Baltimore is a destination for art lovers, boasting world-class collections. Beat the winter blues and immerse yourself in the warmth of creativity at two of Baltimore’s cultural gems: the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Begin at the Walters, whose collection spans more than seven millennia, from 5,000 B.C.E. to the 21st century. A special tour of the “Latin American Art/Arte Latinoamericano” exhibition is led by curator Ellen Hoobler. The exhibition presents more than 200 artworks from the museum’s expansive collection of art from South, Central, and North America and the Caribbean in one contiguous space for the first time in the museum’s history. An educator-led tour explores the history of the museum’s collection and some of its newly acquired works.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Baltimore Museum of Art, whose collections encompass 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art. The renowned Cone Collection is the museum’s crown jewel and focus of a docent-led tour. In the early 20th century, Baltimore sisters Claribel and Etta Cone forged close relationships with artists like Matisse and Picasso, ultimately amassing an extraordinary collection of nearly 3,000 objects, including 500 works by Matisse. Once displayed in their Baltimore apartments, this collection now offers a deep look into the works. Free time is given to explore the special exhibition “Amy Sherald: American Sublime.” The exhibition tells the story of Sherald’s vision and practice through approximately 40 paintings created between 2007 and the present—from early, rarely seen works to her renowned, larger-than-life portraits of Black Americans in everyday moments.

Know Before You Go

• The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
• Tour participants meet at and leave by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St., NW, with a pickup stop at the I-495 Exit 27 carpool parking lot at about 8:55 a.m.

General Information

• Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
• Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
• As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
• For additional tour information:
• Study Tour Policies
• Refund/Cancellation Policy