The Walters Art Museum
4.8(3.9K)google
4.7(279)yelp
ArtmuseumHistoryEducationalIndoorGuided Tour
Overview
The Walters Art Museum is a public art museum located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded and opened in 1934, it holds collections from the mid-19th century that were amassed substantially by major American art and sculpture collectors, including William Thompson Walters and his son Henry Walters. William Walters began collecting when he moved to Paris as a nominal Confederate loyalist at the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, and Henry Walters refined the collection and made arrangements for the construction what ultimately was Walters Art Museum.
Practical Info
MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu1:00 – 8:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeOpen year-round from Wednesday through Sunday with free entry. Arriving right at 10:00 AM on a Friday or Saturday morning is best to experience the spectacular medieval armor collections, Asian art, and Roman antiquities in a peaceful, crowd-free gallery atmosphere.
Getting ThereSituated in the historic Mount Vernon cultural district. Take the Baltimore Light RailLink to Centre Street Station and walk 3 blocks east. Or, utilize the free Charm City Circulator (Purple Route) to the Washington Monument stop, followed by a 1-minute walk west to Centre St.
Travel Tips
- General admission is free but the museum remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; Thursday hours extend to 9:00 PM, offering the lowest weekly crowd density window.
- Housed in three interconnected historical buildings with erratic floor levels, travelers require the specialized accessibility elevator map obtainable at the main desk.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- The eastern corner of the level-2 loggia offers the prime angle for the Palazzo building's central court; shoot at 2:00 PM for sunlight streams piercing the glass ceiling.
Reviews
Positive
- The breathtaking breadth of the collection spans thousands of years, from Egyptian mummies and medieval armor to Asian arts, akin to a mini British Museum.
- Completely free admission makes world-class global art accessible to all, providing a high-utility cultural experience with zero budget constraints.
- The museum buildings themselves are magnificent architectural marvels, centered around a stunning 19th-century Italian Renaissance-style palazzo atrium.
- Staff and guards are incredibly welcoming and accommodating, pro-actively assisting with elevators for strollers and providing creative kids' activities.
Heads up
- Located in the tight Mount Vernon neighborhood, finding parking is a headache, and the surrounding safety environment after dusk makes some tourists uneasy.
- Formed by connecting several old historic buildings, the floor levels are uneven, making ADA elevator routes winding, hidden, and inconvenient.
- Lacks an on-site cafe or comprehensive dining resting lounge area, meaning visitors must leave the building completely when they need a quick snack or coffee.
- Lighting in the antiquities rooms is deeply dimmed to protect relics, and older display cases suffer from heavy glare, making visual inspection tiresome.