Inner Harbor, Baltimore

Harborplace, an attractive modern complex with two glass-enclosed pavilions in historical style, is both a shopping centre and a market place, with a plethora of shops, restaurants and open spaces. Street artists display their skills in the Amphitheater on the Promenade.

The world's tallest pentagonal building, home of Top of the World observation deck.

The Baltimore Maritime Museum on Piers 3 and 4 offers visitors the opportunity to explore some museum ships - the lightship "Chesapeake" and the submarine "Torsk", the last United States vessel to sink a Japanese submarine during the Second World War, and the coastguard cutter "Roger B. Taney".

On Pier 3 is the modern National Aquarium, built in 1981. Features of particular interest are the five-storey Tropical Basin, the Open Ocean Exhibit (sharks) and the "Wings under Water" basin, with various species of ray. On Pier 4 is a separate Marine Mammals Pavilion.

The Baltimore Museum of Industry, on Key Highway, is devoted to the industrial history of the city. Among the exhibits are reconstructions of an old workshop, a printing office and a canning factory. At the quay is moored the tug "Baltimore".

In the north of the city (Museum Dr. and Charles and 31st Sts.) is the Baltimore Museum of Art, the largest art museum in Maryland. The high point of the museum is the Cone Collection, mainly of French art, with an excellent representation of works by Matisse - the result of the artist's friendship with Etta Cone. The new wing houses post-war art.

Attraction permanentlt closed in November 2007. Materials have been moved to the Maryland Historical Society facility in Mt. Vernon area.The Baltimore Civil War Museum is housed in an 1849 train station. The exhibits highlight the events of April 19, 1861 when the first bloodshed of the Civil War occurred. The history of Maryland's railroad is also presented including the station's role in the escape of enslaved African Americans via the Underground Railroad.

The south-west corner of the Inner Harbor is occupied by the modern Maryland Science Center, with a planetarium. On its three floors are scientific displays, particularly on space travel and physics, and experiments are laid on in which visitors can take part.

Clipper City is a replica of one of the "Tall Ships" that carried lumber from 1854 to 1892. Cruises are available in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the Chesapeake Bay, and beyond.

Moonlight and theme cruises are available as you tour the Inner Harbor and Chesapeake Bay.

Multimedia presentations and a five-story screen are part of the experience at Maryland Science Center.

Federal Hill Park was the site of a Civil War fort and offers a view of the harbor and city skyline.

The USS Constellation, launched in 1854, was the last all-sail ship built by the U.S. Navy.