The Baltimore Museum of Industry will take you back in time to the early industrial roots of the city.
If you’re looking for a fun, educational experience near the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, look no further than the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Located off the Key Highway near Federal Hill, this museum is a living catalog of the City of Baltimore during the midst of the Industrial Revolution. The museum showcases several early American industries including steel, textiles, canning, and printing.
The museum’s location is a big part of its allure, right on the water in an old oyster cannery. Once inside, you’ll be transported back to the early days when the city was a bustling, industrial business hub. Each section of the museum is decorated with period nostalgia and a healthy dose of neon. Learn how seamstresses made essential items like clothing, how workers made it through a day's work in a cannery, and the operation of early large scale printing presses. In addition to the larger exhibits, the walls are filled with smaller representations of the products, companies, and people that made industrial Baltimore.
The "Baltimore" Steam Tugboat, courtesy of Christa Emmer
Visitors can wander through the museum on their own, with a tour guide, or via a pre-recorded tour. Guided tours are available on the weekends and select weekdays during the summer. Tours are included with admission and offer a more comprehensive look at the exhibits along with demonstrations in the machine or print shop.
The Baltimore Museum of Industry is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $7 for students and kids 7 to 18. Kids under 6 are free, and the museum is part of the Museums for All program.
Parking is free, and don’t forget to check out the crane and steam tugboat, the “Baltimore,” located outside the museum. The parking lot also has great views of the harbor and the Domino Sugar sign.
What do you think? Have you been to the Baltimore Museum of Industry before? Tell us in the comments!
