Innovations Abound at Baltimore's Museum of Industry

Journey back as far as the 19th century to discover how Baltimore became the city it is today. The Baltimore Museum of Industry seamlessly fuses Baltimore’s industrial history and the values and innovations that continue to drive the city forward today and into the future. Located at Inner Harbor, the museum is an easy 10-minute drive from our historic inn.

The explosion of the industrial revolution in the 1800s propelled Baltimore toward being a center for commerce and production. By the end of the century, Baltimore had risen to become recognized as an industrial powerhouse, producing goods from ores to wheat to oysters. The Museum of Industry dives into the rich history that surrounds Baltimore’s industrial heritage and pays tribute to the people and inventions that have shaped Baltimore through the years. Explore Baltimore’s industrial past, present and future through numerous galleries, in-depth guided tours and special programs.

The newest exhibit in the museum, Fire & Shadow: The Rise and Fall of Bethlehem Steel, lets visitors explore the Sparrows Point steel mill from its opening to its closure in 2012. The exhibit tells the stories of the men and women who worked at the mill through documents, photographs, artifacts, and – my personal favorite – first-person narratives recorded by former workers.

In addition to having a wide range of exhibits inside the museum’s building, there are two outdoor exhibits for guests to view. The first is the 104-foot-tall crane that stands over the museum. Dating back to 1942, the massive crane was instrumental in the World War II-era shipbuilding effort. After being restored in 2019, the crane now serves as a landmark of south Baltimore. The museum is also home to the first steam-powered tugboat ever built in the United States. Declared a historic landmark in 1993, visitors are welcome to take a look at this slice of shipbuilding history.

The Baltimore Museum of Industry strives to build connections between its visitors and Baltimore’s industrial heritage. Whether you are most interested in the inner-workings of machinery, the evolution of industry over the course of three centuries, the people who shaped the city, or the different ways of life portrayed in the museum, there is something to capture the interest of everyone.

Tickets for the Baltimore Museum of Industry can be purchased at the door or purchased ahead of time here.