Welcome To Baltimore! Table of Contents NTS Baltimore is a city where legends are made and legacies are born. During the 1930s and 1940s, jazz legends like Pearl Bailey, Count Basie and Duke Annual A Brief Visual & Heritage Around MARKS 18 22 Ellington performed at the legendary Royal Theatre on Baltimore’s Penn- Cultural History 12Performing Tours and Maryland Events & Arts sylvania Avenue. Billie Holiday became the incomparable “Lady Day” EVE Tour SOURCES right here in Charm City. Baltimore-born composer and pianist Eubie Festivals 6Historic Operators Blake is honored, along with many of his colleagues, at the Eubie Blake Landmarks Cultural Index Cultural Center on North Howard Street. All of these stories have helped Heritage RE 4 7 LAND Baltimore shape Baltimore’s, and our nation’s, history. Attractions 21Visitor Religious 13 26 Venues Center Baltimore is also the proud home of the NAACP headquarters, and the birthplace of Thurgood Marshall, one of our early pioneers in the move- 9 & CULTURE ARTS Colleges & ment for civil rights. You’ll also find The National Great Blacks In Wax Family Museum, the country’s first wax museum of African American history; Universities 21 Reunions the Baltimore Civil War Museum, which was once a stop on the Under- AROUND MARYLAND ground Railroad; and opening early 2005, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum 11 of Maryland African American History and Culture. This $33 million facility will be the East Coast’s largest museum chronicling the history of African Americans and will house artifacts and exhibits covering more than 350 years of Maryland African American history and culture. African American Heritage Also, opening in 2005 is the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park. & Attractions Guide The park honors Frederick Douglass, considered one of the most prominent A publication of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association African American leaders of the 19th century, and Isaac Myers, the first The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA), a membership- black owner of a marine railway shipyard in the United States. based organization, is the official destination development and marketing leader for Greater Baltimore, responsible for generating incremental economic benefits to the community through the attraction of convention and leisure visits. We hope you will discover some of these stories while you are here, and come back to Baltimore again to create a legacy of your own. Sincerely, Executive and Sales Office Baltimore Visitor Center 100 Light Street, 12th Floor 401 Light Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Baltimore, Maryland 21202 Martin O’Malley Leslie R. Doggett 410-659-7300 or 800-343-3468 1-877-BALTIMORE Fax: 410-727-2308 Mayor President & CEO www.baltimore.org City of Baltimore Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association Copyright 2004. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Please contact the destination to confirm detailed information. Events Annual Cultural month. from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The parade and festival is a way to recognize Music Crab Feast Series and honor the African American men, Events & Festivals February – November Locations vary. fathers and veterans who live and work in Every month, there is something new to Frederick Douglass “Path 410-484-5600 or 1-866-703-CRAB the community. The event features discover in Baltimore. For specific dates to Freedom” Walking Tour www.crabfeast.com wonderful music, arts and the traditional and more information about these and Historic Fell’s Point Baltimore is “The Home of the Music Crab 410-783-5469 Cadillac Parade. other events, visit individual website Feast Series.” Throughout the summer, this listings, visit www.baltimore.org or call Frederick Douglass resided as a slave in exceptional CRAB FEAST experience offers July 1-877-BALTIMORE. Baltimore’s Fell’s Point between March a vast array of good food, comedy, poetry, Artscape 1826 and September 1838. Historic markers and musical genres of gospel, neo-soul, jazz, Mount Royal Cultural Corridor January and sites on the tour include several 18th- Caribbean, Latin, R&B, and hip-hop. Please www.artscape.org Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. century buildings associated with Douglass. call for complete schedule. The region’s celebration of the arts features Birthday Celebration Parade Stops and short discussions are held at loca- incredible headline entertainment; a first- Downtown tions where Douglass lived, worked, June class schedule of dance, theater, opera, street Baltimore celebrates the birth of one of worshipped and learned to read, and where African American Heritage Festival performers and family fun; an amazing array America’s greatest leaders with this annual he built five historic townhouses that still Oriole Park at Camden Yards; www.aahf.org of visual arts from more than 200 artisans, parade, featuring high school marching stand today. Reservations are required. The African American Heritage Festival is an craftspeople and cultural exhibitors; and a bands, community bands, floats, equestrian April annual family celebration delightful menu of culinary arts. units, choirs and specialty units. of the history, culture, Mayor’s Billie Holiday Special Exhibit in Honor of education, heritage and Baltimore Carnival Vocal Competition Druid Hill Park Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. CenterStage arts that embraces and The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum www.centerstage.org promotes the rich tradi- A traditional island-costumed parade; soca, www.greatblacksinwax.org Created to cultivate and encourage new tions and zestful spirit of reggae, and steel drum bands; live interna- The National Great Blacks In Wax vocal talent in Baltimore, this competition is the city of Baltimore. tional entertainment; elaborate costumes; Museum honors and memorializes one of hosted by the Mayor’s office every spring. Participate in a diverse and Caribbean cuisine. the country’s leading civil rights advocates offering of arts and with this special exhibit. May – September entertainment including September February Civil War Walking Tour national and local talent; educational and Baltimore Book Festival Tours depart from the Baltimore Civil War historical exhibits; interactive children’s area; Historic Mount Vernon Black Heritage Art Show Museum in Harbor East; www.mdhs.org www.bop.org Baltimore Convention Center An interpreter of the 1861 Pratt Street Riot and crafts from more than 100 vendors, community organizations and merchants. The mid-Atlantic’s premier celebration of This annual art show features original leads a tour of downtown Baltimore from the literary arts features nationally known works by African American artists from President Street Station to Camden Station. authors, poetry readings, cookbook and across the nation. Poetry readings, semi- Juneteenth Festival Showcase of Nations Festival location varies. Please call home and garden demonstrations, live nars, workshops and entertainment Ethnic Festivals 410-467-2724 for more information. music, and more than 125 exhibitors and complement the visual arts experience. Multiple locations book sellers. www.bop.org This annual festival commemorates the end Black History Month Baltimore celebrates its proud heritage of slavery and features activities for the Multiple locations November almost every weekend of the summer with entire family; a cooking contest; celebrity Baltimore’s attractions celebrate Black Oldies But Goodies Dance festivals featuring native music, food, crafts, basketball; historical lectures; arts and crafts; History Month with lectures, special The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum dance and entertainment. an exhibition of collectibles; storytelling; and www.greatblacksinwax.org events, children’s programs, commem- soul, gospel and blues music. This annual festive event at The National orations and celebrations. Jazzy Summer Nights Great Blacks In Wax Museum will have you War Memorial Plaza Cadillac Parade and Royal Theatre African American www.visionarymarketinggroup.com dancing all night long! Relax and listen to the area’s most popular Reunion Parade & Festival Renaissance Grand Tour Pennsylvania Avenue Baltimore City jazz bands during this free outdoor concert 410- 669-5397 December 410-727-0755 or 410-728-3837 series at War Memorial Plaza. West Baltimore's historic Pennsyl- Kwanzaa Celebration Costumed re-enactors perform at vania Avenue corridor hosts a The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum various historical African American Thurgood Marshall-Billie Holiday www.greatblacksinwax.org reunion of the people and moments sites throughout Baltimore City Walking Heritage Tour Celebration of the harvesting of the fruits Tours depart from the Shake ‘N Bake Family that made the Royal Theatre allowing participants to experience with libation, dancing, singing, and the Fun Center at 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. famous. Showcasing the new Baltimore’s rich African American 410-669-2975 representation of the seven principles – monument and a developing history at its best. The Grand Tour is Travel with a guide on Pennsylvania unity, self-determination, collective work "Walk of Fame," this beloved available for groups and individuals and Avenue and hear stories of twelve histori- and responsibility, cooperative economics, event dates back to the 1950s. will be held the last Friday of the