The Baltimore Aquarium is located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, right on the water, on a promontory that looks as if it was man-made for the specific purpose of accentuating the Aquarium. It was built in 1981, during Baltimore’s urban renewal period, when the city made a concerted effort to rebuild its waterfront. Their efforts certainly paid off nicely in time, as anyone who’s visited the waterfront lately will attest.

In spite of my less than lukewarm review of the Aquarium’s Dolphin Show, the Aquarium itself is a great place to visit. The location and the modern design ideas, which can be seen both on the outside and the inside, plus the many species of fish and other marine life that are inside, and the dramatic ways in which they are showcased, make it a must-see destination. Others agree. The Aquarium is considered one of the best in the United States, if not the world. It is also the largest tourist attraction in the State of Maryland.

Its official name is the National Aquarium in Baltimore, but I call it the Baltimore Aquarium, so as not to confuse it with the National Aquarium in DC (which, by the way, has been operated by the Baltimore Aquarium since 2003).

Another point of interest at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse. Also not to be missed is a walk through Baltimore’s downtown area, which is full of all sorts of interesting architecture. You can see more photos from the Baltimore Aquarium and from Baltimore in my photo catalog.