Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore, MD
One of Baltimore’s top cultural destinations, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) was founded more than 100 years ago with just a single painting. Today, its sprawling collections encompass more than 97,000 works, including artworks and antiquities from cultures around the world. It also has 3 acres (1.2 hectares) of sculpture gardens and the most extensive collection of Matisse’s works on public view.
The basics
Located in Baltimore’s Charles Village neighborhood next to Johns Hopkins University—just a few miles north of the Inner Harbor—the Baltimore Museum of Art is easy to discover during an independent day out in Charm City. Free for all to visit (excluding some of its ticketed temporary exhibitions), encompassing three floors and flanked by sculpture gardens, the museum is easy to linger in.
Discover the museum’s public galleries, which contain everything from ancient Egyptian antiquities to of-the-minute contemporary works for an in-depth cultural immersion. It’s worth seeking out the BMA’s modern art highlights, works from more than 200 African states and societies, and artworks from Native North America. And while self-led tours are a great way to explore, the museum also offers downloaded audio tours and paid guided tours along various themes.
Things to know before you go
- Browse jewelry, books, gifts, and other art-themed souvenirs at the on-site BMA Shop.
- For a tasty, classically Baltimore meal, head to the BMA’s longtime on-site restaurant, Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen.
- The Baltimore Museum of Art is accessible to wheelchair users.
How to get there
The Baltimore Museum of Art is located at 10 Art Museum Dr. To get there via public transportation, take the MTA CityLink Silver bus line, LocalLink 51 bus line, or the free Charm City Circulator shuttle. Free and paid parking options are also available on-site, while taxis and rideshare services offer another option.
When to get there
The Baltimore Museum of Art is open Wednesday through Sunday from morning until early evening (except on Thursday, when it opens later in the evening). Before you visit, check its events calendar, as the museum hosts a range of workshops, members’ events, performances, and more, as well as regularly rotating temporary exhibitions. Note that the sculpture gardens are open until dusk during museum opening days.
BMA Lexington Market
For an extra dose of the Baltimore Museum of Art, head to the institution’s satellite location in Lexington Market (the oldest market in the country). Open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the space is free and accessible to all, encouraging visitors to create, share stories, and participate in public programming.
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