How to Experience Baltimore—the Birthplace of the American Railroad—in 2027
On the 200th anniversary of railroading in the U.S., this historic city celebrates its pioneering past and looks ahead to an innovative future.
While it’s probably best known today for crab cakes, the Orioles, and The Wire, Baltimore is a stealth heavy hitter in American history. Established in 1729 by an order of the Governor of Maryland, the city on the Chesapeake Bay is where militiamen and local citizens held off the British in the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, a feat that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the national anthem.
The city is also where in 1827 the country’s first commercial railroad—the Baltimore and Ohio, or B&O—was chartered to connect the seaport with the Ohio River. It was a moment that transformed American life, says Kris Hoellen, executive director of the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation, which was known until last summer as the B&O Railroad Museum. “It was as impactful as the modern-day Internet.” In 2027, the museum will mark the bicentennial of American railroading with a $38 million upgrade. Elsewhere in the city, noteworthy sites—from public markets to industrial zones—are also being revitalized.
(See all 25 of the destinations that made our list of the best places to visit in 2027.)
When to Go
Baltimore is a year-round destination. Summers can be hot and humid, but that doesn’t stop crowds from crowding into Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Spring and fall bring pleasant temperatures that are great for neighborhood strolls with refueling stops at the recently refurbished Lexington and Broadway markets. Each May, the American Visionary Art Museum hosts the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, sends human-powered art on a 15-mile obstacle course around the city, and Artscape puts on the country’s largest free outdoor arts festival across Downtown Baltimore. In October, the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival honors the famed scribe, who is interred at Westminster Hall and Burying Ground. During the winter, visitors can warm up at the Christmas Village market or Miracle on 34th Street, a dazzling display of neighborhood lights.
What to Do
Dive Into History and Culture:
On the 40-acre site where the B&O was founded, the recently rechristened National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation occupies a newly restored 33,000-square-foot building. A highlight is the 22-sided roundhouse, which was once used to repair passenger cars and now holds an unrivaled collection of 19th-century trains. At Fort McHenry, Visitors can earn how the Battle of Baltimore inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner,” catch sweeping views of the city skyline, and help rangers lower and raise the American flag. And The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture—more commonly known as “The Lewis”—shares African American experiences from colonial times to the present day, including those of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who labored in Baltimore’s shipyards before escaping slavery.
Look at Art:
Did you know that the Baltimore Museum of Art holds the world’s largest collection of works by Henri Matisse? Sisters Etta and Claribel Cone, early patrons of the French artist, bequeathed their collection of 1,600 paintings, drawings, prints, and illustrated books. The unconventional American Visionary Art Museum celebrates less renowned artists, autodidacts who created whimsical pieces such as a giant wind-powered sculpture known as the Whirligig and a robot family made from household electronics.
Visit the National Aquarium:
A centerpiece of the popular Inner Harbor district, where a new complex of parks, retail, and restaurants is slated to open in coming years, the conservation-minded aquarium provides an immersive look at underwater realms such as coral reefs and shark-inhabited waters.
Getting Around
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport lies 9 miles south of downtown, while Amtrak’s Penn Station is roughly 1.5 miles north of it. If you’re driving, Interstate 95 cuts right through the city. Get around town on the free Charm City Circulator bus, the hop on/hop off Baltimore Water Trolley, or the on-demand Baltimore Water Taxi, which you can summon via an app. The Baltimore Blueway has also recently established a network of eight kayaking trails connecting urban landmarks and restored wetlands.
