Fodor's Expert Review Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park
Fells Point was once a busy shipyard that employed thousands of people—including Civil War statesman and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass. This small, carefully curated museum tells the story of Douglass’s life in Baltimore: first building ships as a slave, then escaping to freedom by dressing as a sailor and boarding a train to Philadelphia. Isaac Meyers, a free black born in 1835, was another important player in Baltimore’s maritime history. Hands-on student and family programs let children caulk and build boats. Waterfront Kitchen, located on the first level, has partnered with area nonprofit Living Classrooms to employ at-risk inner-city teens to teach grade schoolers about gardening and nutrition. Self-guided tours are available as well as 45-minute guided group tours by appointment.