Baltimore Walking & Driving Self-Guided Audio Tour

Overview

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Dive into one of America’s most historic cities with this tour of Baltimore! This storied city is chock full of essential American history, having been home to famous figures like Edgar Allan Poe, Frederick Douglass, and Babe Ruth. Hear a dramatic rendition of Douglass’s escape from slavery and rise to prominence as an abolitionist and advisor to Abraham Lincoln. Delve into Poe’s life and the unsolved mystery of his death. And much, much more! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Itinerary

1. Baltimore Visitor Center

   Your tour of the historic, bustling city of Baltimore begins at the Baltimore Visitor Center. Get ready to experience all the culture and history of a city that has been home to all sorts of important figures like Frederick Douglass, Edgar Allan Poe, and lots more! Note: The tour is over 9 miles long, with more than 42 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

2. The first part of the city you'll see is the Inner Harbor, the hottest tourist destination in the city.

   · 5 min

3. USS Constellation

   At the Baltimore Harbor, you'll get up close and personal with some of the oldest ships in the country!

   · 5 min· Admission not included

4. National Aquarium

   The harbor's main attraction is the USS Constellation. This three-mast ship predates the Civil War, and was actually used to chase down and apprehend vessels illegally carrying enslaved prisoners!

   · 5 min· Admission not included

5. Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse

   Next is the National Aquarium, home to over 20,000 sea and land creatures. If you're looking for the perfect family-friendly activity, you'll find it here!

   · 5 min· Admission not included

6. National Katyn Memorial

   Beyond the lighthouse, you'll find one of Baltimore's strangest attractions: Mr. Trash Wheel. This innovative device helps keep the harbor clean and looks good while doing it!

   · 5 min· Admission not included

7. Frederick Douglass - Isaac Myers Maritime Park

   This park is dedicated to honoring African-American maritime history. It gets its name from renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass and pioneering unionist Isaac Myers. Both men worked at the shipyard that once operated here at different times.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

8. The Horse You Came In On Saloon

   Old-school watering hole in a Colonial-era building, offering drinks, pub fare & live music nightly.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

9. Fells Point Corner Theatre

   Originally founded as an independent town in 1763, Fells Point still retains much of its historic appearance. Back in the days of Frederick Douglass, this was home to a large number of free and enslaved African Americans. Many of them worked at the ship port like Douglass, and the cheap houses here were all they could afford.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

10. Frederick Douglass - Isaac Myers Maritime Park

    You might already be familiar with Frederick Douglass’s abolitionist work, but did you know he was also a staunch advocate for women’s rights? Douglass believed “Right is of no sex, truth is of no color.” In 1848, Douglass attended the First Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Here, he met Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony and committed himself to their cause. While touring the country advocating for abolition, Douglass also began arguing for women’s rights. He called for all Americans, no matter their race or sex, to be granted the right to vote.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

11. Reginald F. Lewis Museum

    Your route takes you next past the National Katyn Memorial, a striking and somber monument with some fascinating history.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

12. Baltimore City Hall

    It’s hard to miss Baltimore City Hall, that regal structure just ahead. Shortly after its completion, this was the site of a violent altercation between two Baltimore politicians. In 1883, James Busey and William Harig, both democrats, got into a heated political argument just outside the city hall. Harig, punched Busey. The two brawled, then sprang away and simultaneously drew pistols. Both men began firing wildly, but Harig’s aim was much better than Busey’s. Four bullets hit Busey in the chest, killing him. Constables arrived and arrested Harig for murder.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

13. Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place

    This pillar ahead is Baltimore’s Washington Monument. It might remind you of another Washington Monument… a slightly more famous one in a little town called D.C. Believe it or not, though, this isn’t actually a copycat! In fact, this was the very first major monument to honor George Washington. The architect, Robert Mills, just liked the design so much he decided to use it again in D.C.--only much bigger, of course.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

14. In the 1930s, this gravestone started seeing a mysterious visitor. On January 19th, Poe’s birthday, a man appeared at the marker wearing all black, a wide-brimmed hat, and a white scarf to hide his face. He poured himself a glass of cognac and toasted Poe’s grave. Then he left three roses and the unfinished bottle and disappeared. The man returned the following year, and the year after that. The so-called “Poe Toaster” arrived at odd hours, usually under cover of darkness, and fled before anyone could discover his identity.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

15. You'll arrive next at the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, dedicated to the two historical heavyweights in its name. Here, you'll learn all about these important figures and how they forever changed the fight for civil rights in America.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

16. After that is the oldest saloon in the US, the Horse You Came In On Saloon. In addition to having some serious character of its own, this was also a beloved drinking spot of Edgar Allan Poe... and his ghost supposedly still frequents the joint!

    · 5 min· Admission not included

17. The route heads into Fells Point next, probably the hippest neighborhood in all of Baltimore, and also one of the oldest.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

18. This fort, built to defend Baltimore’s precious harbor, took the brunt of the naval assault in 1814. As 19 British warships approached, Major George Armistead told his 1,000 defenders to prepare for the fight of their lives. No sooner had the men taken their positions than the bombardment began. Cannons roared and sent cannonballs crashing into the fort. Luckily, the fort had recently been reinforced, and the cannonfire did little to damage it.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

19. Francis Scott Key was so moved by the sight of the American flag flying over Fort McHenry that he scribbled a poem on the back of a letter he had kept in his pocket. This poem would later become the national anthem. Here is the original text of that poem, just as Key wrote it on that fateful morning:

    · 5 min· Admission not included

20. Then you'll pass Douglass Place, home to several homes built by Frederick Douglass. Here, you'll hear the rest of Douglass's riveting story, including how he went from an enslaved shipwright to one of the most important figures in American politics.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

21. Let’s return to Edgar Allan Poe. See that big brick hospital off to your right? That’s Church Home and Hospital, the site where Poe drew his last breath. Poe’s death remains mysterious to this day, but here’s what we know about it: In September of 1849, Poe boarded a train in Richmond bound for Philadelphia. He was supposed to meet a poet in Philadelphia to do some editing work, but he never showed up. For some reason, he never made it to Philadelphia at all, and nobody knew his whereabouts for the next week.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

22. Off to the right here, a little way down North Paca Street is the Mother Seton House. It’s most famous for being the temporary residence of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born person to ever be canonized as a saint. Seton was born in New York City in 1774 to an Episcopalian family and lived there for most of her youth. When her husband fell gravely ill with tuberculosis, however, she moved with him to Italy’s warmer climate for his health. It proved to be a fateful decision because it was in Italy that Seton discovered Catholicism. Her husband died shortly after the move, and she dedicated herself to her newfound religion.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

23. Baltimore City Hall is next, and it's pretty hard to miss! You'll definitely want to snap a few photos of this regal, Napoleonic structure.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

24. Beyond that is Baltimore's Washington Monument. This pillar might look familiar, because it was designed by the very same architect behind DC's iconic Washington Monument.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

25. After that is Edgar Allan Poe's grave, which has for decades been the site of a strange ritual conducted by a mysterious individual whose identity has never been determined. Learn all about the enigmatic Poe Toaster here!

    · 5 min· Admission not included

26. Even if you're not in town for a game, you'll certainly want to stop by Oriole Park, where countless baseball greats have made their names.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

27. More educational activities can be found at the Maryland Science Center, one of the oldest scientific institutions in the country.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

How to use your ticket

Ticket handed over by the operator on site

1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW: • Download the App: actiontourguide.com/app • Find Your Password: Search your email or text messages for "Action Tour Guide" • Enter Password: Open the app and enter your 8-digit password • Download the Tour NOW while you have WiFi or cell service • Offline Ready: Once downloaded, the tour works without internet • Need Help? Visit: actiontourguide.com/redeem 2. Download The Tour NOW: • Download NOW over WiFi or cellular data ahead of your trip. • Don't wait until travel day - your tour is VALID FOREVER from purchase. • Your password redemption is limited to the number of travelers booked. Please enter the same password on each device. 3. Audio Tour Tips: • This is a self-guided audio tour - no one will meet you at the starting point. • Entrance and attraction tickets are not included. Please book those separately. • Curious how it works? Watch a quick video here: actiontourguide.com/tutorial • For the best audio experience, connect to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or AUX, or listen through your phone's speaker. • CarPlay and Android Auto aren't supported yet. • Bring headphones for the best experience on your walking tour. • New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. 4. Help & Support: • Visit our FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq • Chat online: actiontourguide.com • Call: 1-412-205-8152 • Email: support@actiontourguide.com

Meeting and end point

What to know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
• Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
• Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
• More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
• Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
• Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
• Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
• Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

Travelers

Pricing per vehicle (up to 4 people).

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• From 1 days before : 100% refunded
• From 0 days before : 0% refunded

Reviews

Product code: 259177P5

Activity offered by Action Day Trips via Viator.