This program will be available for sale to the general public starting on March 7, 2026.

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Maritime Baltimore

Weekend All-Day Tour

Saturday, June 13, 2026 - 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET

Code: 1CD011

Location:

Departs from the Holiday Inn Capitol at
550 C St SW (corner of 6th & C Sts)
Fringe: I-495, Exit 27 carpool parking lot

Registration

$220

Member

$280

Gen. Admission

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USS Constellation, Baltimore Inner Harbor

Beginning with Capt. John Smith’s expedition in 1608 to the upper Chesapeake Bay (the first by a European), through the British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814, to the 21st-century cruise liners and cargo vessels that dock there, the Port of Baltimore is one of the country’s preeminent maritime centers. Naval historian Abby Mullen leads a day in the harbor exploring three vessels and celebrating Baltimore’s role as a vital port in maritime history.

At the USS Constellation—an 1854 sloop-of-war and the last sail-only warship designed and built by the U.S. Navy—a guided tour examines how sail-powered vessels shaped diplomacy, commerce, and conflict in the 19th century. The day continues at the USS Torsk, a World War II-era submarine whose compact spaces and advanced technology reveal a dramatically different mode of naval warfare. Participants then explore the Liberty ship SS John W. Brown, one of only two remaining vessels of the historic fleet that moved troops and supplies throughout the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. The day concludes with a harbor cruise, offering a fresh perspective on the Port of Baltimore. Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

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 Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C St. SW (corner of 6th and C Sts. SW), 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 Friday, June 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: