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The Stars and Stripes Tour

Baltimore offers a wealth of history and traditions. From its roots as a port city to the thriving metropolis of today, the city offers a snapshot of our country's history and a glimpse into the future. Nowhere is this more evident than at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. In 1729, this area was established as a waterfront port and has long been the scene of bustling trade and booming business. It still hustles and bustles today, but now as one of the state's top tourist attractions.

Just a short distance from the Inner Harbor, you can visit the Baltimore Civil War Museum. Built in 1851 as the terminus of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore railroad, this museum sits near the site of the Pratt Street Riots, where the first bloodshed of the Civil War took place.

The National Historic Seaport of Baltimore offers visitors a chance to learn more about historic ships such as the U.S.S. Torsk, which sank the last warship in World War II; the Chesapeake, a floating navigational lighthouse; and the Coast Guard Cutter the U.S.S. Taney. Farther down the harbor promenade is the only Civil War-era vessel still afloat, the USS Constellation. Built in 1854, the USS Constellation is the last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy.

Travel further along Baltimore's harbor and you will come to the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. This star-shaped fort is best known for its role in the War of 1812. Its successful defense against the British bombardment inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner, which later became our National Anthem. After visiting the fort, take a trip to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, the home of Mary Pickersgill, who hand-sewed the flag that flew over Fort McHenry that historic night in 1814. Built in 1793, the house features federal period furniture and original possessions.

Before ending your day in Baltimore, enjoy a wondrous visit to the Maryland ScienceCenter. Explore the vastness of the universe beneath the fifty-foot dome of the Davis Planetarium, while hundreds of images and special effects mix with over 8,500 stars. Learn astronomy first-hand at the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory, dedicated to public outreach and education. The Imax Theater lets you sit back and become a part of the action. The largest movie screen in Maryland has a five-story screen and a 38 speaker, state-of-the-art digital sound system. A stop at the Hubble Space Telescope exhibit will change your perspective of space. This exhibit features over 20 hands-on activities, 12 narrated "video-labels," two full motion, large screen videos, the worlds first three-dimensional models of the stellar nebula, and over 120 high resolution images from this incredible telescope.