Mount Vernon began as a country estate for Revolutionary War hero John Eager Howard and grew to be the place to live for Baltimore's rich and famous in the mid-nineteenth century. The Garrett family, owners of the B&O Railroad, the Walters, founders of the Walters Art Museum, and the Thomases, owners of Mercantile Bank, are among the families that built handsome mansions along the four parks that surround the Washington Monument.

Baltimoreans have celebrated atop Federal Hill when we ratified the U.S. Constitution, used it to defend the city in the War of 1812, and fortified it to make sure we stayed in the Union in the Civil War. We have even tunnelled under it to quarry minerals. Join us to learn about the rich history of this waterfront community, including stops at one of the last wooden houses in the city, the oldest house in the community, and the wonderful alley houses along Churchill Street.