Historical Explorations, Baltimore

Like much of the NorthEast part of the US, there are sporadic abandoned textile mills in Baltimore. Most have been redeveloped for other purposes.

If you follow the Jones Falls north from the city, you'll see several. This one is just south of the Hampden neighborhood.

The Evergreen House is a masion built in the mid-1800s by the owner of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.

Successive generations have left their mark on the house, and what a mark it is. There is a fabulous collection of Asian art and Tiffany lamps, along with art by Degas, Bonnard, and Vuillard. The house itself, is lovely, and except for a bathroom with a gold toilet, rather restrained in the showing-off-the-wealth department.

The grounds are lovely as well.

This city has a number of markets that operate Monday through Saturday that shouldn't be missed. Lexington Market is the most famous, and is the oldest market in the U.S. continually operating in one location. Don't miss the stand for Berger's cookies--a cake cookie piled with mounds of chocolate fudge topping, or Parks fried chicken. Those visiting Baltimore may want to visit Faidely's for the raw bar and crab cakes, but there are other places the locals go.

Cross Street Market, in Federal Hill, is smaller with a different demographic, but has a great, large raw bar, that's often packed on Saturdays.

You could also check out the Broadway Market in Fells Point. Theresa's is a great place for breakfast.

Another one of Baltimore's many monuments is the Monument to William Wallce the great Scottish hero. It is located in Druid Hill Park near the Baltimore Zoo. I think Mel Gibson would approve.

The plaque on the monument reads William Wallace Guardian of Scotland. Presented to the city of Baltimore by William Wallace Spence November 30, 1893. Rededicated August 29, 1993 by the St. Andrews Society of Baltimore.

One of Baltimore's more unusual landmarks. The Bromo Seltzer Tower has a large clock on the top with the Bromo Seltzer name on it. The light at the top of the tower shines a bright blue in the evening just like the color of a Bromo Seltzer bottle.

This is my personal favorite museum in town. Founded in 1977, you can go back to the Industrial age in Baltimore, and see things were done 100 years ago. There is a replica of a canning operations: tomatoes in summer, oysters in winter.

You can also see a prototype of a World War II flying boat bomber made at the Martin Marietta plant in nearby Middle River., and the only surviving Steam Tugboat in the east.

Located at the President Street Station; the location of the first bloodshed of the American Civil War in 1861.