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Historic Ships in Baltimore
Historic Ships in Baltimore
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Piers 1, 3 and 5 in Baltimore's Inner Harbor
301 Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-539-1797
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Historic Ships in Baltimore Description
A must see among Baltimore's attractions is the group of four historic ships docked right in the Inner Harbor. They include the USS Constellation, a sail ship from the Civil War; the USS Torsk, a submarine which sank the last two enemy warships in World War II; the Taney, a World War II Coast Guard ship; and the Chesapeake, a Lighthouse ship built in the 1930s. (You can also tour a real Lighthouse, whose beacon was first lit in 1856.) If you're short on time, stick to the USS Constellation and the USS Torsk. The Constellation has a separate kids' audio tour (which comes with the price of admission) and a variety of fun hands-on activities. You can haul the rope or "brace" that controls the ship's mast and sails, or help use a "capstan" to lift a barrel out of the water. There's a special program about young boys who served as "powder monkeys" during the Civil War and every day at noon they shoot a real cannon. On the USS Torsk you can see torpedoes as well as the equipment used to decode secret transmissions. Each boat is fascinating in its own way, and all are well worth the price of admission. Be sure to check out our other Baltimore vacation ideas.
History Museum
Special Collection
Kid Tips
School-Age Kids: Kids will love seeing where sailors ate, slept and went to the bathroom.
Pre-Teens & Teens: Those who've studied the Civil War or World War II will appreciate the videotaped interviews with sailors during the attack on Pearl Harbor and footage of various battles.
Planning Notes
- Getting Access.Getting around some of the boats means crouching to avoid low ceilings and walking through narrow hallways, so you have to park your stroller outside. There's only wheelchair access on the top two levels of the USS Constellation.
Just the Facts
Hours: Open daily except Thansgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day from 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m., April through October; from 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., November through March. There's a schedule of interesting activities and tours which changes daily.
Fees: Admission prices vary depending on whether you decide to see one, two or four ships. The prices for four ships are $7 for kids 6-14 (Midshipmen), $18 for adults (Captain) and $14 for Seniors (Admiral). Kids 5 and younger (Stowaways) are free.
Recommended Time: 1 - 2 hours
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