Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry is a star-shaped artillery fort that was built to protect Baltimore's harbor, and figured prominently in the War of 1812. On September 13th and 14th, the Royal Navy bombarded the fort. The attack inspired Francis Scott Key to pen "The Star-Spangled Banner," which later became the National Anthem. That tie to a song that every school child in America knows makes this a natural educational destination, and with a little forethought and planning, you can time a visit to coincide with one of the fort's living history events. The fort offers daily tours, and there is a Junior Ranger activity sheet of questions for kids to take around the fort with them.
Fort McHenry
2400 East Fort Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-5393
(410) 962-4290
nps.gov/fomc
National Aquarium
The National Aquarium is widely considered one of the best in America, and it is located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor district. Among the popular exhibits there are the aquarium's dolphin program and its huge shark tank. Visitors, however, should beware of the aquarium's steep price tag: in 2009, aquarium admission and the dolphin show was $17.95 for children and $27.95 for adults. This earned the National Aquarium the title of "Best Over-Priced Destination for Families" in 2006.
National Aquarium
501 E Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 576-3800
aqua.org
Port Discovery
The Baltimore Children's Museum (also known as Port Discovery) has been voted among the top five such institutions in the country. The museum is packed with educational, interactive exhibits. Among the permanent activities in the museum are the Royal Farms Convenience Store, which is an interactive exercise in healthy food; the whodunit fun of the Miss Perception Mystery House; the Sensation Station of sensory exercises; and the 1920s-style archaeological Egyptian Adventure Expedition.
Port Discovery
35 Market Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 727-8120
portdiscovery.org
Inner Harbor Ships
A good activity for boys is to visit the Inner Harbor's display of ships and submarines, the Baltimore Maritime Museum. The exhibits consist of a genuine Coast Guard cutter, a World War II era submarine, a lightship (ship-mounted lighthouse) and a mobile, screw-pile type lighthouse. Situated next to the Maritime Museum is a totally separate exhibit, the USS Constellation. This tall sailing ship was built in 1854, and was the last warship commissioned into the U.S. Navy powered by sails alone. It stands as an excellent educational opportunity about the age of sail, and the ship museum has regular demonstrations of sailing craft aboard ship.
Baltimore Maritime Museum
301 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
baltomaritimemuseum.org
USS Constellation
301 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 539-1797
constellation.org
