Baltimore Museum of Industry

The museum celebrates the innovators, entrepreneurs, and workers who propelled Baltimore into the industrial age. The galleries recreate a cannery, garment loft, machine shop, and print shop. Tours and hands-on activities are offered.

The Decker Gallery overlooking the waterfront can host 300 seated guests with room for dancing and 500 for cocktail reception service. The museum also rents its galleries and pavilion on the water for weddings. Read on to learn more.

History

The Museum of Industry tells the story of Baltimore’s industrial legacy and shows how innovation fuels ongoing progress. Located in an 1860s waterfront oyster cannery, the Museum reveals how inventors, entrepreneurs, and workers of all backgrounds propelled Baltimore to become one of the world’s most important port cities. Exhibitions, education programs, hands-on activities, tours, and collections highlight Baltimore’s role in the development of American industry and its global influence.

From the oldest gas company in America to the first traffic light, you’ll find a wealth of historic inventions. A large hall showcases floor-to-ceiling displays of the many products that had their beginnings in Baltimore. The Old Bay spice grinder, the Ouija board, and a linotype printing machine are among them.

The largest gallery space at BMI is the Decker Gallery, an opulent room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a spectacular view of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The room features a separate bar and reception area, catering stations, activities, a dance floor, and ample seating.

Exhibits

The museum’s exhibits, housed in an 1860s waterfront oyster cannery, show how people of all ages and backgrounds have helped fuel the city’s manufacturing might. Explore the galleries to discover how seafood packing, canning, printing, and garment-making contributed to Baltimore’s economic growth.

Feel the heat of a forge and the vibration of a belt-driven machine shop in workshops and exhibits that highlight the city’s history in food canning, printing, and the invention of Noxzema skin cream. Stand beneath a 1937 Mini-Mariner, a plane built by the same workers who helped build the BMI’s cannery, and stroll through Dr. Bunting’s Pharmacy, the store where Noxzema was invented.

Photographer J.M. Giordano’s portraits of Baltimore City residents reveal their passions, challenges, and contributions to the economy of the region. Guests can also step aboard the 1906 steam tugboat Baltimore, and see how the city’s maritime workers continue to contribute to the world of commerce today. A great place to also visit is Port Discovery Children’s Museum.

Events

From Berger Cookies to Old Bay, many familiar brands got their start right here. Tour the 1865 Platt oyster cannery, a 1910 drugstore like the one where Noxzema was invented, and exhibits that recreate a garment loft and a machine shop. Learn about innovations in printing, food processing, transportation, and steel-making.

Throughout the year, education programs and exhibitions tell stories of the workers, businesses, and inventions that helped Baltimore become America’s first industrial center. The museum also hosts concerts and family-friendly events.

The museum’s unique waterfront location makes it the perfect place to host high school proms, bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversary parties, weddings, and other celebrations. Indoor and outdoor spaces, including a brick terrace overlooking the harbor, can accommodate 250-500 seated guests with space for a dance floor. The BMI is also the ideal venue for corporate events, cocktail receptions, and fundraisers. All proceeds from the event support the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions.

Parking

Located in an 1865 waterfront oyster cannery, the Museum honors the dignity of work through exhibitions, tours, hands-on activities, and programs. Explore innovations that changed the world in galleries dedicated to printing, steel-making, canning, food processing, utilities, garment, and more.

Exhibits highlight the many ways that Baltimore has been shaped by the work it does and the people who do it. From the spice grinder that made Old Bay to the family-owned AFRO News, discover the impact of small businesses and local industries on city life. Click here for the next blog post.

 

Driving directions from Superior Soft Wash to Baltimore Museum of Industry

Driving directions from Baltimore Museum of Industry to The Walters Art Museum

 

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