Join us for an upcoming heritage tour! We ride bikes, climb scaffolding, and walk up and down hilly streets on our tours of Baltimore’s historic buildings and neighborhoods all across the city. Have a question? Look through our FAQ page. Check out our calendar of events below!

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Out of the Ashes: The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904

The Replica Gaslight 300 E Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, United States

In February 1904, Baltimore’s chief firefighter cabled Washington DC: “Desperate fire here. Must have help at once!” A tremendous fire was sweeping through downtown and showed little signs of stopping. Not until 5:00 p.m. the next day was the fire brought under control. Overall, it destroyed 1500 buildings, left 35,000 people unemployed, and damaged $150 million of property. Resilient Baltimore rebounded quickly, erecting new buildings, widening streets, and improving fire safety designs. Rising out of the ashes, Baltimore used the fire to rethink the city, and the downtown we know today is shaped largely by this incident. Join us on this walking tour as we see what 2500 degrees Fahrenheit heat can do to blocks of solid stone, learn how the fire shaped architecture locally and across the country, and hear the tale of one of the fire’s great heroes: Goliath the horse. 

$10

Event Canceled: Remembering Laurel Cemetery (Lecture & Exhibition Reception)

The Center for Architecture & Design 100 North Charles Street, Suite P-101, Baltimore, MD, United States

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 have no knowledge of the site’s former purpose and significance. Join members of the Laurel Cemetery Memorial Project to learn more about the important history of the site and how we can preserve its memory.

By Donation

Coming to America: Baltimore’s Immigration History (Virtual Talk)

Virtual MD, United States

Did you know that Baltimore served as America’s third largest port of entry during the Great Wave of Immigration of 1830 to 1914. In 1868, the B&O Railroad partnered with the North German Lloyd Company of Bremen, Germany, to build and operate a pier for immigrant ships in Locust Point, where 1.2 million immigrants first set foot on American soil. They included people from all over Europe, including Germans, Irish, Lithuanians, Czechs, Poles and Italians, who established their neighborhoods, as well as churches, synagogues, schools, cultural and philanthropic institutions, which eased the transition from their old country to life in America, and added to the rich diversity of our city. Join Nicholas Fessenden from Baltimore Immigration Museum to learn more about our immigrant past and today’s efforts to document and celebrate our diverse roots.

By Donation

Historic Clifton Mansion

Clifton Mansion 2701 Saint Lo Drive, Baltimore, MD, 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 so much 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!

$10