Maryland's free museums offer unique windows into art, history and culture

Maryland's free museums offer unique windows 
into art, history and culture

Span of free exhibits reveals Old Master paintings, Civil War sites, 
air technology and Chesapeake Bay heritage

BALTIMORE (Oct. 4) – For entertainment, education or sheer curiosity, visits to museums can be among the best values around. Museums that have free admission are downright bargains.

That's the message from the Maryland Office of Tourism, which has designated October as a month to experience the free museums in the state.

"In recognition of National Arts and Humanities Month, we want to let our residents and visitors know about these wonderful cultural resources – especially ones that are free," says Margot Amelia, executive director of the tourism office.

"We are fortunate to have myriad museums in Maryland – with collections that feature everything from world-class art to depictions of regional culture," she adds. "You can see works by Matisse and Picasso at the Baltimore Museum of Art, a display of aviation technology at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, or an exhibition that illustrates our maritime heritage at the Waterman's Museum – all for free."

Gary Vikan, director, Walters Art Museum, says: "Since the Walters went free in 2006, attendance is up 45 percent. The museum is a free weekend destination for families, which is especially important in these tough economic times."

Here is a sampling of museums, arts centers and cultural heritage sites across Maryland's five regions that offer free general admission:

WESTERN MARYLAND

• Mountain City Traditional Arts, Frostburg (Allegany County)  - A artist showcase that features a diverse display of local artwork, hand-crafted items, and Appalachian-based products. A small stage in the back of the venue is used periodically for live music, literary readings, and small performances.

• Spruce Forest Artisan Village, Grantsville (Garrett County) – Resident artists work out of log-cabin studios at this Appalachian arts and heritage center. There's no charge to visit their studios and watch them work. Disciplines include blacksmithing, stained-glass making, quilting, bird carving, basket making, hand-loom weaving, pottery and other crafts.

• Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown (Washington County) – has 6,000 objects of art – from Old Masters to 21st-century paintings. American art of the 19th and early 20th centuries are a prime focus. Art for America: Selection of WPA Prints – a collection of artwork reflecting the Works Progress Administration's effort to create jobs during the Great Depression opens in October.

CAPITAL REGION

• Laurel Museum, Laurel (Prince George's County) – Located in an 1840s building used to house mill workers, the museum recounts the history of Laurel and surrounding area through exhibits, books, photographs, textiles, oral histories and personal artifacts. And They're Off is a current exhibit that illustrates the history of the Laurel Park racetrack. Laurel Park opened 100 years ago as the site of a four-county fair. It became a prominent venue for racing, concerts and fairs.

• Delapaine Visual Arts Center, Frederick (Frederick County) - Housed in the 100-year-old Mountain City Mill on the banks of Carroll Creek in historic downtown Frederick, the center offers more than 50 exhibits annually in eight galleries of various sizes. Lectures, art trips, films, workshops, and more round out the educational experience.

• Strathmore, North Bethesda - The arts center presents a lively and diverse program of art exhibitions, concerts and performing arts programs, and literary lectures and events.  Works of art receive a spectacular presentation in the outdoor Sculpture Garden.