About Baltimore
Situated in the heart of the eastern seaboard, Baltimore is most well-known for its revitalized inner harbor. The city was founded in 1729 and became independent from Baltimore County in 1851.
Initially a working-class port town, the city has expanded into the service industry. Baltimore was the second city in the U.S. after New York City
New York City Skyline, New York City to reach a population of 100,000, and the second largest city in the nation until 1860.
Baltimore is rich in history, apparent in its over 300 separate neighborhood districts, including a deeply rooted African-American culture. Baltimore is known for having one of the largest concentrations of free African-Americans among American cities predating the Civil War. Today, landmarks like the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Great Blacks in Wax Museum, the
Lexington Market
Lexington Market and Douglass-Myers Maritime Park keep this varied history alive.
The Baltimore Inner Harbor is the heart of Baltimore with many notable attractions including the Hard Rock Café, several seafood restaurants, and numerous bars and clubs. The Inner Harbor is also home to Baltimore's most popular attraction, the Baltimore Aquarium
Baltimore Aquarium, which draws more than 1.6 million visitors a year, many from D.C. and other Maryland suburbs. Street performers are also common on the harbor. Although most everything you will want to do and see while visiting the Inner Harbor is within a short walking distance, you can also explore the Harbor by water taxi, harbor cruise, paddle boat, trolley tours or take a land and water tour with Ride the Ducks.
Going beyond the harbor brings a wealth of entertainment possibilities. Eat fresh crabs and listen to live jazz at Lexington Market, enjoy all-you-can-eat cannolis at the desserts-only restaurant Vaccaro's in Little Italy, take a walk through 80,000 tulips at Sherwood Gardens
Sherwood Gardens in the spring, see the art of ancient Mesopotamia at the Walter's Art Museum
Walter's Art Museum and much more.
Why Baltimore?
Baltimore is easily accessible by plane, train and highway and is within driving distance of more than one-third of the nation's population. Its close proximity to New York
New York City Skyline, New York City, Washington, D.C.
United States Capitol, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia make it a prime meeting destination. The Baltimore Convention Center is within walking distance of Oriole Park, Westside, the MARC train and the Baltimore Visitor Center. Overhead walkways link the convention center to the Inner Harbor, fine dining and hotels. With 300,000 square feet of exhibition space, 50 meeting rooms, and a 36,672 square-foot ballroom, the Baltimore Convention Center has the facilities to accommodate your next event.
An exciting addition to the Baltimore Convention Center is the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel. With an initial investment of 305 million dollars and a scheduled opening of August 2008, the convention center hotel will have 60,000 square feet of meeting space and 756 rooms. In addition, the nearby Wyndham at Baltimore Inner Harbor is undergoing a 30 million-dollar renovation which will be complete in the fall of 2007. In the Inner Harbor east district, a combination hotel/condominium dubbed "10 Inner Harbor" is being built. When completed, it will be the city's tallest building at 60 stories and over 700 feet tall. 10 Inner Harbor is part of a building spurt in Baltimore's downtown that began in 2002. By the year 2012, a total of 7,400 housing units are expected to be available.
Baltimore also offers many unique venues for parties and receptions. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum offers several event spaces including the 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse with capacity for over 1,500 for a standing reception and 450 for a seated dinner, the 6,400 square foot Outside Pavilion, and a 1,200 square-foot Multi-purpose room. Located at the base of historic Federal Hill, the American Visionary Art Museum has been awarded both national and international awards for its aesthetic appeal and design. With a magnificent architectural backdrop, it is a wonderful setting for a cocktail reception, seated dinner, or wedding ceremony. Known for its sophistication and elegance, the Walters Art Museum is a perfect setting for groups of all sizes. Its grand banquet room allows guests to be entertained while surrounded by breathtaking art. Other extraordinary venues include the Baltimore Museum of Art, Evergreen House, and the M&T Bank Stadium.
A new biotechnology park is also being planned, with Johns Hopkins University at its center. In 2007, the Johns Hopkins University Hospital was ranked as the #1 hospital in the country for the 12th consecutive year by U.S. News and World Report. In addition to providing excellent patient care, Johns Hopkins conducts cutting-edge research on cancer, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and numerous other present-day health concerns. Other higher learning institutions based in Baltimore include Loyola College, Maryland Institute College of Art, the Peabody Institute, Sojourner-Douglas College, and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
Baltimore is not only home to exceptional educational institutions, but it is also home to several well-known companies. Black & Decker, Legg Mason, Sylvan Learning, Under Armour, 180º, Performax, and Old Mutual Financial Company are all based in Baltimore.
Baltimore Key Area Facts
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Convention Center: Baltimore Convention Center
Airports: Baltimore-Washington International Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
| Population | 640,960 | Destination Type Listings |
| Hotels | 94 | • Golf destination |
| Hotel Rooms | 6,600 | • Smoke free restaurants |
| Unique Venues | 80 | |
| Restaurants | 1,640 |
Baltimore Climate Information
Baltimore has four distinct seasons, with warm weather prevailing from April through October. Winters are relatively short and typically consist of more rain than snow. Summers bring heat, humidity, and often afternoon thunderstorms. March through May and September through November-the spring and the fall-are the best times to visit Baltimore. Daytime highs average from the 50s through the 70s during these months. The seasons are tempered by the presence of the Appalachian Mountains in the northwest, which block snow and precipitation from the Great Lakes region, and by the Delmarva Peninsula to the southeast, which protects the city from tropical storms coming in by sea.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High -°F | 75 | 79 | 87 | 94 | 98 | 101 | 104 | 105 | 100 | 92 | 86 | 77 |
| Avg High -°F | 41 | 44 | 53 | 65 | 74 | 83 | 88 | 85 | 79 | 68 | 56 | 45 |
| Avg Low -°F | 24 | 26 | 34 | 43 | 53 | 62 | 67 | 66 | 58 | 46 | 37 | 28 |
| Rec Low -°F | -7 | -3 | 6 | 20 | 32 | 40 | 50 | 45 | 35 | 25 | 13 | -- |
| Rainfall - in. | 3 | 3 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
