Doors Open Baltimore Expands to Two Days of Free Fun for Locals and Tourists

Looking for an unforgettable weekend experience in Baltimore? On October 28-29, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day, the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, in partnership with AIABaltimore, will host the fourth annual Doors Open Baltimore, a free open house-style event that celebrates Baltimore’s architecture and history by unlocking the doors to notable buildings and landmarks around the city, including many not typically open to the public.

Doors Open events take place in cities around the world to promote heritage and enhance public appreciation of architecture. Doors Open Baltimore 2017 will feature more than 50 sites, including various cultural and community structures, historic and adaptive reuse buildings, museums and galleries, and sacred spaces. Each location will hold its own unique open house, with tours, refreshments and meet-the-architect talks at select locations.

New for 2017, the rain or shine event is expanding to two full days, with Saturday designated for open house visits, and Sunday for a variety of special events and tours designed to appeal to all ages and interests. Visitors are encouraged to make their first stop the Maryland Historical Society, the information hub for the event, to pick up a collectible Doors Open Baltimore map and brochure and take advantage of free admission to the museum and the historic Enoch Pratt House.

Locations range from returning favorite the Arabber Center, a must-see attraction at one of the country’s last remaining locations for this African-American folk tradition, to Charm City Meadworks, Baltimore City’s only meadery and the event’s newest addition, which will be open for tours and tastings of mead, a honey-based historic beverage similar to wine. Other featured sites include:

• Historic Fells Point sites, with exclusive access to the Chaulker’s Houses, the maritime neighborhood’s oldest surviving houses built in the 1700s, and the Robert Long House, the oldest surviving residence within the boundaries of old Baltimore City.
• The eccentric Duchess of Windsor Museum in Mt. Vernon, home to a collection of memorabilia relating to the Baltimore socialite Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry.
• The amphitheater of Davidge Hall, the oldest continuously operating medical teaching facility in the country.
• The newly reopened Greenmount West Community Center, where young visitors can enjoy youth African drumming classes, along with refreshments and guided tours.
• A tour and discounted film tickets, during event hours, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway, a newly rescued three-screen movie theater in the heart of the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, and permanent, year-round home of the Maryland Film Festival.

The event’s Sunday itinerary will feature an all-day schedule of special events organized by Doors Open Baltimore sites and community partner. To celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of its dedication, the First Unitarian Church has invited a New York curator to speak to visitors about the Tiffany Mosaic Glass Exhibition they are currently mounting.

Doors Open Baltimore 2017 is made possible by sponsorship by the Maryland Historical Society; Younts Design Inc.; and Full Circle Ltd; with a grant provided by the Baltimore National Heritage Area. Sponsorships are still available; for more information, call 410-625-2585.

For additional information on participating locations, special events and general information, go to www.doorsopenbaltimore.org. While there are plenty of sites easily enjoyed by foot or bicycle, visitors are encouraged to utilize Baltimore’s public transit services when travelling between sites further apart. Stay updated on the latest Doors Open Baltimore news and site announcements by liking Doors Open Baltimore on Facebook and following @DoorsOpenBmore on Twitter and Instagram. Share your experiences using the hashtag #ExploreMoreDoors.

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About Doors Open Baltimore – www.doorsopenbaltimore.org

Doors Open Baltimore is an annual event presented by the Baltimore Architecture Foundation in partnership with AIABaltimore celebrating Charm City’s fascinating history through its architecture and the people who design and preserve it.