Category: Behind the Scenes Tours

Behind the Scenes Tour of Lovely Lane


In 1784 during the “Christmas Conference” at the Lovely Lane Meeting House in Baltimore, American Methodist was born. Surprisingly, this predated the organization of the Methodist community in England where it originated. Please join us on a tour of Baltimore’s signature Methodist building today, the Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, known as the Mother Church of American Methodism and an architectural treasure to boot.

Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Place: Lovely Lane United Methodist Church (2200 St. Paul St., Baltimore 21218)
Cost: $10 for members / $20 for non-members (please join!)

Registration: Click here to register.
Read more

Behind the Scenes Tour of the Mount Vernon Mill

Image courtesy Baltimore County Public Library

In the 19th century, Baltimore was the world’s leading supplier of cotton duck, a material that was used in items from uniforms and tents to sailcloth and parachutes. Much of it was made at a sprawling complex of mill buildings collectively called the Mount Vernon Mill. Our host, Terra Nova Ventures, has cleaned out the Mount Vernon Mill No. 1 building and is about to embark on a massive historic restoration and reuse project. Please join us on a “before rehab” tour of this great historic industrial space.

Tour Information

Date:   Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Time:   5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Place:  Mount Vernon Mill (2980 – 3000 Falls Road, Baltimore 21211)
The building is on Falls Road just north of Wyman Park Drive and the Stieff Silver Building
Cost:   $15 (includes wine and cheese reception)
Registration: Click Here to Register.

Read more

Behind the Scenes Tour of Bars and Brothels of Fell’s Point

Eighteenth-century visitor John David declared Fell’s Point “a place remarkable for its commerce of various kinds, for here ships land their cargoes and their crews wait not even for the twilight to fly to the polluted arms of the harlot.” Please join us and architectural historian Ms. Sherri Marsh Johns on a short walking tour of some of the notorious bars and brothels (and other possibly more reputable places) of historic Fell’s Point.

Tour Information

Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 PM (or a tad later)
Place: Meet in front of 1629-31 Aliceanna Street, about ½ block west of Broadway
This is the old Captain’s Hotel. Park at meters on the street.
Cost: $10
Registration: Click Here to Register.
Read more

Behind the Scenes Tour of the Cylburn Arboretum

With a Civil-War era mansion and a brand new visitors center, Cylburn Arboretum is bustling with history and energy. Please join us and our hosts from the Cylburn Arboretum Association on a tour of the historic mansion, a stroll through the grounds to view some less visited historic sites, and a peek at the new visitors center. Oh yes, and a glass of wine on the mansion porch.

Tour Information

Note:  We are having two identical tours on the same evening.  Please sign up for only one.
Date:   Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Time:   Tour 1 — 5:15 p.m. to 6:15, with reception to follow
Tour 2 — 6:00 p.m. reception, 6:30 to 7:30 tour
Place:   Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Avenue (Baltimore, 21209)
Free parking is available at the arboretum
Cost:    $15 (includes wine and cheese reception)

Click Here to Register

Read more

Behind the Scenes Tour: Monuments in Bolton Hill

Image courtesy Dave/Flickr

Why is the Francis Scott Key Monument on Eutaw Place sometimes called the monument that cigars built? Who was Baltimore’s great hero in the Mexican War of 1846-7 and how is he connected to the Maryland State Song, James Ryder Randall’s poem “Maryland My Maryland”? Please join us for stroll through historic Bolton Hill and an evening of Baltimore history as told through these and other stories of our public monuments. Our tour guides will be Cindy Kelly, author of a soon-to-be-published book on Baltimore’s monuments, and monument preservation leader Sandy Sparks.

Tour Information

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Time: 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
Place: Meet at the Francis Scott Key Monument at Eutaw Place and Lanvale St.
Park along the street
Cost: $10 for members / $20 for non-members (cold water included!)
Registration: Click Here to Register

Read more