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FAQs

Read some of our most frequently asked questions. If you have questions that are not answered here, email info@mdhistory.org.

Questions

Where are you located and what are your hours?

The Maryland Center for History and Culture is located at 610 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21201. Learn more about directions and parking.

The museum and shop are open from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Wednesday–Sunday, with extended hours on Thursdays from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. We offer free after hours admission to the museum on the first Thursday of each month with Free After Five, sponsored by Brown Advisory.

The H. Furlong Baldwin Library is open Wednesday – Friday and the second Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Learn more about hours and admission.


What Safety procedures have you put in place for visitors during COVID-19?

The health and safety of our visitors, staff, and community is our top priority. We have examined all aspects of our operations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, and have implemented safety procedures. Read more about what we are doing to keep you safe, and what we ask of you.


What exhibitions are currently on display ?

Visit the Exhibitions page for more information about all of our current exhibitions.


Is my membership current? How do I renew it?

Our staff is happy to check your membership status. Please call our Visitor Services desk at 410-685-3750, ext. 0, or email info@mdhistory.org. Or visit the Membership page to join or renew a membership.


Where is the Entrance to the Maryland Center for History and Culture?

We have two main entrances. One is located in the Meyerhoff Courtyard at 610 Park Avenue, between West Monument and Centre streets. The other is behind the museum, accessible from the parking lot off of Monument Street.


How do I donate an item to the museum or library? Will you buy an item from me?

We have a very specific process for reviewing and considering objects or materials to be donated or purchased for the collection. All items must have a significant Maryland connection—they must be made in Maryland, owned, or used by a prominent Marylander, or in some way involved with Maryland historic locations or events—and items should address a need or want in rounding out our existing holdings.

If you have an object that fits these criteria for the museum (china, paintings, jewelry, silver, furniture, clothing, weapons, sculpture, linens, quilts, etc.), contact Director of Collections Harrison Van Waes at 410-685-3750, ext. 331, or email hvanwaes@mdhistory.org. Provide as much information about the object, its condition and its relation to Maryland along with digital images, if possible. The request will be researched and recommendations presented to the Collections Committee, which will make the final decision to accept or acquire the object. The process for donating an item to the museum may take up to eight months.

For book donations or offers, contact Senior Reference Librarian Francis O’Neill at 410-685-3750, ext. 359 or email foneill@mdhistory.org. If you have other library materials (personal or family papers, organizational records, prints, photographs, paper ephemera, etc.), please see our Item Donations page for more information. We will ask you to complete our Item History Form so that we can learn more about your materials and their history. Library staff will present recommended offers to our Library Committee, which makes final decisions to accept or decline the material.


Can you help me get an item appraised? Can you recommend a conservator?

We cannot make referrals to appraisers and conservators. Visit the International Society of Appraisers or the American Institute for Conservation to locate an appraiser or conservator in or near your zip code.


How do I get my home listed as a historic property? Where can I find guidelines for restoring or renovating a historic property?

We do not maintain a statewide registry of historic properties or provide guidance concerning historic property preservation. We suggest reaching out to the Maryland Historical Trust, 410-697-9591, or Preservation Maryland, 410-685-2886, for property- and/or preservation-related questions.


How do I report damage to a historic roadside marker or make a suggestion for a new marker?

The Maryland Historical Society maintained Maryland’s Roadside Historical Marker Program between 1958 and 1985. The Maryland Historical Trust now manages the program and can answer your questions.


What is your connection to the Enoch Pratt House?

The Enoch Pratt House, located at 201 W. Monument Street, was built by Baltimore philanthropist Enoch Pratt in 1844, the same year the Maryland Historical Society was founded. Pratt and his wife, Maria Louisa, lived in the house until their deaths in 1896 and 1913, respectively. In 1916, Mary Washington Keyser purchased the house and donated it to the Maryland Historical Society as a gift in honor of her husband, a longtime member of the Society. In 1919, the house became the Maryland Historical Society’s main headquarters, library, and gallery. It was used as an office until 2004 when it was closed to the public. It is now a part of the Maryland Center for History and Culture’s campus, but is currently being offered for redevelopment. The Maryland Center for History and Culture is owned and operated by the Maryland Historical Society.