Just announced additions include exclusive peeks at the mid-Atlantic’s largest permanent model train exhibit and special tours of Brown Memorial Church’s stunning Tiffany glass interior.
Organizers of the second annual Doors Open Baltimore event have launched a new website for the upcoming “Undiscovered Baltimore” architectural walking tour, which will be held October 24 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at locations around the city. Complete details about each building on the tour and special presentations can be found at http://doorsopenbaltimore.org/. To date, there are more than 50 unique structures opening their doors to the public in this free event, offering visitors glimpses of local architectural gems including:
- Views of the Tiffany glass displays in Brown Memorial Church in Bolton Hill
- An exclusive preview of the Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum set to open later this fall; the first privately owned museum in Baltimore named in honor of an African-American woman
- A peek inside the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers’ meeting house, featuring the mid-Atlantic’s largest collection of model trains
- A walking tour around Baltimore’s fourth tallest skyscraper with its architect and lead designer, who promises to reveal “hidden in plain sight” secrets about its design
- A visit to the 1781 Quaker Meeting House, Baltimore’s oldest surviving house of worship.
Additional buildings and special tours continue to be added; visit the website or the Doors Open Baltimore Facebook page for the latest information.
Doors Open Baltimore is a one-day, free and family-friendly event being held in conjunction with Baltimore Architecture Month, and offers participants the opportunity to walk through and learn about dozens of historic and modern structures around Baltimore City, from Locust Point to Mount Washington. “Doors Open” events take place in cities around the world to promote heritage and enhance public appreciation of architecture and its place in history.
Last year, more than 600 people attended the inaugural Doors Open Baltimore and enjoyed a fun-filled and educational experience. With even more buildings and tours planned for this year, plus the addition of Community Partners, event organizers say this year’s event is expected to attract upwards of 1,000 visitors. For example, The Walters Art Museum’s Doors Open Baltimore Facebook event page already boasts more than 800 attendees.
Community Partners include: Station North Arts & Entertainment District; Charles Street Development Corporation; Mt. Royal Improvement Association; Southwest Community Council, Inc.; Lakeland Coalition; Westport Neighborhood Association; Jonestown Planning Council, Inc.; Upper Fells Point Improvement Association; Patterson Park Neighborhood Association; Greater Greektown Neighborhood Alliance; Baltimore Heritage, Inc.; Waverly Main Street; Hampden Community Council and The Greater Hampden Heritage Alliance.
Visitors at this year’s event are encouraged to share their experience and photographs with the hashtag #DOBalt2015.
About Doors Open Baltimore
Doors Open is organized by AIABaltimore and the Baltimore Architecture foundation with the generous sponsorship of Free Fall Baltimore, and partially funded by grants from the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, Preservation Maryland and BNHA 2015 Heritage Investment Grant Fund.
Doors Open Baltimore is a one-day, free and family-friendly event and is hosted by The Baltimore Architecture Foundation and American Institute of Architects Baltimore (AIA Baltimore). It is being held in conjunction with Baltimore Architecture Month. Doors Open Baltimore offers participants the opportunity to walk through and learn about dozens of historic and modern structures around Baltimore City, from Locust Point to Mount Washington.
“Doors Open” events take place in cities around the world to promote heritage and enhance public appreciation of architecture and its place in history. Last year, more than 600 people attended the inaugural Doors Open Baltimore and enjoyed a fun-filled and educational experience. This year event organizers hope to attract more than 1,000 visitors.
The theme of this year’s tour is “Undiscovered Baltimore” and showcases little-known buildings around the city along with heretofore hidden features and spaces within some well-known landmarks not regularly open to the public. In addition to opening their doors, many sites will offer special programs for visitors, such as trained guides who will share insights and point out special features of the exteriors and interiors of the buildings. Construction on some of the sites dates back as far as the 1800’s.
The information hub for Undiscovered Baltimore is in the Baltimore Museum of Industry (1415 Key Highway.) Visitors will receive a voucher for free entry to the museum. For a list of participating locations, special events and general information about Doors Open, go to http://doorsopenbaltimore.org/. The website also includes details about what visitors can expect to see and do at each site. Additional historical background for select sites will be provided by Baltimore Heritage on the Explore Baltimore Heritage website (http://explore.baltimoreheritage.org/) allowing people to learn more about various location on their smartphone as they participate in the event. Participants are encouraged to share their experience and photographs with the hashtag #DOBalt2015.
Doors Open Baltimore is sponsored by Marks, Thomas Architects, Smithouse Construction, LLC, Brennan + Company Architects, Gutierrez Studios, Saul Ewing LLP, Azola Building Rehab, Inc. and Ammon Heisler Sachs Architects, PC. In-kind sponsors are: Younts Design, Inc., Full Circle, Ltd., Mecho, Jigsaw Marketing, Maryland Reprographics, Inc. and the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, call 410.625.2585.
About Free Fall Baltimore
Free Fall Baltimore is made possible by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and the generous contributions of BGE, The Abell Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, American Trading & Production Corporation (Atapco), The Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation, and the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Charitable Funds.
