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Mount Vernon

Just north of downtown rests the city's cultural heart, Mount Vernon, once home to Baltimore's Gilded Age elite.

While Washington, D.C., is home to a more famous landmark, the nation's first monument to George Washington (currently closed for renovations) sits proudly at the center of Mount Vernon Square. What were once the grand mansions of Baltimore's 19th- century industrialists are now museums, galleries, shops and restaurants, beckoning visitors to the neighborhood's many fine museums and arts institutions to linger a bit longer. 

Take in the masterpieces of Raphael, El Greco and Bernini as well as an overwhelming array of Greek and Roman antiquities at the Walters Art Museum.

In sharp contrast, the Contemporary Museum exhibits avant garde works of modern and installation art.Stroll across the street to the spiraling heights and ornamental ironwork of the Peabody Library’s Grand Cathedral of Books, a five-story marvel.

Also nestled in Mount Vernon is America’s first Catholic Cathedral, recently and meticulously restored beyond its original glory. The Maryland Historical Society displays the original copy of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Stroll the neighborhood and let the impressive architecture and manicured public gardens transport you to a bygone era.