The Early Golden Day Age of Railroading at the B & O Railroad Museum

The B & O (Baltimore & Ohio) Railroad Museum is located at the historic site of B & O Railroad's old Mt. Clare Shops/Station in Baltimore, Maryland. Mt. Clare is considered to be the birthplace of American railroading. (Shops are already gone). It's here that you can relive the golden age of railroading with 40 acres of railroad history!

A self-guided tour is the most convenient way to completely explore the entire area, although a guided tour is also offered by some staff workers upon request.

As you enjoy your self-guided tour, you can get the chance to explore the rail history through 7 buildings and train platforms, including the magnificent Roundhouse, allowing you to see, touch, and hear the most important American railroad collection in the world!

You can as well choose to venture on a 20-minute round trip train ride on the Mile One Express, along the first commercial mile of railroad track laid in America, recognized as the birthplace of American railroading.

Me inside the Mile One Express train (with a big foot of my photographer!)LOL!

America's symbol of industrialization from the earliest days of railroading were steam engines. As steam technology got better, engines also changed and increased dramatically in size to become powerful locomotives in the 19th century; - from the 1900 to the late 1930's-1950's where diesel engines became on the rise.

The B & O Museum offers one-of-a-kind collection of 20th century steam engines today! The exhibits inside the museum include both originals and replicas. Part of those exhibits are also available for viewing outdoors in which a number of large collection of a variety of steam locomotives are in the parking lot close to the museum entrance.

Buffet Lunch Experience at Rusty Scrupper

I live close to Baltimore but I wasn't even aware there is such a good waterfront dining restaurant like Rusty Scrupper!

At the waterfront

I happened to eat a buffet lunch here with my husband together with a tour group we signed up on while visiting downtown Baltimore.

Rusty Scrupper Restaurant is voted as Baltimore's Best Waterfront Dining by Baltimore Magazine, which sometimes is being frequented by VIP's.

I couldn't complain about the food...in fact, I wanna go back and have that yummy crab soup with their mouth-watering Ceasar salad and lemon garlic roasted chicken! :)

The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) can be easily spotted when you're around Baltimore area located at the Federal Hill neighborhood at 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, Maryland. 

The giant Whirlgig is highly visible as its outdoor sculptural landmark.

If you're an art lover, it is here where you will discover various amazing art collections created by intuitive, self-taught artists. It is also a national museum and an educational center where it showcases outstanding original works of various artists.

While some exhibits are being changed at times, it still has its permanent collections always on display with approximately 4,000 pieces.

The AVAM's specialty of art is called outsider art also known as "raw art", "art brut" or "intuitive art".

Photography isn't allowed inside, but are allowed outside the building. The museum's main building has 3 floors of exhibition space.

While more than 40 museums of visionary arts are already open around the world, it has been considered that AVAM is still the largest and continues to influence and inspire all over the world.

Re-Visiting Fort McHenry

It has been 5 years since my last visit to Fort McHenry. I and my husband did a visit on our own in 2011, and now we came back, this time with a tour group ;).

year 2011

May 29, 2015 visit

Of course, each visit is still a different experience and the fun is still the same. :)

Our self-guided visit is still enjoyable setting our feet on the famous star-shaped fort which is best known for its role in the war of 1812 when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British Navy in the Chesapeake Bay.

It was during the bombardment of the fort that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner." As you enter the museum, don't miss watching the orientation film at the theater, right at the museum's entrance, and then visit the exhibits and the gift shop at the Visitor Center.

There are also outdoor exhibits as you walk around the fort, and get the chance to participate in the daily flag change program being held regularly every 4:30PM.

The Shen Yun Performing Arts Show (The Modell Lyric Baltimore)

If you are fascinated in learning about cultures, the Chinese culture is one of those that has a lot of story to tell, from the ancient times up to the present.

The Shen Yun dance performance can promise you a show full of dances that reflect colors, action, theater effects and songs describing their ancient culture.

Shen Yun started in 2006 in New York formed by leading Chinese artists from all around the world with a goal to revive the Chinese ancient culture through music, dance and songs.

They perform few times each year and every year, they create an all-new production of performance.

You have to be aware though that in between the performances are dances that reflect teachings of Falun Dafa books, which are inspired by Falun Gong philosphy. It's nowhere that you can see anything about Dafa teachings being promoted until you watch the entire performance.

Falun Dafa is a Chinese spiritual practice for mind and body, through meditation that mainly focuses on truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. 

Some reviews about this, being incorporated with Shen Yun performances sound offensive to some, and some were led to practice it. They leave up to the audience to choose, - to practice and believe it or not.

Otherwise, the audience can just focus on the spectacular and colorful dances, music and the colorful costumes of the dancers, the acrobats, and many more.

Fort McHenry - The Cornerstone of the American Defense!

The repulse of a British naval attack against this fort in 1814 prevented the capture of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner".

England and France were at war from 1793-1815. Because of both their intents to crush each other, both nations confiscated American merchant ships and cargoes to prevent supplies from reaching enemy ports, which the Americans viewed as the violations of their rights as neutrals. The situation was made hotter by British impressmentof American seamen and the demands of the "War Hawks", a group of southern and western Congressmen who wanted the US to annex British Canada and Spanish Florida. The war on England was declared on June 18, 1812 to preserve "Free Trade and Sailors Rights" and was carried by the War Hawks.

The Americans were mostly an annoyance to the British for 2 years who couldn't devote much attention to them until after Napoleon's defeat in April 1814. In mid-August, a British force with 5,000 army and navy veterans under the joint command of Maj. Gen. Robert Ross and Vice Adm. Alexander Cochrane sailed up Chesapeake Bay with the intent on giving Americans "a complete drubbing" which was what they did at the Battle of Bladensburg and went on to burn Washington. So, they turned their attention to Baltimore.

Baltimore was better prepared for the invaders than Washington had been. Defenses were erected, arms and equioment laid in, and troops trained under the command of Maj. Gen. Samuel Smith, a US senator and veteran of the Revolution. Smith's command totaled about 15,000 men, mostly Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia militia. But there were also a few regular army units and several hundred sailors under Commodore John Rodgers.

Fort McHenry, the key to the harbor, was defended by a thousand men. Its guns and those of 2 batteries along the river's edge dominated the channels leading to the city. Lines of gunboats and sunken hulks across the mouth of northwest branch also obstructed entry.

Ross's troops landed at North point and marched toward Baltimore on September 12, and later that day, Ross was mortally wounded in the opening skirmish of the Battle of North Point. He was replaced by Col. Arthur Brooke, who completed the battle and compelled the Americans to withdraw. The next morning, he marched his troops to within 2 miles of the city and awaited the results of a naval attack before assaulting the Baltimore defenses.

Admiral Cochrane attacked the fort at dawn on the 13th, about the time Brooke began his advance. The bombardment lasted for 25 hours. Maj. George Armistead, Fort Mchenry's commander estimated later that there were 1,500-1,800 shells and rockets fired at the fort. Two shells exploded on the southwest bastion killing 2 officers and wounding several gun crew members.

Realizing that the fort would never fall to shelling alonge in the midnight on September 13, Cochrane launched a diversionary attack up the Ferry Branch in an attempt to distract the American long enough for Brooke's troops to storm Rodger's bastion guarding the east side of the city. In the dark, rainy night, the attack went awry: some of the landing party rowed up the wrong branch, while other barges were detected and driven back by the combined fire of Forts McHenry, Covington, Babcock, and Look-Out. The failure of this sortie dashed British hopes of capturing Baltimore.

Bombships continued the bombardment until 7am on September 14, then withdrew down the river. As the British went away, the American soldiers fired the morning gun and hoisted the large flag that would later become known as the "Star Spangled Banner" while the musicians played "Yankee Doodle".

Fort McHenry since then never came under enemy fire again, although it continued as an active military post for the next 100 years. During the Civil War, it was used as a temporary prison for captured Confederate soldiers, southern sympathizers and political prisoners.

US Army General Hospital No. 2 was located here to serve WW1 veterans from 1917 to 1923.

In 1925, Congress made Fort Mchenry as a national park. After 14 years, it was redesignated a national monument and historic shine, the only park in the country to have this double distinction.

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Secrets of The Poe House

No one lives in the Poe house. It is simply too small and obvious that there is no space for someone to live on the premises. it is owned and operated by the City of Baltimore.

There's no truth that Poe's grave is in the basement of the house. Poe is buried in the Westminster Graveyard at Fayette and Greene Streets, approximately 9 blocks east of Poe's house.

Walls on the Poe's house are stressed and has moisture damage which is very difficult to prevent and repair.

The Poe house doesn't have a climate control because there is no place to install it. A window air conditioning is the best option.
If you enter the house, you'll notice that "old" house smell and with the age comes the tell tale odor which only an old house has. Even with limited air conditioning, this odor will appear and then vanish. It is usually more noticeable after it has been raining.

The basement is not allowed for accessibility because of its limited space. The ceilings are low and there are pipes running through the walls making it difficult and hazardous to navigate the basement. Three thrash pits were discovered during the 1979 renovations.

You will notice that there are no toilets in the house because people used chamber pots or detached privies in the back of the house way back then.

Driving Directions to the Poe Grave From the Poe House:
If you're parked on Amity Street, turn left onto Lexington Street, then make an immediate right onto Poppleton Street. Go 2 blocks and turn left onto Baltimore Street.

Go to the 3rd traffic light and turn left onto Paca Street and stay in the left lane.

Turn left onto Fayette Street. The Poe grave will be on your left at the end of the block at greene Street. Look for a parking space.

The Poe House & Museum

The house was built around 1830. A few short blocks south of the Poe house was the new Baltimore and Ohio train station which was also opened in 1830 and now houses the Baltimore and Ohio Train Museum.

In 1930, the homes in the area were razed for the construction of the Poe Homes, a public housing project. The house was scheduled for demolition but public vigilance and the members of the Edgar Allan Poe Society forced the Housing Authority to spare the site. An exhaustive search of city registers, deeds and maps proved that Poe in fact did live in the house. And in 1949, it opened as a historic house museum managed by the Poe Society.

In 1979, the City of Baltimore took control of the museum and restored the building spending nearly $100,000 to preserve the site. It is now currently operated under the Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation, a division of the Baltimore City Department of Planning.

The Edgar Allan Poe House & Grave (The Visit)

June 19, 2010

I and my husband, together with our cousin Tanya went to visit Edgar Allan Poe's house located at Amity Street in downtown Baltimore.

The house has small rooms and has crowded winding stairways. Poe was not wealthy during his time as you can witness his house that is too small, built for just a working class family.

Inside were just a few memorabilias that Poe used while he was still alive, displayed in glass boxes, one of which was a telescope.

On the other side of the room is where you can watch a video about his biography and his entire life existence.
There is a winding stairways going up the attic that are too narrow. This used to be Poe's room where he used to write; - a small bedroom, that is.

stairways going up the attic and me

He was a well known writer, but not much of his writings and letters are there. They say his writings are all scattered around the country in various libraries, colleges and in private collections.

At the Poe Grave:
Edgar Allan Poe's grave is 3-5 minutes away from Poe's house. It will be on your left at the end of the block at Greene Street.

At the entrance to the graveyard is the Poe Monument, so you won't miss it.

Follow the brick path to the rear of the graveyard to see the original Poe Grave.

Our Trip to National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland

May 7, 2006 - This trip ws not expected by me, but hubby was so excited to tour me around to places worth visiting. It is a 45 minutes drive going to Baltimore, but that's the most convenient drive my husband would do from the rest of our long trips. It was my first time to go around Baltimore, and see some famous landmarks such as the World Trade Center in Baltimore, where my husband partly works.

Photos Inside the National Aquarium:

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is Maryland's leading tourist attraction, and considered to be an international icon. The Aquarium addresses the challenges of protecting Earth’s aquatic treasures and mobilizes community volunteers in clean-up efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay. It also features hundreds of exhibits featuring more than 16,500 animals.

Baltimore's St. Patrick's Day Parade

March 12, 2006 - Inner Harbor

We went to the Inner harbor Sunday, (March 12) just for a pleasure fun trip. We didn't know they were having the St. Patrick's Parade around the area, so we were stucked up in the traffic jam on one corner of the street.

St. Patrick's day was officially celebrated on March 17 though, but they perhaps decided to have the parade ahead from the actual event. I am not aware of this activity but it was fun watching the parade. The favorite color was green that day ..I saw green haired humans and dogs alike LOL!

Anyway, I was able to get quick shots from the parade and I was able to get some shots of the Irish hounds joining the parade too. I love dogs, and it amazed me seeing these dogs...first time in my life! LOL. They are cute!

The rest of the day was a stroll along Inner Harbor. This was my first hang out in Baltimore :) I enjoyed the photos and the scenes too!