virtual-tour-feature2

Washington Monument Virtual Tour

Washington Monument Virtual Tour

The Monument is meant to be experienced not only from the outside, but from the inside. Architect Robert Mills designed the structure to last the ages, and its foundations go deep in the ground. Built of marble over a brick and stone rubble core, the Monument consists of three principal spaces; the gallery, the stairs, and the lookout. Subterranean vaults (not open to the public) support the gallery above, and a central core foundation goes even deeper.

Many of the other Monument finishes, including the interior plaster walls, the doors, and the surrounding decorative fence are not what the seem—they are all decorative finishes made to look like stone or bronze, as was originally intended.

For two centuries visitors have been climbing the 227 steps to take in views of the city of Baltimore. 

More History

mounument-post

Mount Vernon Place Timeline

Mount Vernon Place Timeline

When America’s first President George Washington died in 1799, the new United States of America went into mourning. His generation had accomplished a herculean feat—political independence from Great Britain—at the time one of the most powerful nations in the world. They also had established a stable new government through The Constitution. Baltimorean citizens were the first in the country to erect a memorial to Washington—one that also celebrated the national independence he had help secure.

The construction of the Monument is extra-ordinarily well documented, as is the development of the surrounding squares of Mount Vernon Place. These events are explored in a richly illustrated timeline.

More History

monument-flags

Washington Monument Facts and Figures

Washington Monument Facts and Figures

While the Monument was being built, notices of its construction and completion were often placed in the newspaper to inform the public about its progress. These notices sometimes included facts about its height or materials. Soon after it was completed small brochures and broadsides began to appear outlining its dimensions and other facts. How tall is it? Where did the marble come from? How many steps are there? Who served on the original Board of Managers? Using laser scanning and calculations, the Conservancy was for the time able to determine how much the statue of Washington weighs.

More History

patriotic-landscape-1

A Patriotic Landscape

A Patriotic Landscape

Baltimore and the City Beautiful: Carrère & Hastings Reshapes an American City.

Mount Vernon Place has a long and distinguished landscape design history, one prompted by its magnificent centerpiece Robert Mills’ Washington Monument, which set a high bar for the development of the surrounding grounds. Over time, in addition to Mills’ contributions, the park spaces were also designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., whose firm transformed the North and South Squares in the 1870s.

A convergence of World War I patriotism and turn-of-the-century City Beautiful aspirations transformed the squares in 1917, when the firm of Carrère & Hastings was brought into Baltimore to continue earlier work they had been involved with in the city. Mount Vernon Place was only one of the public spaces the firm transformed during this campaign—a project spurred on by a wish to add a statue of the Marquis de Lafayette to the setting as a show of support to the French fighting for their national liberty during the first World War. Lafayette’s contribution to American independence had long been acknowledged. The new work reunited Lafayette and Washington in a landscape setting—one which required a new vision for the squares that brought them into harmony with the classical marble design of the Washington Monument.

More History

the-monumental-city-featured-image

The Monumental City

The Monumental City

What’s in a Name? Baltimore—"The Monumental City.”

For over two hundred years Baltimore has been called “The Monumental City.” Since the 1970s it has been believed that this moniker was dubbed by President John Quincy Adams when he visited Baltimore in 1827, and toasted the city with the name. New scholarship reveals that Adams did not coin the term but, in fact, used one that had been in circulation for several years. Scholar Dr. Lance Humphries discovered that the phrase was apparently first used in print in 1823 by Joseph Gales, the editor of the National Intelligencer in nearby Washington, DC.

The nickname emerged out of regional jealousies between Washington and Baltimore. While the former was the new capital of the country, it was in shambles after the War of 1812, out of which Baltimore not only emerged unscathed—but within several years began construction on the first Monument dedicated to George Washington, and by extension, American national independence. While Gales’ use of the phrase was ironic, within months it became an honorific title—deemed appropriate for the first city to erect a monumental memorial to the founding of the United States.

More History

mounument-post

1815 Cornerstone Ceremony Account

1815 Cornerstone Ceremony Account

An Authentic Account of All the Proceedings on the Fourth of July, 1815, With Regard to Laying the Corner Stone of the Washington Monument.

 On July 4, 1815 Baltimoreans laid the cornerstone of the first monument dedicated to George Washington, the first President of the United States. Within days a detailed account of the ceremony was published in the newspapers, and soon thereafter the entire ceremony was published as a pamphlet. 

Although the account was very detailed, including mention of what was deposited in the cornerstone, the accounts did not mention where the cornerstone was, and it was lost to time until the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy restored the Washington Monument in 2014-15. At that time, while digging a sewage pit off the northeast corner of the Monument, the cornerstone was located below grade on that corner of the building.

Read the detailed account of this important day:

More History

An Authentic Account of All the Proceedings on the Fourth of July, 1815, With Regard to Laying the Corner Stone of the

What’s in a Name? Baltimore—”The Monumental City.” For over two hundred years Baltimore has been called “The Monumental City.” Since the 1970s

Baltimore and the City Beautiful: Carrère & Hastings Reshapes an American City. Mount Vernon Place has a long and distinguished landscape design

around-mvp-feature2

Around Mount Vernon Place

Things to Do Around Mount Vernon Place

Mount Vernon Place is the centerpiece of a National Historic Landmark District, and part of Baltimore’s famous Mount Vernon neighborhood. Around the squares are stunning examples of 19th century architecture, like the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion. Right on the square is found the internationally-recognized Walters Art Museum and the Peabody Conservatory and Library. As Baltimore’s historic cultural center, the Mount Vernon neighborhood is also home to the Maryland Center for History & Culture, theatres and symphony orchestras, as well as fabulous restaurants—which all contribute to its rich cultural fabric.
the-parks-new

The Parks

The Parks

Hours: Open daily, Dawn to Dusk

The parks of Mount Vernon Place with their greenery, sculpture and fountains, and surrounding beautiful architecture, are wonderful places to experience, whether drinking a cup a coffee with a friend, reading a book, eating your lunch, or just sitting in quiet contemplation at one of the tables or chairs.
Throughout the year, the Conservancy provides free programming in the parks, including our Summer in the Squares concert, film, and fitness series, and seasonal events for our neighbors and surrounding communities. Two of Baltimore’s oldest and cherished traditions, Flower Mart and Monument Lighting, are presented each year by the Conservancy. Check out our Events page to see what is taking place year-round.
We are very proud to have a space as unique as Mount Vernon Place in the city, and enjoy when the parks are filled with visitors, both local and out-of-town. With such heavy use, we ask that everyone please help us keep the park in good condition.

Park Rules:
  • No Littering – Deposit all trash, including unfinished food in receptacles. Like all major cities, Baltimore is continuously working to keep rat infestations down.
  • Manage your pets – Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Please clean up after you pets.
  • Keep out of the fountains – Please do not wade in or allow your pets in the fountains. The water is not chlorinated, and hair clogs the filtration system.
  • Do not feed the wildlife.
  • Do not attach signs or other materials to trees, benches, sculptures, or marble structures.
  • No dumping – The public trash cans are not for household garbage.
  • No riding bicycles, dirt bikes, skateboards, or scooters in the park squares.
  • The use of drones in Mount Vernon Place requires a permit. Drone use is not permitted directly above the Monument Plaza, within the circumference of the iron fence.
  • The following are not allowed in any Baltimore City park unless a permit has been obtained:
    • Alcohol
    • Amplified sound
    • Charcoal or gas grills
    • Commercial or promotional photography
    • Metal detectors
    • Organized sporting events and equipment
    • Sale of merchandise or concessions

Special permits may be obtained from the Department of Recreation and Parks for use outside of these times.

Park rules are enforced by the Baltimore City Police Department. Any person violating park rules is subject to a $250 fine for each offense.

We hope you enjoy your visit to the four park squares. Please email info@MVPConservancy.org or call 410-962-5070 if you have questions.

Have a wonderful visit!

The Parks

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse sit amet ex non risus placerat dictum. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam semper eget sem a accumsan. Vivamus ultricies urna et varius efficitur. Etiam molestie non erat quis ultricies. Sed vel pretium dui, a viverra velit. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Phasellus vel fermentum orci. Nunc luctus nec arcu eu consequat. Nullam dolor arcu, ornare sit amet congue aliquam, efficitur vel risus. Nunc laoreet arcu commodo dui condimentum interdum. Maecenas quis eros tempor, finibus lectus at, cursus turpis. Vivamus vitae dignissim nulla, nec eleifend libero. Sed a lacus eu dolor suscipit elementum. Integer tincidunt est ac mauris pharetra fringilla.

In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aenean ac consectetur ipsum. Nulla elit libero, porttitor eget ultricies quis, lobortis ac nunc. Mauris at purus ultricies, lacinia quam vel, euismod dui. Donec sit amet urna nunc. Curabitur dapibus faucibus ex ut elementum. Curabitur tempus sem pellentesque leo dictum condimentum. Nunc venenatis est erat, at tincidunt sapien consectetur in. Pellentesque tristique nulla ut orci cursus, ut pellentesque ipsum aliquet. Fusce ut turpis ut massa auctor consequat ac eu nisi. Praesent aliquam arcu ut egestas pharetra. Integer erat ligula, suscipit sed velit id, finibus lobortis massa.

Nam erat arcu, ornare eget augue non, auctor porta sapien. Suspendisse eget egestas augue. Maecenas accumsan interdum urna, et mattis tellus placerat vel. Suspendisse a semper dui. Phasellus rhoncus ipsum vel libero ullamcorper, id dignissim nisi pellentesque. Maecenas in gravida leo. Donec volutpat ut nulla elementum imperdiet. Donec tortor neque, dapibus nec aliquet in, rutrum lobortis tortor. Morbi blandit nec arcu ut efficitur. Etiam fringilla massa ut viverra efficitur. Praesent eget posuere massa, eget ultrices massa. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Nam maximus ligula eget nisi fringilla molestie sit amet tempus tortor. Cras rutrum, ipsum vel aliquet hendrerit, turpis metus condimentum sem, ut condimentum lorem ipsum vel metus.

Suspendisse ullamcorper facilisis congue. Donec accumsan mi ut leo eleifend, nec elementum neque congue. Fusce consectetur et quam vel sagittis. Nullam dui neque, dignissim ac consequat a, accumsan non nunc. Nam aliquet eu dui vel mattis. In eu erat malesuada, convallis augue quis, egestas nunc. Nulla id dui et quam tempus interdum. Integer dapibus, justo a imperdiet lobortis, augue velit laoreet tellus, vitae laoreet neque urna vitae neque. Donec id rhoncus quam, eu faucibus nisl. Morbi tempus, eros eget posuere maximus, lorem enim pharetra odio, et fermentum turpis justo sed ante. Etiam non placerat libero, sed aliquam tellus. Donec condimentum ac turpis sed molestie.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse sit amet ex non risus placerat dictum.

Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nullam semper eget sem a accumsan. Vivamus ultricies urna et varius efficitur. Etiam molestie non erat quis ultricies. Sed vel pretium dui, a viverra velit. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Phasellus vel fermentum orci. Nunc luctus nec arcu eu consequat. Nullam dolor arcu, ornare sit amet congue aliquam, efficitur vel risus. Nunc laoreet arcu commodo dui condimentum interdum. Maecenas quis eros tempor, finibus lectus at, cursus turpis. Vivamus vitae dignissim nulla, nec eleifend libero. Sed a lacus eu dolor suscipit elementum. Integer tincidunt est ac mauris pharetra fringilla.

In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aenean ac consectetur ipsum. Nulla elit libero, porttitor eget ultricies quis, lobortis ac nunc. Mauris at purus ultricies, lacinia quam vel, euismod dui. Donec sit amet urna nunc. Curabitur dapibus faucibus ex ut elementum. Curabitur tempus sem pellentesque leo dictum condimentum. Nunc venenatis est erat, at tincidunt sapien consectetur in. Pellentesque tristique nulla ut orci cursus, ut pellentesque ipsum aliquet. Fusce ut turpis ut massa auctor consequat ac eu nisi. Praesent aliquam arcu ut egestas pharetra. Integer erat ligula, suscipit sed velit id, finibus lobortis massa.

Nam erat arcu, ornare eget augue non, auctor porta sapien. Suspendisse eget egestas augue. Maecenas accumsan interdum urna, et mattis tellus placerat vel. Suspendisse a semper dui. Phasellus rhoncus ipsum vel libero ullamcorper, id dignissim nisi pellentesque. Maecenas in gravida leo. Donec volutpat ut nulla elementum imperdiet. Donec tortor neque, dapibus nec aliquet in, rutrum lobortis tortor. Morbi blandit nec arcu ut efficitur. Etiam fringilla massa ut viverra efficitur. Praesent eget posuere massa, eget ultrices massa. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Nam maximus ligula eget nisi fringilla molestie sit amet tempus tortor. Cras rutrum, ipsum vel aliquet hendrerit, turpis metus condimentum sem, ut condimentum lorem ipsum vel metus.

Suspendisse ullamcorper facilisis congue. Donec accumsan mi ut leo eleifend, nec elementum neque congue. Fusce consectetur et quam vel sagittis. Nullam dui neque, dignissim ac consequat a, accumsan non nunc. Nam aliquet eu dui vel mattis. In eu erat malesuada, convallis augue quis, egestas nunc. Nulla id dui et quam tempus interdum. Integer dapibus, justo a imperdiet lobortis, augue velit laoreet tellus, vitae laoreet neque urna vitae neque. Donec id rhoncus quam, eu faucibus nisl. Morbi tempus, eros eget posuere maximus, lorem enim pharetra odio, et fermentum turpis justo sed ante. Etiam non placerat libero, sed aliquam tellus. Donec condimentum ac turpis sed molestie.

mvp-sunset

The Monument

The Monument

Hours: open Wed. – Sun., 10am – 5pm

Admission: Gallery level is free; lookout level is $6 for adults/$4 for children

COVID-19 Procedures:
  • If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, please visit another time.
  • Masks are required inside the Monument.
  • Please observe a safe distance from other visitors.
  • Visitors are encouraged to use hand sanitizer, provided at multiple locations within the monument.
  • When using touchscreen displays, please use sanitized styluses or plastic gloves. Do not use the touch screen directly. At the end of your visit, leave your stylus in the location designated by Conservancy staff, or dispose of your gloves. The stylus pens are sanitized between visitors.
  • Visitors should follow all City and State guidelines regarding safe activities during the pandemic. Visit coronavirus.baltimorecity.gov and coronavirus.maryland.gov for current city and state-wide Covid precautions.

monument-1

Climb Tickets

Tickets to climb the Monument’s Stair Tower can be purchased onsite using a credit card (no cash accepted). Climbs are offered every 20 minutes for groups no larger than five people. If you are coming during the busy summer months, especially on the weekends, we encourage you to purchase your ticket online in advance to ensure that there will be a climb available when you visit.

What Can I See and Do Inside the Monument?

The interior of the Monument has two principal visitor spaces: The Gallery, which includes interactive digital exhibits, and The Stair Tower & Lookout.

The Gallery

Visitors to the Monument’s gallery are greeted by a heroic bust of George Washington that has faced the south entrance since 1843. In 1915, a handsome bronze memorial plaque was installed nearby commemorating the Monument’s Centennial, and in 2015 a plaque was installed commemorating the Monument’s Bicentennial restoration by the Conservancy.

The restored gallery space includes interactive touchscreens providing a virtual tour of the Monument, both exterior and interior. The virtual tour includes examples of views from the Monument’s several levels, including live camera feeds from the top showing the view in all four directions. The interactive screens also provide a beautifully illustrated history of the building of the Monument, and key moments in the development of the surrounding squares of Mount Vernon Place. A separate video kiosk provides an overview of the history of the Monument and Mount Vernon Place, as well as videos regarding the Monument’s 2014-15 restoration.

monument-2

The Stair Tower & Lookout

The stair tower consists for 227 marble steps that spiral to the top through nine rotations. At the top, a lookout area provides magnificent views in four directions. These spaces and the views from the top can also be experienced on the digital exhibitions in the Monument’s gallery.

Additional Information

  • Be sure to dress for your visit. To preserve the integrity of the masonry, the Monument does not have air conditioning, and is only heated moderately during winter months.
  • There are no restrooms available.
  • The Monument is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
  • For the safety of our visitors and staff, the monument is monitored by closed circuit security cameras.
  • What You Should Bring:
    • A Mask
    • A Camera
    • Water
  • What You Should Not Bring:
    • Food and beverages (other than water)
    • Glass Containers
    • Pets
    • Large Bags or Backpacks

The Stair Tower & Lookout
The stair tower consists for 227 marble steps that spiral to the top through nine rotations. At the top, a lookout area provides magnificent views in four directions. These spaces and the views from the top can also be experienced on the digital exhibitions in the Monument’s gallery.
The Monument

Hours: open Wed. – Sun., 10am – 5pm

Admission: Gallery level is free; lookout level is $6 for adults/$4 for children

COVID-19 Procedures:
  • If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, please visit another time.
  • Masks are required inside the Monument.
  • Please observe a safe distance from other visitors.
  • Visitors are encouraged to use hand sanitizer, provided at multiple locations within the monument.
  • When using touchscreen displays, please use sanitized styluses or plastic gloves. Do not use the touch screen directly. At the end of your visit, leave your stylus in the location designated by Conservancy staff, or dispose of your gloves. The stylus pens are sanitized between visitors.
  • Visitors should follow all City and State guidelines regarding safe activities during the pandemic. Visit coronavirus.baltimorecity.gov and coronavirus.maryland.gov for current city and state-wide Covid precautions.

monument-1

Climb Tickets

Tickets to climb the Monument’s Stair Tower can be purchased onsite using a credit card (no cash accepted). Climbs are offered every 20 minutes for groups no larger than five people. If you are coming during the busy summer months, especially on the weekends, we encourage you to purchase your ticket online in advance to ensure that there will be a climb available when you visit.
What can I see and do inside the Monument?
The interior of the Monument has two principal visitor spaces: The Gallery, which includes interactive digital exhibits, and The Stair Tower & Lookout.

The Gallery

Visitors to the Monument’s gallery are greeted by a heroic bust of George Washington that has faced the south entrance since 1843. In 1915, a handsome bronze memorial plaque was installed nearby commemorating the Monument’s Centennial, and in 2015 a plaque was installed commemorating the Monument’s Bicentennial restoration by the Conservancy.

The restored gallery space includes interactive touchscreens providing a virtual tour of the Monument, both exterior and interior. The virtual tour includes examples of views from the Monument’s several levels, including live camera feeds from the top showing the view in all four directions. The interactive screens also provide a beautifully illustrated history of the building of the Monument, and key moments in the development of the surrounding squares of Mount Vernon Place. A separate video kiosk provides an overview of the history of the Monument and Mount Vernon Place, as well as videos regarding the Monument’s 2014-15 restoration.

monument-2
monument-3

The Stair Tower & Lookout

The stair tower consists for 227 marble steps that spiral to the top through nine rotations. At the top, a lookout area provides magnificent views in four directions. These spaces and the views from the top can also be experienced on the digital exhibitions in the Monument’s gallery.

Additional Information

  • Be sure to dress for your visit. To preserve the integrity of the masonry, the Monument does not have air conditioning, and is only heated moderately during winter months.
  • There are no restrooms available.
  • The Monument is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
  • For the safety of our visitors and staff, the monument is monitored by closed circuit security cameras.
  • What You Should Bring:
    • A Mask
    • A Camera
    • Water
  • What You Should Not Bring:
    • Food and beverages (other than water)
    • Glass Containers
    • Pets
    • Large Bags or Backpacks

oww-feature-new

Old Westminster Winery

Old Westminster Winery

– Westminster, MD

Delivery Options: Delivery & Shipping

Winemaking is a delicate and nuanced art. At Old Westminster Winery we believe that our family’s collective expertise, meticulous vineyard care, and minimal intervention in the cellar enable us to produce distinctive wines that are a pleasure to drink. And, it’s local and sustainable. Please check shipping and delivery costs.