Alley Houses of Patterson Park – April 19, 10 a.m. to noon

The Backs of Baltimore

Have you ever wondered what’s behind those 5000 square-foot Victorian row houses in Patterson Park? Along many streets in East Baltimore, 800 square-foot two-story “alley houses” sit behind the grand dames of Butcher’s Hill, Fell’s Point and other neighborhoods in East Baltimore. These 19th century treasures are packed into tiny streets and offer an old-world charm of their own. Join Joshua Philips, Director of Preservation Services at Preservation Maryland, on a stroll to discover the inner block streets and charming alley houses that occupy them.

Meet at the corner of Patterson Park and Eastern Avenues. Park on the street.

Mount Royal Terrace – April 26, 10:00 a.m. to noon

Queen Anne Architecture Atop the Jones Falls Valley

The Mount Royal Terrace historic district boasts some of the best examples of Queen Anne and Georgian Revival architecture in Baltimore. Originally built overlooking the Jones Falls Valley, the houses have exceptional porches, conical towers, terra cotta decorations, and slate mansard roofs. Many of us catch a glimpse the historic neighborhood at 50 miles per hour from the Jones Falls Expressway. Come explore it on foot at a more leisurely pace with Elizabeth Schaaf, curator and archivist at Peabody Library and long-time resident.

Meet at the corner of Mount Royal Terrace. Park on the street.

College of Notre Dame – May 3, 10 a.m. to noon

Academic Architecture Galore

The Institute of Notre Dame moved to its present location in north Baltimore just after the Civil War. Today, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland campus features Federal, Art Deco, Spanish Renaissance and Beaux-Arts buildings designed by J. Crawford Neilsen, Thomas C. Kennedy, Baldwin & Pennington, and Frederick V. Murphy. The Marikle Chapel of the Annunciation stands as the college’s crown jewel. A master plan by Robert A.M. Stern has guided Notre Dame’s growth and renewal over the last decade. Join architect Jim Suttner, AIA, and Mary Beth Lennon, Notre Dame alumna, on an insider’s tour of one of Baltimore’s most charming and distinctive campuses.

Meet on the first floor of the Noyes Alumnae House. Park in the lot behind the Noyes House. Enter campus at 4701 N. Charles Street (just south of Homeland Ave.) and follow signs.

Homeland – May 10, 10 a.m. to noon

Baltimore’s Lake District

Getting away from Victorian architecture, the Roland Park-Homeland Company began developing the former Perine Estate into Homeland in the 1920s. Tudor, French Country, and Early American styles combine with Colonial architecture to give this historic neighborhood a decidedly English flavor and special charm. The Olmsted Brothers landscaping and series of miniature lakes at its center impart a romantic touch. Join Barbara Stevens, who literally wrote the book on the history of Homeland, and her husband Jim on a stroll through this neighborhood filled with architectural jewels.

Meet at the park on the southeast corner of Charles St. and St. Albans Way (about ¼ mile south of Northern Parkway). Park on the street.

Franklintown – May 17, 10 a.m. to noon

From Mill Village to Planned Community Circa 1830

Begun in the 1830s, Franklintown is one of the first planned communities in the country. The brainchild of William H. Freeman, the historic district is designed around a central wooded oval with radiating lots and included a hotel and commercial district, all set adjacent to an even older mill village. Join Bill Eberhart and Anne Gossett, longtime Franklintown residents, to walk through the collection of mill buildings and houses in this quaint rural village that may be the oldest planned suburb in the country.

Meet at the parking lot of the Mill Race Tavern (5201 N. Franklintown Rd., 21207). Park in the lot.