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Mansions & Railroads

DAY ONE

To see Baltimore's historic treasures, take a stroll through the Mount Vernon Cultural District. Once the most fashionable residential district in Baltimore, the neighborhood includes beautiful parks and fountains, elegant townhomes, public sculptures, and monuments, including Baltimore's own Washington Monument. The 178 foot obelisk was the first American civic monument erected to honor our nation's first President. For a spectacular view, climb the 228 steps to the top. The panorama is so impressive it was used in the movie "A Room with a View."

While in Mount Vernon, be sure to visit the Maryland Historical Society where you can tour the 19th-century Enoch Pratt Mansion, home to the Baltimore philanthropist who established the country's first public library system. Also enjoy collections of furniture, silver and paintings that belonged to Maryland's leading families.

DAY TWO

Continue your tour of Baltimore's mansions further up Charles Street at the federal mansion and national historic landmark, Homewood House. Once the home of Charles Carroll, Jr., this elegant 19th-century residence is now a museum on the Johns Hopkins UniversityItalian Mansion built in the 1850s by the Garrett family, founders of the B & O Railroad. On your house tour, view Evergreen's 48 elegant rooms filled with rare and exceptional decorative arts, antiquarian books, Tiffany glass and theater art by stage designer Leon Baskt. The Carriage House is a historic 1870s wood-paneled structure adjacent to Evergreen House. Complemented by formal terraced gardens, the Carriage House is available to serve high tea to large groups. campus and a superb example of the architecture and decorative arts of its time. Just a few blocks away is the Evergreen House, a gorgeous

Wind up your day at another historic landmark and Georgian style home, the Mount Clare Museum House near downtown. Built in 1760, this mansion contains a collection of approximately one thousand rare 18th- and 19th-century antiques.