August 30, 1998
A lovingly maintained home and grounds left to Johns Hopkins University by the Garretts, one of Baltimore's leading industrial and merchant families. Rivals the old-money "cottages" of Newport, R.I. The architecture and furnishings (including post-Impressionist paintings and a 35,000-volume rare-book collection) reflect the taste of its owners. Founded: 1952. Staff: full time; 9 part time; 60 volunteers. Attendance: 10,500 paid; 22,800 total. Annual operating budget: $600,000. 4545 N. Charles St.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
****
Survival of the fort's flag in "the dawn's early light" of Sept. 14, 1814, after a British naval bombardment, inspired the florid Francis Scott Key poem that became the lyrics to our national anthem. Star-Spangled Banner history is the chief draw, but rest of the fort is also intriguing. Opened: Made national park in 1925; fort was built in the early 1800s. Staff: 21 full time, 16 part time, 60 volunteers. Attendance: 661,861. Annual operating budget: $1.49 million. End of East Fort Avenue.
Great Blacks in Wax Museum
****
More than 100 lifelike and life-size wax figures representing the African-American experience from ancient Africa through the civil rights period up to today. A slave ship with its realistic sounds will haunt you. Informative and evocative. Founded: 1983. Staff: 11 full time; 9 part time, 20 volunteers. Attendance: 175,000 paid; 180,000 total. Annual operating budget: $671,850. 1601 E. North Ave.
Green Mount Cemetery
****
Fashionable Victorian resting place of many distinguished citizens, including Civil War generals (many Confederates); philanthropists Enoch Pratt, Johns Hopkins and William and Henry Walters; and spymaster Allen W. Dulles. Assassin John Wilkes Booth is also here. Beautiful, spooky; maps provided. Founded: 1838. Staff: 15 full time. (Attendance and budget figures not available.) Greenmount Avenue at Oliver Street.
Homewood House
****
Restored Federal period plantation includes many original decorative arts and furnishings. Was the home of Charles Carroll Jr., son of the signer of the Declaration of Independence. The genteel life of the Carroll family is interpreted by welcoming docents. Founded: 1987. Staff: 2 full time; 8 part time; 55 volunteers. Attendance: 7,172 paid; 8,000 total. Annual operating budget: $225,000. Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St.
Jewish Museum of Maryland
*** 1/2
Two 19th-century historic synagogues, both on the National Register, and an exhibit of Jewish history, culture and art concentrating on Baltimore and Maryland. Exhibits vary; many poignant artifacts. Synagogues are definitely worth a look. Great delis nearby. Founded: 1960. Staff: 7 full time; 4 part time; 45 volunteers. Attendance: 6,800 paid; 16,100 total. Annual operating budget: $660,000. 15 Lloyd St.
Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame Museum
***
Where else but in Baltimore? Lacrosse documents, lacrosse sticks, protective gear, player and coach scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, game programs and photographs. Museum also pays homage to the sport's Native American heritage. Opened: 1991. Staff: 16 full-time; 6 volunteers. 1996 attendance: 1,600 paid; 4,000 total. Annual operating budget: $120,000. 113 W. University Parkway
Lovely Lane Museum
*** 1/2
This church-museum is the site of the seat of the American Methodist religion, but is most impressive for its 1887 national landmark building designed by architect Stanford White, now in dire need of restoration. The small museum/archives itself houses paintings, artifacts and manuscripts. Founded: 1955. Staff: 2 part time; various volunteers. Attendance: 4,000. Annual operating budget: $50,000. 2200 St. Paul St.
Maryland Historical Society
**** 1/2
State's main repository of material culture and intellectual heritage. Huge collection of paintings, prints, photographs, textiles, silver, ceramics and other objects, including the original "Star-Spangled Banner" manuscript and the Eubie Blake archives. Founded: 1844. Staff: 45 full time; 19 part time; 125 volunteers. Attendance: 103,000. Annual operating budget: $3 million. 201 W. Monument St.
Maryland Ornithological Society's Bird and Nature Museum
**
The top floors of the mansion at Cylburn Arboretum are stuffed with stuffed birds, woodland and wetland panoramas, collections of skulls, seashells, insects, bird eggs, nests and fossils. A bit of a mess, but mostly meant for kids' groups. Founded: 1961. Staff: several volunteers. Attendance: 1,000. (Funded by Baltimore Bird Club.) 4915 Greenspring Ave.
Maryland Science Center
****
A mostly kid-and family-oriented interactive fun house of science; education sneaks in while everybody thinks they're simply having fun. Almost everything is hands-on. There's also an IMAX theater and planetarium show. Opened: 1976. Staff: 100 full time; 102 volunteers. Attendance: 415,000 paid; 514,000 total. Annual operating budget: $9.7 million. 601 Light St., Inner Harbor
Mother Seton House
***
