This program has been rescheduled.
Beginning with Capt. John Smith’s expedition in 1608—the first by a European–to the upper Chesapeake Bay, 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 leading maritime centers. In a daylong celebration of this great port, transportation expert Scott Hercik takes you behind the scenes—and aboard—several historic vessels.
The day begins at Baltimore Harbor with a private tour of the historic Liberty ship SS John W. Brown. The ship is 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. Then move into the atomic age aboard the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship, NS Savannah, launched in 1959 as part of President Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace initiative. After the tour, enjoy a private luncheon in the passenger dining room.
As special guests of the Maryland Port Administration, conclude the day at the World Trade Center with a private boat tour of the historic harbor (weather permitting) and a presentation that examines the Port of Baltimore’s role in shaping the history and defining the future of the city and the nation.
8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St., N.W., with a stop at Holiday Inn Laurel West, 15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Md., at approximately 8:40 a.m.
Photo ID is required.
Tours on historic ships include small steep stairs; comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes are required.
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Books@Noon
Wed., Jun. 8 at 12 Noon
Grab your sandwich or salad and spend the noon hour with Rick Atkinson and his book The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945. Follow the brutal fight in Normandy, the liberation of Paris, the horrific Battle of the Bulge, and the final thrust to the heart of the Third Reich. Buy tickets>>
See more programs on American History.
Other Connections
This event is sold out, but perhaps you may want to learn about the most notorious pirate: Blackbeard instead. Come to
“The Real Blackbeard” an evening seminar with Colin Woodard
and listen to him present a man who completely embodied the pirate’s life.
Experience the cultural rebirth of the Baltic States and the imperial riches of St. Petersburg on this six-country cruise aboard
Le Boréal.
Visit the Smithsonian Journeys page to see more
European trips.
