Surroundings, Baltimore

Built in 1811 by Charles Sterrett Ridgely, a Speaker of Maryland's House of Delegates, Historic Oakland is a blend of the Federal, Greek Revival and Colonial Revival styles. This country home was a supplement to his town home in Baltimore. Oakland is open to the public and offers afternoon tea, recitals, chamber music concerts, and tours.

Housed in historic Oakland Manor, the African Art Museum of Maryland promotes African art and culture through lectures, exhibits, workshops and tours. Items on display include African masks, sculptured figures, textiles, basketry, jewelry, household items, and musical instruments.

The Howard County Center of African-American Culture features rotating exhibits that preserve the history of African-American culture in Maryland.

Visitors have the opportunity to experience mid-nineteenth century rural life at the Carroll County Farm Museum. The Museum grounds include original farm structures, such as the Farmhouse, built in 1852-53 and a bank barn as well as a Smokehouse, Broom shop, Saddlery, Springhouse, Living History Center, Wagon shed, and a One-room Schoolhouse. The General Store, reminiscent of the 1800s, sells items handcrafted by Farm Museum artisans, souvenirs, and nickel candies.

The Union Mills Homestead was home to six generations of the Shriver family. David and Andrew Shriver purchased a large tract of land along the Big Pipe Creek in 1797. The Shriver family operated several mills, farmed the land, as well as operating a tannery and canning business. Furnishings and utensils highlight two centuries of American life in the clapboard farmhouse.

The Carroll County Arts Council is housed in the former Carroll Theatre. The art deco building houses a 263-seat theatre, and the Tevis Gallery with work by regional artists, in various media.

Aberdeen Room is an historical and educational facility that displays memorabilia and artifacts related to the development of Aberdeen. Some of the highlights include an original 1852 plot of the town, yearbooks from Aberdeen Elementary and Aberdeen High School, army photos from Aberdeen Proving Ground and sports equipment.

THIS ATTRACTION IS CLOSED WHILE IT SEEKS A NEW LOCATION.Aberdeen is the hometown of the Ripken family. The museum displays photos and memorabilia of Cal Ripken Jr. and the Ripken family.

The Ordnance, located on the Aberdeen Proving Ground, displays weaponry from the Revolution to Desert Storm. Edged weapons, handguns, rifles, machine guns, grenades, mines, booby traps, and more are on display.

Historic London Town and Gardens is a 23 acre museum and park with the William Brown House (circa 1760) and other reconstructed colonial buildings, an eight-acre woodland garden, the Richard Hill Garden of native and imported medicinal plants; and a multi-purpose pavilion. There is an ongoing archaeological investigation in search of the "lost town" of London.

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center provides information regarding the biological and physical processes that sustain life on earth. It serves as an environmental education and outreach center. Environmental change is measured in four ecological levels: global change; landscape ecology; ecology of coastal ecosystems; and population and community ecology.

The Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University was created in 1971, when local businessman Frank Roberts donated his collection of Chinese and Japanese ivory sculpture. Since that time, the Center's permanent collection of Asian art objects has grown to includeceramics, paintings, wood-block prints, textiles, wood, metal and stone sculpture, cloisonné enamels and furniture. On view in the gallery is a selection from the approximately 1,000 art objects from China, Korea, Japan, India, Tibet, Nepal, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand. In addition to the permanent collection, the Center presents changing exhibitions of Asian art ranging from historical works to contemporary masters, and presents engaging performing artists.

In 1790, Hampton was the largest house in the United States. There are many stories to be told here that include enslaved African Americans, servants, industrial and agricultural workers, and owners.