This realistic Day Trip to Baltimore Historic Ships Guide helps you plan your next adventure in the Charm City.

Baltimore is a port city on the Chesapeake Bay. It is a great day trip destination thanks to a fleet of historic ships in its Inner Harbor.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Baltimore is the largest city in the state of Maryland. With over half a million residents, Baltimore is over 10 times larger than Annapolis, the capital of the state.

Baltimore’s reputation precedes this city. The city is notorious for its high crime rate. A handful of true crime TV series that aired in the last decade took place in Baltimore. They did not help improve the public’s perception of the city.

As a result, you might not think of Baltimore as a safe day trip destination. And you would be wrong. If you follow reasonable precautions, you can have a great day trip to Baltimore.

Historic Ships in Baltimore are the main attraction in the city. You can explore four historic ships on your day trip to Baltimore.

You will see USS Constellation, USCG Lightship Chesapeake, USS Torsk, and USCGC Taney or Cutter 37. Baltimore Historic Ships has a smaller fleet than Maritime Museums in San Diego and San Francisco.

But the fleet of Baltimore museum is more versatile. There is a sloop-of-war, a lightship, a submarine, and a cutter. Few museums could boast about such a variety of ships.

1. Baltimore Waterfront Promenade

A trip to Baltimore Historic Ships is impossible without a walk on the Baltimore Waterfront Promenade. The Promenade starts as soon you cross Light Street.

If you go south on the embankment, you will reach Federal Hill Park. It is a great spot to capture the views of Baltimore skyline.

This park is also right next to the American Visionary Art Museum. This small museum has a few rotating exhibits and a sculpture garden.

You would need to go north from the museum to visit the four historic ships. The Promenade brings you there via 9/11 Memorial, National Aquarium, Pratt Street Power Plant, and Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse.

2. USS Constellation

USS Constellation will be impossible to miss thanks to its tall masts. You will see it from nearly every area of the Promenade. Go towards Pratt Street to get a better look of this ship.

History of USS Constellation

USS Constellation is the last sail-only warship built in the United States. It took United States 58 years between its first (USS Constitution) and its last sail-only warships.

This 1855 ship is a crown jewel of the Baltimore Historic Ships collection. It makes sense to start your day trip to Baltimore Historic Ships with a visit to USS Constellation.

USS Constellation was in commission for over 100 years. It dates back to 1855 when it was launched in Norfolk, Virginia. The ship served in the Mediterranean and Africa for part of its service. It took part in the American Civil War.

The ship left force in 1955. It found its last mooring at Baltimore Inner Harbor in 1968. The ship underwent major restoration work between 1994 and 1999. It then reopened to the public.

Annual restoration projects take part on USS Constellation. When they are underway, the ship closes to the public. These closures usually take place in December. They take about a month.

Where to See USS Constellation

You can get a good look at this ship right from the Promenade. Crowds at the Promenade are the only issue. There will always be someone in your way of getting a perfect picture.

There are a few ways to get around it. The first way involves getting as close to the embankment’s edge as you feel comfortable. This will allow you to get a picture without people.

Keep in mind that the embarkment is a few feet (meters) tall. There is no railing. If you get too close to the edge, you risk falling into the harbor.

A safer way of capturing this ship involves going to the plaza on the Promenade. Go to the second floor balcony via a staircase or an elevator. You will see USS Constellation from the balcony.

There will be far less people in your way. And you do not have to risk taking a dive in the water.

The third spot of seeing the ship is right next to the Inner Harbor Outdoor Stage. You can get a picture of the ship without the World Trade Center building in the background.

Loud music and large crowds are the only downside of this photo spot.

You could also board USS Constellation. This way, you could explore its top, gun, and berth decks. You will see rigging, battery of guns, crew quarters, and cargo hold.

This is a great way to see many of the ship’s items up-close. Try to visit the ship around its opening time if you decide to explore exhibits onboard. This way, there will be fewer people.

Th fifth and last way to explore Baltimore Historic Ships is to take a boat tour. You can pick one of the harbor cruises to see the ships from the water.

3. USCG Lightship Chesapeake

You could see the next few ships in Baltimore Historic Ships Museum right from USS Constellation. But you would need to walk around the pentagon shaped World Trade Center building first.

Stop at the 9/11 Memorial of Maryland. The memorial has steel beams from the World Trade Center in NYC and damaged limestone from the Pentagon in Virginia.

You will arrive at United States Coast Guard Lightship Chesapeake as soon as you pass the Visit Baltimore sign. This ship dates back to 1930 when it was launched in Charleston, South Carolina.

After a brief assignment at Fenwick Island in Delaware, the ship started to serve at Chesapeake Light Station. The ship ended service in 1971. It became part of the fleet of Historic Ships in Baltimore in 1982.

USCG Lightship Chesapeake looks a bit like USS Lightship Nantucket in Boston Harbor. This is hardly a surprise. Both ships served the same purpose. Still, there are a few differences between them.

There is a ticket booth right next to this ship if you decide to take a closer look. When you board Chesapeake, you can explore a handful of exhibits. You can see crew quarters, engine room, and galley.

The lightship is just over 133 ft (41 m) in length. It is quite easy to capture the entire ship in one photo.

4. USS Torsk Submarine

The next ship in Baltimore Historic Ships museum is right next to USCG Lightship Chesapeake. You need to walk at most 200 ft (60 m) to reach United States Ship Torsk.

This ship is quite difficult to miss. USS Torsk is a submarine. This makes Historic Ships in Baltimore similar to San Diego Maritime Museum in California. These museums both have submarines on display.

USS Torsk dates back to the World War II times. It was launched in 1944. USS Torsk took part in the war, sinking three enemy ships. The submarine was a training vessel for most of the next two decades.

USS Torsk became part of Baltimore Historic Ships Museum in 1972. You can now visit the submarine on a self-guided tour during its opening hours.

But there is a way to see this ship even if you visit it outside of the opening hours. You can walk right past the submarine on the Harbor Bridge Walk.

But it will be nearly impossible to get the whole submarine in one frame from the embankment. USS Torsk is over 311 ft (95 m) long.

You would get the best view of the submarine from Baltimore Waterfront Promenade. The viewpoint near World Trade Center building also has nice views.

You might notice that the submarine is docked at the starboard. This is not a mistake. There is an ongoing restoration project.

The port side of USS Torsk is under repair. Once complete, it will show a signature paint job on the port side.

5. Harbor Bridge Walk

You would need to walk for about 5-10 minutes after you finished exploring USS Torsk. The other two remaining sights in Baltimore Historic Ships are both at Pier 5.

You will go first past the National Aquarium in Baltimore. This massive building looks a bit like the New England Aquarium in Boston in Long Wharf.

But there are no whale watching tours starting from the National Aquarium. This is one of the main differences between the two sites.

Do not forget to admire the National Aquarium Bridge. It connects two buildings at Piers 3 and 4.

A smaller uncovered pedestrian bridge runs parallel to the National Aquarium Bridge. This is the best spot to enjoy the views of the bridge and piers.

You will find yourself at Pier 4 as soon as you cross the bridge. This pier was once the center of the port. You could still see a few industrial buildings there.

But these buildings no longer house factories and power plants. Instead, you will find offices and restaurants at Pier 4.

This area has been reinvigorated with the new tenants. This process did not mean destroying the history of Baltimore Harbor. Many of the architectural landmarks were carefully restored.

Take a look at the Pratt Street Power Plant. It now houses a well known restaurant chain. Still, you could see the power plant building and chimneys. The building evolved to support the new use cases.

6. USCGC Taney

You should get back to exploring Historic Ships in Baltimore. Luckily, you would not need to wait long to reach the next ship. You will see United States Coast Guard Cutter Taney as soon as you cross Pier 4.

This ship has a long history. It dates back to 1936 when it was launched at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Honolulu, Hawaii became its home port. USCGC Taney reached it in 1937.

This ship is the last warship still afloat that defended against the Pearl Harbor attack. The ship was mostly an Ocean Weather Ship after World War II. It took part in the Vietnam War.

The service of the ship ended in 1986. It joined Historic Ships in Baltimore museum in 1988. The museum renamed the ship in the wake of the protests against racial injustice in 2020.

You can now find it under the name of USCG Cutter 37 or WHEC-37 (High Endurance Cutter). There are two large 37 numbers on both sides of the ship.

The museum has about 50,000 items on display across the four ships. Many of them are housed on USCG Cutter 37. They range from photographs to authentic documents. There is plenty to see onboard.

But you can see a few items right from the shore. Take a look at the motor boat and life boats. You can even see the Coat of Arms of the United States Coast Guard. The ship carries it on both sides.

USCG Cutter 37 is even longer than USS Torsk. It might take a few moments to fit this 327-ft (100-m) ship into one picture.

Pier 4 behind the Pratt Street Power Plant is the best place to take a picture of this ship.

7. Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse

There is one more historic attraction in Baltimore Historic Ships Museum. But this time it is not a ship. Instead, it is a screw-top lighthouse.

You can reach Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse in about 5 minutes from USCGC Taney. The lighthouse dates back to 1855.

It served in the mouth of the Patapsco River near Baltimore until 1988. The lighthouse required manual operation until 1948. It became part of the museum in 1997.

Keep in mind that the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse is only open in the summer. If you visit the lighthouse during other seasons, you can only admire its round building from the outside.

Take a closer look at the Patapsco River and Baltimore Inner Harbor when you visit the lighthouse. You can enjoy the boats pass by.

Continue with this Day Trip to Baltimore Historic Ships Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Baltimore Historic Ships

Baltimore Historic Ships is right in the center of the city. The ships are in Baltimore Inner Harbor. There are a few ways to reach the Historic Ships on your day trip to Baltimore.

Car

If you have a car, you can take Interstate Highway I-95 and I-395. If you travel from the north, the route might take you through the Fort McHenry Tunnel.

Keep in mind that it is a toll tunnel. The fees for a passenger car are between $1.4 and $6 each way.

There are no cash toll booths there. You would need to have an E-ZPass to save on the toll rates. There is also a convenience fee if you drive a rental car through this tunnel.

Once you reached Baltimore Downtown, you would need to figure out parking. There is no onsite parking for Baltimore Historic Ships. The nearby garages offer flat rate parking between $15 and $18 per car.

You could also try a few parking apps to find a lower parking rate. This could be difficult if Baltimore Ravens or Baltimore Orioles play that night.

Public Transport

There is also a way to reach Baltimore Historic Ships via public transport. The city has Light RailLink and Metro SubwayLink.

• The former connects the airport in the south with Hunt Valley up north. A ride from the airport takes about 26 minutes.
• The latter connects Owings Mills in northwest and John Hopkins. A ride from Owings Mills takes 27 minutes.

A one way fare costs $2. There is also a day pass through the CharmPass app. Check for delays since they happen often.

Get off at Camden Station (Light Rail) or Shot Tower (Subway). You can reach the Historic Ships in about 15 minutes from either station.

Cross Light Street via a pedestrian walkway. It will save you a few minutes. You would not have to wait for the traffic light at Conway Street.

There are a handful of buses that stop near Baltimore Historic Ships. Look into CityLink Brown, Navy, Yellow, and Orange. Buses #65, #54, #154, and #71 also stop nearby.

You can also use a boat to get to Baltimore Historic Ships. If you have a boat you can navigate on Patapsco River to Baltimore Inner Harbor.

Otherwise, look into one of the Harbor Cruises. These boat tours start and end in Inner Harbor. They will bring you next to Baltimore Historic Ships. You can get a different look at the ships from the water.

Where to Stay near Baltimore Historic Ships

Baltimore Downtown is a no-brainer area to look for places to stay when visiting Baltimore Historic Ships. You can find a hotel within a short walking distance from the museum.

Thanks to the light rail and subway you could also expand your search to other areas. Look for places to stay near Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI).

You could also extend your search north. In this case, look into Timonium and Hunt Valley. These areas are near the north end of the Light Rail Line. But they have plenty of places to stay.

Keep an eye on the places to stay in Owings Mills. There are a few options near the subway station.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

You can enjoy the Baltimore Historic Ships from the outside for free and round the clock. Just walk on the Baltimore Waterfront Promenade and explore these beautiful ships.

You would need to visit the ships during the opening hours if you would like to explore the exhibits aboard. Most ships are open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. throughout the year.

The exact schedule depends on the time of the year.

• January to March: ships are open Thursday through Sunday.
• April, May, December: ships are open Thursday through Monday.
• Memorial Day to November: ships are open every day of the week.

Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse is open only in the summer. USS Lightship Chesapeake opening hours depend on staff availability. Check the museum website for planned maintenance closures.

You would need to buy a ticket to board Historic Ships in Baltimore. There is a general admission and a few discounted ticket types.

• Adult, general admission: $19.95.
• Seniors, students, and military members: $17.95.
• Youth between 6 and 14 years old: $7.95
• Children: free.

The museum offers a few membership levels. They range from the Petty Officer ($40 a year) to the Admiral ($1,000 a year).

Each membership provides you with a free admission to the historic ships. Higher membership levels also give you a private tour of the ship and discounts on private rentals.

You can visit different Baltimore Historic Ships on different days. This is very handy if a ship is closed during your visit. This option sets Historic Ships in Baltimore apart from most other maritime museums.

Visitors who take a few day trips to Baltimore could take advantage of this option.

Takeaways: Day Trip to Baltimore Historic Ships

Baltimore Historic Ships is a great destination for a day trip to the city. The fleet of four ships and a lighthouse are a sight to see in Baltimore Inner Harbor.

You will enjoy this museum if you are into history and ships. You can even admire the ships for free from the Baltimore Waterfront Promenade. The path will bring you right next to the ships.

Get a ticket to explore the items onboard the ships. Note the opening hours but have a peace of mind that you could visit the remaining ships another day.

You will not enjoy Baltimore Historic Ships as much if history and architecture are not your cup of tea. In this case, it is best to skip the sights in the city all together.

Take a look at this Day Trip to Baltimore Historic Ships Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!