Literary Walking Tour

Please note we are not offering the Literary Walking Tours at this time.

 

Spend a Saturday following in the footsteps of some of Baltimore’s great literary and cultural figures.

Dive into the world of rare books at the Peabody Library, see where the lives of Emily Post and Gertrude Stein intersected, sit at the desk of legendary novelist John Dos Passos, and more.

2022 Literary Walking Tour Dates

  • Saturday, June 4 at 1:00 p.m. 
  • Saturday, July 23 at 9:00 a.m.  
  • Saturday, August 13 at 1:00 p.m. 
  • Saturday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m.

Tours typically begin at either 11 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. depending on your tour date. We have changed the time to 9:00 a.m. for the July 23 tour due to the heat. Tours last approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Tickets are required and must be purchased in advance for $10 per person; tour docents cannot accept cash walk-ups on the day of the tour.

Proof of vaccination is required in order to attend the tour. You may either have a photo of your vaccination card on your phone or your physical vaccination card. Masks are optional, but encouraged since you will be in close proximity for an extended period of time. 

Tour reminders and tips:

  • Please be on time. Tours begin at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral Street.
  • Check your email for a confirmation in advance of your scheduled tour date.
  • Proof of vaccination is required for attending the tour. You may either have a photo of your vaccination card on your phone or your physical vaccination card.
  • Masks are optional, but encouraged since you will be in close proximity for an extended period of time. 
  • Sorry, no pets permitted on the tour.
  • Attire: Dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes made for walking.
  • Weather policy: Keep an eye on the weather report as tours may be cancelled due to inclement weather. In this case, will we issue a replacement ticket for another tour date.
  • Duration: Tours generally run between 90 minutes to 2 hours in length depending on the group, questions, and conversation.
  • Parking: Ample street parking is available at meters and local paid lots. Some meters in the area have a 4 hour limit. Because the tour starts at the south end of Mount Vernon and ends at the north end, you may want to consider parking about in central Mount Vernon, for instance at the open lot at 810 N Charles St or the Walters Art Museum lot at 600 Cathedral St.  After the tour, participants can either walk back or take the Purple Circulator bus (free), which they can catch nearby on St. Paul Street – this has a stop at Saratoga.

Download the tour map (PDF)

Download the Baltimore Heritage Walking Tour App

Created in partnership with Maryland Humanities, CityLit, The Maryland State Arts Council, and the University of Baltimore, this smartphone app includes the Maryland Humanities tour and others, totaling 150 Baltimore literary landmarks.

Baltimore Heritage App Logo
 
Literary Mount Vernon Walking Tours are supported in part by the Office of Mayor Brandon Scott and the Creative Baltimore Fund.
  • “[The Walking Tour] was a delight: loved the audience-participation with the quotations; great history and anecdotes from the guides; they were excellent at asking provocative questions of the participants, eliciting thought and engagement; good pace, even for someone slow walking.”

    ​Literary Walking Tour Participant
  • “[My favorite part of the tour was] visiting the Peabody Library and getting a few minutes with the librarian there who showed us a few interesting books from their collection.”

    Literary Mount Vernon Walking Tour Participant
  • “[My favorite part of the tour was] learning about some of the people and places I hadn’t realized were part of Baltimore’s past.”

    Literary Mount Vernon Walking Tour Participant
  • “[My favorite part of the tour was] learning about the literary giants who lived and visited Baltimore!”

    Literary Mount Vernon Walking Tour Participant
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