Maryland was home to Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Thurgood Marshall, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum is the institution that tells the story of the state’s African American communities from the earliest days to the present. It stands on the corner of Pratt and President Streets, between the Inner Harbor and Little Italy, and combines a permanent collection with changing exhibitions and community murals that bring contemporary voices into the building. Rather than a single narrative, the museum offers a range of perspectives on migration, work, family, faith, education and the long struggle for civil rights, as lived in Baltimore and across Maryland. It is a good companion to the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, which approaches the subject in a different style, and a thoughtful stop on a rainy day or between the harbor and Fells Point. The museum is fully accessible, with wheelchairs available on request, and it sells tickets online and at the door. Because the schedule of exhibitions changes, it is worth checking the museum’s exhibitions page before you go to see what is on during your visit.
Planning your visit
The museum is open Monday and Thursday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and on Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. It is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and also on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday and July 4. General admission is in the mid-teens in dollars, with reduced rates for seniors, young people and veterans and free entry for children aged six and under.
Several free-entry schemes are offered, including Museums for All for visitors with an EBT card, so check the museum’s visit page for the one that fits you.
What to expect
Tickets can be bought online or at the door, and the building is ADA accessible. Parking is easiest in the garages on East Pratt Street, which offer validated parking at a reduced rate when you bring your ticket to the Visitor Experience desk, and there is free on-street and metered parking in Harbor East and Little Italy. The permanent collection is complemented by changing exhibitions, so two visits a year apart can feel very different. Give yourself at least an hour and a half.
Making the most of it
Visit on a Thursday to Saturday so that you can combine the museum with the Flag House or lunch in Little Italy, and consider pairing it with the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum for a fuller picture of Black Baltimore. Families with older children will find plenty to discuss, and the museum is a dependable indoor option when the weather turns, a short ride from the aquarium and the other harbor sights.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced museum visit with a permanent collection, community murals and changing exhibitions.
Best time
Thursday to Saturday, when the museum is open and Little Italy and the Flag House are close.
How long
About 90 minutes to two hours.
Tips
The museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday and on several holidays, so check the visit page first.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and culture lovers and anyone wanting a deeper view of African American life in Maryland.
- Families
- Works well for school-age children and teens, with accessible facilities and wheelchairs on request.
- Couples
- A thoughtful rainy-day alternative to the harbor attractions.
- Pair with
- The Flag House, the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum or lunch in Little Italy.
- Time needed
- About two hours.
Good questions
Where is the Reginald F. Lewis Museum?+
On the corner of Pratt and President Streets, between the Inner Harbor and Little Italy. Garages at 815 and 711 East Pratt Street offer validated parking.
What days is it open?+
Monday and Thursday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday and on several holidays.
Who gets in free?+
Members, Maryland public school educators and children aged six and under, plus visitors using schemes such as Museums for All. Check the visit page for details.
Is the museum accessible?+
Yes. It is ADA accessible, a limited number of wheelchairs are available and interpreting services can be arranged.
Can I buy tickets in advance?+
Yes, tickets are sold both online and at the door.
