Baltimore Heritage

The Catacombs Under Westminster: Two Hundred Years of Tombs and Edgar Allan Poe’s Gravesite
2024-11-16 14:30 - 15:30, 2024-12-08 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-12-15 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-01-25 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-15 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-22 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-08 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-22 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, 519 W Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
Join us to explore the eerie catacombs underneath Baltimore’s First Presbyterian Church, now called Westminster Hall, and the graves that surround it, including the final resting place of Edgar Allan Poe. The burial ground predates the church, which was built on arches above the gravesites, so that the graveyard and its tombstones lie both underneath and around the building. We bet you will also recognize more than a few Baltimore street names as we walk among the patriots and civic leaders buried at Westminster including Calhoun, Hollins, Gilmore, and Bentalou. All told, the compact cemetery next to the University of Maryland School of Law is the final resting place for over 1,000 individuals. We can’t wait to see you “Where Baltimore’s History Rests in Peace!”

Federal Hill Beyond the Views: A Monumental City Tour
2024-11-17 09:30 - 10:30 | Federal Hill Park (Southwest Corner), 301 Warren Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21230, United States
Baltimoreans celebrated atop Federal Hill when we ratified the U.S. Constitution. We used it to defend the city from the British in the War of 1812 and to make sure we stayed in the Union in the Civil War. We have even tunnelled under it to quarry minerals. Join us on a tour of Federal Hill and the neighborhood around it to learn about this waterfront community’s rich history, including stops at one of the last wooden houses in the city, the oldest house in Federal Hill, and the wonderful alley houses along Churchill Street.
Our Monumental City tours are guided walks exploring iconic Baltimore landmarks in Federal Hill, Downtown, Mount Vernon and Ridgely’s Delight on the first four Sundays of each month from April through November, except holiday weekends.

Historic Clifton Mansion
2024-11-20 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-12-07 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-18 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-04-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Clifton Mansion, 2701 Saint Lo Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21218, United States
Join us for a tour inside Clifton Mansion, the unique Italianate country house that has overlooked Baltimore City for over 200 years! At one time the summer home of War of 1812 captain Henry Thompson and then philanthropist Johns Hopkins, the story of Clifton Estate is one about two prominent businessmen, enslaved & free Black people, and more. You’ll see the latest restorations made possible by the Friends of Clifton Mansion and Civic Works. You will also be invited into unrestored spaces that are brimming with stories to tell! And the tour wouldn’t be complete without climbing the tower and taking in one-of-a-kind views of Clifton Park and our surrounding city. We hope to see you there.

Mount Vernon Place: A Monumental City Tour
2024-11-24 09:30 - 10:30 | Washington Monument (South Entrance), 699 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
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. Join us on a tour to hear the stories behind the landmarks of Baltimore’s grandest historic neighborhood.
Our Monumental City tours are guided walks exploring iconic Baltimore landmarks in Federal Hill, Downtown, Mount Vernon and Ridgely’s Delight on the first four Sundays of each month from April through November, except holiday weekends.

The Irish Railroad Workers Museum: A Behind The Scenes Tour
2024-12-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Irish Railroad Workers Museum, 918-920 Lemmon St, Baltimore, MD, 21223, United States
Join Baltimore Heritage on a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Irish Railroad Workers Museum with its managing director, Megan “Sammie” Samuels! This unique museum shares the lives of Irish immigrants, their communities, and legacy in America. Learn about the Great Hunger, also known as the Potato Famine, and walk through the restored home of 19th century Irish immigrants, James and Sarah Feeley. You’ll hear about their treacherous journey across the Atlantic and how they developed a new way of life in this vibrant, thriving city. We hope to see you there!

Up into the Clockworks at the Bromo Seltzer Tower
2024-12-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Bromo Seltzer Tower, 21 S Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
Always one for flamboyance, Captain Isaac Emerson came back from a trip to Italy and decided he wanted to build a new factory in downtown Baltimore and that it should look like Florence’s fabulous town hall, the Palazzo Vecchio. Completed in 1911, the tower’s four clocks each measure 24 feet across, a foot more London’s Big Ben, and the tower itself was the tallest building in Baltimore at the time. Emerson, the man who became wealthy from his invention of Bromo Seltzer and gave us the slogan “if you keep late hours for society’s sake, Bromo Seltzer will cure that headache,” was quite proud.
Our tour through the building will include a trip up into the clockworks at the top to look at the tick-tock operation in process and peer out the translucent windows. We’ll also stop in at the museum room that holds the world’s largest collection ephemera from Captain Emerson, Bromo Seltzer, and Maryland Glass. And along the way, we’ll get a taste of the newest art that comes from the Tower’s artists: it is now home to dozens of local art studios. If you’ve wondered what goes on in the Bromo Seltzer Tower and how the imposing clocks actually work, now’s your chance!

The New Lexington Market & Exploring the Neighborhood Around It with Mr. Johns Hopkins
2024-12-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Lexington Market (Paca St Entrance), Paca Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
For over 200 years, Lexington Market’s wooden sheds and concrete stalls have been a gathering place for Baltimoreans. And the market is still evolving! In October 2022, the new Lexington Market opened in a brand new building. On this tour led by Baltimore Heritage’s Executive Director Johns Hopkins, we’ll first explore the area immediately surrounding the market to discover how Baltimore emerged as a leading industrial and economic city in the 19th century. Immigration, slavery, commerce and major changes in transportation were all part of the mix here in Baltimore and the country as a whole. We’ll see the original wagon curbstones with their vendor stall numbers and discuss underground tunnels. We’ll end at the new market to see its wonderful public art and, of course, its merchants (new and old). Please join us and make Lexington Market a part of your holidays. Be sure to bring your canvas bags to do some quintessential Baltimore shopping after the tour!

Postponed: The Lucille and Fred Clifton House
2025-01-08 17:00 - 18:30 | The Lucille and Fred Clifton House, 2605 Talbot Rd, Baltimore, 21216, United States
This event has been postponed due to inclement weather

Join Baltimore Heritage and The Clifton House team on Wednesday, January 8th at 5:00pm for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the historic home of acclaimed poet Lucille Clifton and community activist Fred Clifton. In 1968, the Cliftons moved into this charming house in Baltimore’s picturesque Windsor Hills neighborhood. This house was a hub of creativity, service, and activism, and it was Lucille Clifton’s home when she became Poet Laureate of Maryland in 1979.
In 2019, the Clifton family reclaimed the century-old home and lovingly restored it. Today, The Clifton House provides resources and creative development for historically marginalized people in Baltimore and beyond. With a special focus on Afrodiasporic, women, and gender-nonconforming LGBTQIA+ poets, writers, artists, and creative activists, The Clifton House continues to be a beacon of inspiration and empowerment.
We invite you to be part of this enriching experience and learn about the remarkable Clifton family and the legacy of this historic West Baltimore home.
Accessibility
Please note that due to its historic nature, The Clifton House is not currently ADA-accessible. However, we are committed to making the space as welcoming as possible. For any accommodation requests, please contact us at info@thecliftonhouse.co.
Parking
Parking at The Clifton House is limited. To ensure a smooth experience, we encourage attendees to use Uber, Lyft, or park on Clifton Road (parallel to Talbot Road). For those using public transit, the house is accessible via the 79 and 34 MTA bus routes.
If you have any questions or need additional assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to sharing this inspiring evening with you!

The Baltimore Basilica: A Behind-the-Scenes Tour
2025-01-19 12:30 - 13:30 | Baltimore Basilica, 409 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
Join us for a tour of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Baltimore Basilica. Built primarily between 1806 and 1821, the Baltimore Basilica was the first Cathedral built in the United States. Bishop John Carroll, America’s first Bishop and a cousin of Charles Carroll of Declaration of Independence signing fame, was lucky to connect with architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who volunteered his architectural services and was to later achieve the moniker “Father of American Architecture.” This internationally significant building that has played a central role in the history of Baltimore and the Catholic Church, and, incidentally, happens to have more than a few accolades of its own: Minor Basilica (designated 1937), National Historic Landmark (designated 1972), Baltimore City historic landmark (designated 1975), and a national shrine (designated 1993).
The Basilica is 100% ADA compliant. There are wheelchair ramps to gain entry from the street level into the church, and elevators inside, so that all areas of the church are accessible, however, the Basilica does not have wheelchairs available for use.
We hope to see you there!

Historic Green Mount Cemetery
2025-01-25 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-02-22 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-03-08 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-04-05 09:30 - 11:30 | Green Mount Cemetery, 1501 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21202, United States
Inherited from the great Baltimore historian Wayne Schaumburg, join Baltimore Heritage to tour Baltimore’s historic Green Mount Cemetery.
Opened in 1839, Green Mount is an early example of an urban-rural cemetery, that is, a cemetery with a park-like setting located close to the countryside. Green Mount is the final resting place of some of Maryland’s most famous, and infamous, figures including Johns Hopkins, Enoch Pratt, William and Henry Walters, Mary Elizabeth Garrett, Betsy Patterson, A.S. Abell, John H. B. Latrobe, John Wilkes Booth, and Elijah Bond, who patented the Ouija Board!
Accessibility: Although there are some paved pathways, we will be walking over mostly uneven grassy terrain and cobblestones.

The Lucille and Fred Clifton House
2025-03-12 17:00 - 18:30 | The Lucille and Fred Clifton House, 2605 Talbot Rd, Baltimore, 21216, United States
Join Baltimore Heritage and The Clifton House team on Wednesday, March 12th at 5:00pm for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the historic home of acclaimed poet Lucille Clifton and community activist Fred Clifton. In 1968, the Cliftons moved into this charming house in Baltimore’s picturesque Windsor Hills neighborhood. This house was a hub of creativity, service, and activism, and it was Lucille Clifton’s home when she became Poet Laureate of Maryland in 1979.
In 2019, the Clifton family reclaimed the century-old home and lovingly restored it. Today, The Clifton House provides resources and creative development for historically marginalized people in Baltimore and beyond. With a special focus on Afrodiasporic, women, and gender-nonconforming LGBTQIA+ poets, writers, artists, and creative activists, The Clifton House continues to be a beacon of inspiration and empowerment.
We invite you to be part of this enriching experience and learn about the remarkable Clifton family and the legacy of this historic West Baltimore home.
Accessibility
Please note that due to its historic nature, The Clifton House is not currently ADA-accessible. However, we are committed to making the space as welcoming as possible. For any accommodation requests, please contact us at info@thecliftonhouse.co.
Parking
Parking at The Clifton House is limited. To ensure a smooth experience, we encourage attendees to use Uber, Lyft, or park on Clifton Road (parallel to Talbot Road). For those using public transit, the house is accessible via the 79 and 34 MTA bus routes.
If you have any questions or need additional assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to sharing this inspiring evening with you!

Laurel Cemetery Voluntour: Trash Clean-up and History Tour
2025-03-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Laurel Cemetery, 2401 Belair Road, Maryland, 21213, United States
Join us to learn about one of Baltimore’s most important, and forgotten cemeteries, and help clean it up as you learn! Laurel Cemetery was incorporated in 1852 as Baltimore’s first nondenominational cemetery for African Americans. It quickly became a popular place of burial for people across Black Baltimore’s socioeconomic spectrum, including 230 Black Civil War veterans and notables such as Civil Rights activist Reverend Harvey Johnson. In 1958 and after a series of lawsuits failed to prevail in the courts, Laurel Cemetery was leveled. Today it is the site of the Belair-Edison Crossing Shopping Center, and home to several businesses. However, many current patrons and nearby residents are unaware of the site’s former purpose and significance. Join members of the Laurel Cemetery Memorial Project to see the site firsthand…and have a hand in improving it. This free event will include an hour-long trash clean-up followed by a history tour of the site. All supplies will be provided. Please meet at the grassy area at 2401 Belair Road.

Thank you to Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust for providing funds for this event.

The Baltimore Basilica: A Behind-the-Scenes Tour
2025-03-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Baltimore Basilica, 409 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
Join us for a tour of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Baltimore Basilica. Built primarily between 1806 and 1821, the Baltimore Basilica was the first Cathedral built in the United States. Bishop John Carroll, America’s first Bishop and a cousin of Charles Carroll of Declaration of Independence signing fame, was lucky to connect with architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who volunteered his architectural services and was to later achieve the moniker “Father of American Architecture.” This internationally significant building that has played a central role in the history of Baltimore and the Catholic Church, and, incidentally, happens to have more than a few accolades of its own: Minor Basilica (designated 1937), National Historic Landmark (designated 1972), Baltimore City historic landmark (designated 1975), and a national shrine (designated 1993).
We hope to see you there!

LGBTQ Heritage in Charles Village
2025-03-30 10:00 - 11:30 | Normal’s Books & Records, 425 East 31st Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218, United States
Join us on a LGBTQ Heritage walking tour of Charles Village! You may know this neighborhood for its colorful “painted ladies,” but it was also home to many activists and institutions at the heart of the city’s LGBTQ community in the 1970s and 1980s. Our wonderful guides will take us on a walk past local landmarks from the original home of the Gay Community Center of Baltimore, now the GLCCB, to the St. Paul Street church that supported the growth of the Metropolitan Community Church, Baltimore’s oldest LGBTQ religious organization, and the radical feminist writers and publishers that gave a voice to lesbian authors who might not otherwise have been read. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate the incredible community that called Charles Village its home.

Patterson Park
2025-04-06 09:30 - 10:30 | 28 S Patterson Park Ave, Baltimore, MD 21231, 28 S Patterson Park Ave, Baltimore, 21231, United States
Join us to walk through Patterson Park and through time starting back when it was officially created in 1827. During the War of 1812, the park saw action defending Baltimore. And during the Civil War, troops here made sure Maryland didn’t secede from the Union. The park has been used for strolling, fishing, hockey, swimming, festivals and even as a beef market. Over its 198-year history, it has grown from 6 acres to 137 acres, partially thanks to the famous Olmsted Firm. Discover the history of Patterson Park, which is in many ways the story of Baltimore itself, and see how it really is “the best backyard in Baltimore.”

Druid Ridge Cemetery by Bike
2025-04-12 10:30 - 12:30 | Druid Ridge Cemetery, 7900 Park Heights Avenue, Pikesville, MD, 21208, United States
Join Ralph Brown and Phil Briscoe on a bike tour of Druid Ridge Cemetery to see that, contrary to popular belief, not all famous Baltimoreans are buried at Green Mount Cemetery! Even 100 years ago, some people wanted to escape the bad city air and spend eternity in the bucolic hinterlands of the county. How could they have predicted that they would still end up within the confines of the Beltway? Did you ever wonder where the Cone sisters ended up, or John Goucher, or Virginia Hall, or Art Modell? Maybe you were afraid to visit Druid Ridge Cemetery because of the curse of Black Aggie. There will be a few slight ups and downs on the route but nothing too strenuous. Also—lots of trees and shade!

Fell's Point
2025-04-13 09:30 - 10:30 | Broadway Market, 637 S Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21231, United States
Join us to see how Fell’s Point developed in the 1730s to become one of Baltimore’s premier waterfront communities. Great wealth through trade was created here for the likes of Johns Hopkins, George Peabody, and William Walters. These shores were the first place over a million immigrants started their American dream, yet also where enslaved people either arrived in bondage or were shipped south in chains. As we walk, we’ll point out historic homes and industrial heritage, like the country’s first Black-owned shipyard, and share some of the rich stories that this 300-year-old waterfront neighborhood has to offer.
