KEN STANEK
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER FLAG HOUSE, JONESTOWN
DAY
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Today is all about Baltimore’ s cultural contributions. The city boasts museums and galleries big and small, spanning topics both general and niche. Start at The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, where Mary Pickersgill, helped by her family and their indentured and enslaved African American servants, sewed the very flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen“ The Star-Spangled Banner.” The National Historic Landmark features artifacts related to the garrison flag and is part of the National Park Service’ s Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail. Next, pop over to The Peale, the first purpose-built museum in America, where you can see“ Built to Last: Baltimore’ s Enduring Landmarks,” an exhibition highlighting some of the city’ s most iconic structures.( Learn more about our historic architecture on page 40.) Nearby, don’ t miss the country’ s first gas streetlamp on East Baltimore Street.
After all that exploration, head to Mount Vernon for lunch at one of the neighborhood’ s many multicultural restaurants. You’ ll find build-your-own Korean bowls at Dooby’ s, a farmers market za’ atar salad and horchata cheesecake at Mera Kitchen Collective, and samosas and dals at Kumari and Akbar.
The Baltimore Basilica, America’ s first Catholic cathedral, is your next stop. This elaborately adorned structure was built between 1806 and 1863 and designed by architect Benjamin Latrobe, who also
THE BALTIMORE BASILLICA, MOUNT VERNON
GRACE GALLIGAN / COURTESY OF THE BASILICA OF THE ASSUMPTION
designed the United States Capitol. The Basilica offers guided tours on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The nearby Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the first municipal orchestra supported by public funds, is a must-visit for any out-of-towner. Established in 1916, the BSO has a calendar full of classical music performances, as well as a speaker series and family-focused programming.
Dinner at Topside is the ideal way to end your day. Alongside your meal, you’ ll enjoy views of the Washington Monument, the first major architectural monument to honor George Washington— its completion predates the groundbreaking of Washington, D. C.’ s presidential plinth by over two decades!
ZA’ ATAR SALAD FROM THE MERA KITCHEN COLLECTIVE, A COMMUNITY- DRIVEN, WORKER-OWNED COOPERATIVE
BALTIMORE. ORG 23