Exploring Baltimore’s captivating history has never been easier thanks to the Downtown Baltimore In-App Audio Tour. This self-guided experience allows visitors to discover the city’s iconic landmarks and lesser-known gems at their own pace. Immersive audio commentary, detailed directions, and live GPS maps come together to create an engaging and flexible tour that brings the past to life. From the Bromo Seltzer Tower’s unique architecture to the haunting tales of the Westminster Church and Cemetery, this tour offers a glimpse into Baltimore’s fascinating stories that just might leave you wondering what other secrets the city holds.
Key Points
- Self-guided audio tour highlighting Baltimore’s history and landmarks, including the Bromo Seltzer Tower, Davidge Hall, and Westminster Church and Cemetery.
- Tour accessible via smartphone, with downloadable audio guide and GPS-enabled route map.
- Flexible duration of approximately 1.5 hours, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace.
- Includes insights into Enoch Pratt’s influence, the Walters Art Museum’s impressive collection, and the ethical dilemmas faced by early medical students.
- Comprehensive cancellation policy with full refunds available up to 24 hours before the tour.
About the Tour
The self-guided in-app audio tour of downtown Baltimore invites visitors to enjoy the city’s rich history and captivating stories, exploring historic sites and neighborhoods at their own pace over the course of 1.5 hours.
Guests will uncover the fascinating history behind landmarks like the Bromo Seltzer Tower, Davidge Hall, and the haunted Westminster Church and Cemetery, where Edgar Allan Poe’s monument stands.
The tour also highlights the charming Mount Vernon neighborhood and the Walters Art Museum’s premier collection of international art and artifacts.
With turn-by-turn directions, a live GPS map, and an engaging audio guide, this self-guided experience allows travelers to discover downtown Baltimore at their convenience.
Highlights of the Tour
Highlights of the tour include the Bromo Seltzer Tower, a distinctive landmark with a fascinating history that offers a glimpse into Baltimore’s past. Visitors can learn about the tower’s origins as a manufacturer of a popular effervescent pain reliever, and how it became an iconic part of the city’s skyline.
The tour also explores Davidge Hall, home to some of the earliest medical students who acquired cadavers for their studies, offering a grim but intriguing look into the past.
Plus, the haunted Westminster Church and Cemetery, including Edgar Allan Poe’s monument, captivates with its spooky tales.
Guests can discover the wealth and influence of Baltimore benefactor Enoch Pratt, and marvel at the impressive collection of international art and artifacts at the Walters Art Museum.
What’s Included in the Tour
This self-guided audio tour through the WeGoTrip app includes a downloadable audio guide in English, allowing visitors to enjoy the rich history and captivating stories of downtown Baltimore at their own pace. The tour also provides a detailed route from stop to stop, with a live GPS map on your smartphone to ensure you don’t miss any of the key highlights. Plus, the tour guide through the WeGoTrip app offers a seamless and informative experience, guiding you through the city’s most significant sites.
| Included | Description |
|---|---|
| Downloadable Audio Guide | English-language self-guided tour |
| Live GPS Map | Detailed route with stop-to-stop directions |
| Tour Guide | In-app guide for a seamless experience |
| Smartphone Compatibility | Tour accessible via smartphone |
| Flexible Pacing | Explore at your own pace |
What to Bring for the Tour
To fully enjoy the self-guided audio tour of downtown Baltimore, visitors should bring a few essential items. Specifically, they’ll need a charged smartphone and a pair of headphones to enjoy the tour’s captivating narratives as they explore the city’s historic sites.
Plus, having the WeGoTrip app downloaded beforehand will ensure a seamless experience.
The tour also recommends bringing:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen and a hat (for sunny days)
- Water or snacks (to stay hydrated and energized)
- A portable charger (to keep devices powered throughout the tour)
With these items in hand, explorers can explore Baltimore’s rich history and captivating stories, making the most of their self-guided adventure.
Cancellation Policy for the Tour
The self-guided audio tour offers a flexible cancellation policy, allowing visitors to receive a full refund if they need to cancel their booking up to 24 hours in advance. This provides peace of mind for travelers who may need to change their plans due to unexpected circumstances.
The tour can be reserved now and paid for later, so there’s no need to pay upfront. This makes it easy to secure a spot on the tour without any financial commitment until closer to the departure date.
With this hassle-free cancellation policy, guests can explore the rich history and captivating stories of downtown Baltimore with confidence, knowing they can get a full refund if their plans change.
Bromo Seltzer Tower’s History
In the late 19th century, a Baltimore-based pharmaceutical company, Emerson Drug Company, erected the iconic Bromo Seltzer Tower, which has become a beloved landmark in the city’s downtown landscape. This remarkable structure, standing at 289 feet tall, was modeled after the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, and its striking blue-green tiled roof and clocktower have become synonymous with Baltimore’s skyline.
The tower was originally designed to house the Emerson Drug Company’s operations, including the production of the famous Bromo Seltzer headache remedy.
Today, the tower is a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors the chance to explore its history and stunning architecture.
Visitors can climb to the top of the tower for panoramic views of downtown Baltimore.
The tower’s iconic blue-green color and clock are illuminated at night, adding to its charm and allure.
Early Medical Students’ Stories
Alongside the architectural marvels that dotted downtown Baltimore, the city’s early medical institutions held their own captivating tales.
At Davidge Hall, the University of Maryland’s medical school, aspiring physicians once faced the unsettling task of acquiring cadavers for their anatomical studies, a practice shrouded in both necessity and controversy.
Students often turned to the city’s graveyards and resorted to ‘body snatching‘ to secure the necessary subjects for dissection, an unethical yet common practice that fueled public unease.
These stories of early medical education in Baltimore shed light on the challenges and ethical dilemmas that shaped the evolution of the medical profession in the city.
Haunted Westminster Church and Cemetery
Amidst the serene backdrop of downtown Baltimore, Westminster Church and Cemetery stand as a haunting reminder of the city’s past, their gothic architecture and storied history captivating visitors from near and far.
The gravesite of renowned poet Edgar Allan Poe, his regal monument a poignant tribute to his enduring legacy.
Tales of ghostly apparitions and unexplained occurrences, from rustling in the shadows to eerie whispers in the wind.
A centuries-old cemetery, its weathered headstones bearing witness to the lives and deaths of Baltimore’s earliest residents.
The church’s architectural grandeur, its stained-glass windows and towering steeple evoking a sense of reverence and mystery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Take the Tour at My Own Pace?
Yes, the self-guided tour allows you to explore at your own pace. You can start and stop the audio as needed, and spend more time at any sites that interest you along the way.
Is the Audio Tour Available in Any Other Languages?
The audio tour is currently only available in English, though the WeGoTrip app may offer additional language options in the future. Travelers can easily access the tour’s English-language content through the app on their smartphones.
Are There Any Discounts or Special Offers for the Tour?
The tour doesn’t currently offer any discounts or special offers, but customers can take advantage of the flexible booking policy that allows free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Can I Stop and Start the Tour at Any Point?
Yes, the tour is self-guided, so users can stop and start it at any point. The tour is downloaded to the user’s smartphone, allowing them to pause, resume, or revisit specific stops along the way as they explore downtown Baltimore.
Is There a Recommended Time of Day to Take the Tour?
The tour can be taken at any time of day, though many find the morning or early afternoon ideal to avoid crowds and have the most pleasant experience exploring the historic sites and neighborhoods. The self-guided format allows flexibility to go at one’s own pace.
Recap
The Downtown Baltimore In-App Audio Tour offers visitors a convenient and immersive way to explore the city’s rich history and iconic landmarks at their own pace.
With detailed directions, live GPS maps, and captivating audio narratives, the tour provides an engaging experience that allows travelers to discover Baltimore’s captivating stories and architectural wonders through the ease of a smartphone.
