The Baltimore County Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at how single-stream recyclables are transformed from household waste into marketable commodities. Come explore the Cockeysville plant to witness the high-tech sorting process, which uses industrial magnets, star screens, and manual sorting to separate paper, plastic, and metal. The experience emphasizes the importance of keeping "tanglers" like plastic bags out of the machinery while showcasing how local recycling efforts support a circular economy. Join us on this dynamic, behind-the-scenes look at recycling!

Step inside a working time capsule where craftsmanship, history, and ingenuity collide at Thomas Brown Woodwright. In this one-of-a-kind workshop, operating since 1991, you’ll experience the rare sight, and sound, of antique woodworking machines, some dating back nearly two centuries, still shaping wood for real-world projects today. Watch skilled artisans transform raw materials into stunning architectural elements using techniques that have all but vanished elsewhere, and discover how this small but mighty shop has helped preserve some of the region’s iconic historic buildings. Whether you’re a history buff, a maker, or just curious, this tour offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a place where they can make anything!

The story of Zion Church of the City of Baltimore is the story of the German speaking people in Baltimore dating back to the "Colonial Period," through the "Golden Age of Germans in Baltimore" into the "World War" years and finally the modern or present era.  Every generation of Baltimore German-Americans is reflected in the building. Along the tour you will learn about the architecture including the unique and significant stained glass windows as well as the "new" (1912) part of the building including the church's iconic tower and "Adlersaal."  We will visit the Hofmann Memorial Library and tour the picturesque walled garden, an oasis in the middle of the city. Guests will hear stories about Zion's past Pastors who led the German immigrant community during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and held it together during the two World Wars when German speakers were viewed with distrust and considered enemies.  We also touch upon the role that Zion played in the history of Lutheranism in America as well as how the political and cultural life of Baltimore City shaped and was shaped by Germans living here. 

Accessibility: There are some stairs going up to the Adlersaal on the second floor, but there is an elevator for anyone who needs it.