trinity College Preparatory School.
If you’ve listened to any of The Alan Parsons Project or read a few short stories in American Literature courses, you’ll want to also see Edgar Allan Poe’s House on 203 North Amity Street. You’ll find in it original decorations as well as artifacts from Poe’s life. On Halloween, in deference to Poe’s scary stories, the house becomes a venue for scary theatrical performances.
Next time you arrive at the Baltimore Washington International Airport, instead of traveling first to Washington D.C., head north to Baltimore.