Beautiful Baltimore Views

In Baltimore last weekend, my family and I did a little sight seeing. Our first stop was the George Peabody Library.

 

Renowned for its striking architectural interior, the Peabody Stack Room contains five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies, which rise dramatically to the enormous skylight 61 feet above the floor.

Opened in 1878, this building was designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind. So impressive! My camera couldn't do it justice.

 

Containing more than 300,000 titles dating from the eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries, The George Peabody Library is part of Johns Hopkins University's Special Collections Department. It is a non-circulating collection open to the general public.

 

Beautiful architecture, like the church below, abounds in this elegant Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore

 

Across the street from this church and around the corner from the Peabody Library is the first architectural monument built to honor George Washington.

 

Construction of this white marble column began in 1815 and was completed in 1829. Rising 178 feet on a hill 100 feet above sea level, Baltimore's Washington Monument contains 228 steps spiraling up inside the column.

 

And of course, we just had to climb them! Once we reached the top, we were treated to one of the best panoramic views of Baltimore.

 

Though my legs were sore for two days afterward, the view was definitely worth the climb.

Susan

Comments

[Dianne]

Wow. Baltimore looks like a place I would like to visit one day. That building is splendiferous, what wonderful architecture.

[kimberly shaw]

What a wonderful sightseeing day! The library is spectacular, LOVE the architecture. I would have climbed the stairs, too, racing my son to the top. Thanks for sharing the wonderful view.

[Kim]

I remember that library from when I was looking for a place for our wedding reception. You can rent it out for events! Wouldn't that be amazing? Our wedding was in VA, so it wasn't a possibility for us, but I thought that it was a great venue.

[Dawn Gahan]

This brings back such memories for me! I was born and raised in Baltimore. Upon graduation from college (in Ohio) I returned and worked at the Baltimore Museum of Art and lived across the street from Johns Hopkins University. At BMA I worked on the collection and exhibition catalogs and did a good bit of my research at the Peabody. I looked at your pix and could smell it . . . all the books, the dusty sun-drenched air, the wood.

Thanks for taking me back!

Dawn

[Joan]

Beautiful pictures. I've never been to Baltimore but I'd love to.