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Best Permanent Exhibits In Baltimore

Though temporary exhibitions tend to get more press, there are Baltimore-area museums that still offer sights to see in their permanent galleries. Art, books, history and science are preserved and displayed for generations to come.

baltimore museum of art
(Credit: www.bmoremedia.com)

The Baltimore Museum of Art
10 Art Museum Drive
Baltimore, Md. 21218
(443) 573-1700
www.artbma.org

The permanent exhibits at the BMA boast an impressive collection of more than 90,000 pieces from various countries, some dating back 1,000 years. Along with paintings by Picasso and sculpture by Olafur Eliasson, ancient objects made by Aztec and Mayan people can be viewed. There are centuries-old stoneware from Asia and even recent art with local ties. The prints, drawings and photographs collection contains more than 65,000 works on paper. Though the Native American and Pacific Islands galleries are currently closed as part of a three-year renovation, a new contemporary wing opened late last year. Click here to find out which exhibits are open or closed. Award-winning artist Sarah Oppenheimer was commissioned to work on the space to engage visitors who can find art on the walls, ceilings and everywhere in between. While at the museum, check out the most delicious permanent exhibit by dining at Gertrude's restaurant.

Sculpture Court, Walters Art Museum
(Credit: www.baltimorefotos.com)

The Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(410) 547-9000
www.thewalters.org

Thanks to the generous donations of William and Henry Walter, whose art collection topped 22,000 pieces spanning 55 centuries, Baltimore City was given a unique look at art throughout human history. The museum mow contains more than 35,000 pieces, dating from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th century Europe. There is something for everyone with Egyptian mummy masks, ceramics from the Far East, Greek sculpture, medieval ivory and art deco jewelry. A new director, Julia Marciari-Alexander, with a specialty in French and British art from the 17th and 18th centuries, joined the museum in April and she hopes to continue in maintaining public accessibility to such unique objects. The Walters has also paired up with the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize Finalist Exhibition, Baltimore's most prestigious art award giving $25,000 to further the career of a local visual artist.

hopkins evergreen
(Credit: museums.jhu.edu)

Johns Hopkins Evergreen Museum and Library
The Johns Hopkins University
4545 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, Md. 21210
(410) 516-0341
www.museums.jhu.edu

This former mansion of the prominent Garrett family just north of the city will take you back in time with its 26 acres of Italian-style gardens and beautiful architecture from the Gilded age. The 48 rooms, along with its own theater, are filled with more than 50,000 of the family's possessions, from its household furnishings to European paintings to Asian porcelains and carved ivory. The library collection includes rare books and manuscripts and, as John W. Garrett was president of the B&O railroad, the current Evergreen Museum also touches on Baltimore's railroad history.

2/3/12 - Family & Pets – A Guide to Baltimore's Maryland Science Center -Maryland Science Center
(Credit: www.hellobaltimore.com)

Maryland Science Center
601 Light St.
Baltimore, Md. 21230
(410) 685-2370
www.mdsci.org

The permanent exhibits at the Maryland Science Center are not just for children and tourists. Learn of Earth's past with dinosaur displays, environmental science and geology. Look inward to discover more about your own body and cells. Those interested in physics and aerospace will have a ball in Newton's Alley. All will enjoy watching films on a large Imax screen, from "Forces of Nature" to "Born to be Wild" in 3D. Best of all, every weekend the Science Center offers a unique look at the sun, stars and planets in the rooftop observatory.

jewish museum of maryland
(Credit: www.myjewishlearning.com)

Jewish Museum of Maryland
Herbert Bearman Campus
15 Lloyd St.
Baltimore, Md. 21202
(410) 732-6400
www.jewishmuseummd.org

The Jewish museum was founded in 1960 to focus on Jewish immigration, culture, history and life in Maryland. More than 10,000 people visit the museum each year, some originating from Israel, as its permanent exhibition is the largest collection of regional Jewish-American memorabilia, including clothing, art and ceremonial pieces. Within the library you will find rare books, manuscripts and an oral history collection which documents about 700 interviews with the local Jewish community throughout the years. The museum recently acquired a large collection of photographs from the Baltimore Jewish Times. While there, check out B'nai Israel next to the museum, the oldest synagogue in the state which was built in 1845.

Pam Smith graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a passion for writing. Her adaptive nature led her to work in the scientific, energy supply, and business industries while writing on a multitude of topics for various online media. Pam currently resides in Baltimore County. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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