Baltimore / Annapolis, Maryland (Multi-Day Tour)
This tour can be combined with Civil War Heritage, Gettysburg
and Washington, DC travel package

Baltimore and Annapolis are roughly 30 miles apart in Maryland, but when it comes to activities and historical relevance, they are quite different.   Both cities have rich histories.  In fact, Annapolis is such a significant historical destination that it is often referred to as a museum without walls.  However, students will find a world of difference in the day-to-day activities and opportunities, depending on interests and curriculum requirements.

Take Baltimore for instance.  With a current population of about half a million, the city of Baltimore has certainly seen a good share of famous people living there in the past, from Babe Ruth to Charles Carroll to Edgar Allen Poe.  Students will also find much to enjoy and experience in Annapolis.  The city was incorporated in the 1600s and has been an important landmark ever since.  Architecturally, Annapolis boasts some of the finest 17th and 18th century buildings in the country – including the residences of all four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence.  Clearly, students will enjoy either of these two historical cities.

BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD MUSEUM

In the late 19th century, an overzealous publicity agent developed a trade show exhibit for a major American railroad headquartered in Baltimore.  This exhibit survived the railroad that sponsored it and grew to become a ‘national treasure’ of railroad artifacts.  Today the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum is hosting record numbers of students to its internationally renowned campus and collections.  Through these collections and its historic buildings, it is the mission of this institution to reveal the drama of American railroading, its people, culture and legacy to a wide and diverse audience.  The Museum’s 40-acre historic site, its unrivalled collections and magnificent buildings combined with innovative education and public programming have earned it the title ‘America’s Railroad Museum.’

BALTIMORE MARITIME MUSEUM

The Baltimore Maritime Museum is a part of Living Classrooms Foundation and a proud partner of the National Historic Seaport of Baltimore.  The mission of the National Historic Seaport is to unify the maritime history treasures of Baltimore Harbor for the purposes of historic preservation, economic development and heritage tourism and to create living classrooms for experiential education, job training and workforce development.  Students can enjoy guided tours of four National Historic Landmarks and associated artifacts.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY

From food canning to broadcasting, students can interact with the technologies which forged the Industrial Revolution and brought us to the 21st century.  Step into vividly recreated workshops on machining, printing, garment-making and metalworking.  Walk through an 1886 bank building.  Step into the 1910 Bunting Pharmacy where Noxzema was invented.  Learn about the country's first gas company, plus Baltimore's contributions to the glass making industry.  Walk along the Maryland Milestone Wall and experience local innovations which touched the world from the world's first disposable bottle cap to America's first umbrella company, from the invention of the world's first typesetting machine to the invention of modern radar, and more.  Overall, the hands-on programs and outreach initiatives, interactive tours and exhibits offer students a broad range of opportunities designed to enhance classroom learning goals and core knowledge, present multiple interactive learning experiences and inspire future leaders of tomorrow in Math, Technology and the Social Sciences.  Visit the Baltimore Museum of Industry where an exciting selection of educational activities are grade specific and content oriented toward selected learning outcomes.

BALTIMORE PUBLIC WORKS MUSEUM

Explore the fascinating technology behind tunnels, roads, bridges, clean water, wastewater and recycling.  Learn how the Department of Public Works services shape a modern city and its environment.  Housed in a stately pumping station (circa 1911), the Baltimore Public Works Museum takes students behind the scenes to examine a city's infrastructure upon which urban life depends.  Enjoy exhibits, video presentations, interactive computers and Streetscape – an outdoor maze of drains, conduits and pipes for kids of all ages to explore – all just steps away from the center of the world famous Inner Harbor.

CHARLES CARROLL HOUSE

Celebrating three generations and an urban cultural landscape that spans over 300 years, the Carroll House offers students insight into Colonial America.  Located in Annapolis, this National Historic Landmark bears great historical significance to the state of Maryland and America as the home of Charles Carroll the Settler, first Attorney General of Maryland who settled here in 1706, his son, Charles Carroll of Annapolis and his grandson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832).  Faced with both persecution and restrictions for his faith, Charles Carroll of Carrollton secured his family¹s vision of personal, political and religious freedom for all citizens when he became the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  Students will enjoy a private tour through this historic home.

FORT MCHENRY NATIONAL MONUMENT

‘O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,’ a large red, white and blue banner?  ‘Whose broad stripes and bright stars…were so gallantly streaming!’ over the star-shaped Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, September 13-14, 1814.  The valiant defense of the fort by 1,000 dedicated Americans inspired Francis Scott Key to write ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’  Students can view a 16-minute introductory film, ‘The Defense of Fort McHenry,’ experience an artillery program or have a guided tour of the fort.

HARBORPLACE & THE GALLERY

Harborplace & the Gallery is Baltimore’s premiere shopping, dining and entertainment destination.  It’s a shopper’s delight to browse through their one-of-a-kind shops or enjoy great buys from national retailers.  This great variety of stores is all located within two waterfront pavilions and a beautiful four-story glass atrium in Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbor.  Satisfy any hunger craving at 30 different eateries or one of 13 restaurants including the Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen and Phillips Seafood Restaurant.

MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER, PLANETARIUM & IMAX THEATRE

The Maryland Academy of Sciences is Maryland's oldest scientific institution.  A major expansion and renovation of the entire facility was completed in 2006.  New exhibitions were added on all levels as well as the addition of a permanent hall showcasing dinosaurs and earth sciences.  Today, as in the past, the Maryland Science Center continues to focus on remaining a vital community resource and economic development engine now and in the future.  Throughout the school year the Science Center welcomes educators and their classes to its Inner Harbor location with a variety of options for in-depth exploration and enrichment experiences.

NATIONAL AQUARIUM

A field trip to the National Aquarium is a student’s passport to discovery as they will encounter an incredible variety of exotic inhabitants of our planet’s coral reefs, open oceans, rain forests, the Chesapeake Bay and other habitats.  Your passport to discovery begins even before you enter the Aquarium.  The Weinberg Waterfront Park on the outside plaza recreates the coastal, Piedmont and Allegheny Mountain regions of Maryland.  A granite outline of the Chesapeake Bay watershed further illustrates the diversity of Maryland’s ecology and its individual roles in the health of the region, the Chesapeake Bay, and ultimately, the Earth's oceans.  Entering through the Aquarium’s new 65,000 square foot expansion, students will immediately encounter a 35 foot waterfall. The waterfall is a representation of Maryland's western-most regions.  At its base, the moss-covered rocks, freshwater fish and native species of frogs and turtles invite students to continue their reflection on the diversity of Maryland.  Students then embark on a journey of discovery through five levels of exhibits in three buildings with over 11,000 aquatic animals.

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY

The United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis serves as an educational resource for the Brigade of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, other students of American naval history and thousands of students each year.  Through its collections and exhibits the Museum contributes to the recognition of history as a basic source of knowledge in advancing the theory and practice of sea power.  Your visit will also include a viewing of the film ‘To Lead and To Serve,’ guided walking tour of the Naval Academy, a sample midshipman room, Freedom 7 space capsule, an original Dahlgren boat howitzer, the original wooden figurehead of the USS Delaware (used for the casting the statue of Tecumseh), an exhibit on the life of John Paul Jones and a gift shop.

USS CONSTELLATION MUSEUM

Located on Pier 1, the USS Constellation is open to the public as a museum and offers a most distinctive venue for students.  The last all sail warship built by the US Navy provides a spectacular view of Baltimore's historic waterfront and illuminating skyline.  As the only Civil War era vessel still afloat, the USS Constellation invites students to step back in time and explore the decks of history through hands-on activities and daily demonstrations as well as a self-guided audio tour.

WATERMARK CRUISES

Explore the local waterways aboard the Chesapeake Bay's largest private fleet.  Experience the scenic beauty and the unique treasures that can only be found in America's largest estuary.  Choose from a variety of sightseeing cruises that focus on Annapolis Harbor and the banks of the US Naval Academy.  Go for less than an hour or enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise on the Bay.  This unique Annapolis experience awaits and is a great introduction to Annapolis for first time students.

WILLIAM PACA HOUSE & GARDEN

The William Paca House, a National Historic Landmark, is one of Annapolis’s – and America’s – most impressive restored 18th century mansions.  When built by Paca in 1763, it was one of the first five-part Georgian homes in Annapolis.  Through meticulous restoration, the home has been returned to its distinctive colonial-era state.  Museum-quality period furnishings, including Paca family silver and ceramics, fill its rooms.  Take a guided tour to experience how Paca and his family lived.  Students can also step into the spectacular two-acre Paca Garden.

Discovery Tours, Inc.
24719 Dundee Drive
Cleveland, OH 44143

TOLL FREE NATIONWIDE
P:  (800) 590.2669
P:  (216) 531.8884
F:  (216) 531.8885
info@discoverycleveland.com

Home | Student Tours | Baseball Tours | Motor Coach Tours | Cruise Adventures
Natural Heritage Tours | Vacation Getaways | Group Travel | Railroad Adventures
Disney World Vacations | General Tour Information | Frequent Traveler Program
Travel Shows | Newsletters | Downloads | Site Map | Contact Us

Copyright © 2008 Discovery Tours, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Legal Notices.
Discovery Tours and find more to discover are service marks of Discovery Tours, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.