B.Humm 7/21/98 9:50 AM [log in to unmask]

>Can anyone shed any light on what happened to the Baltimore City Life Museum?
>I had heard some good things about it, but now I hear it is defunct or
>nearly so.


The Baltimore City Life Museum closed its doors some time ago for a lot
of different reasons.  At this point it is doubtful it will ever open
again as the collection was given to the Maryland Historical Society.
What happens to the historic buildings is anyone's guess.  Baltimore City
tried to quietly sell them off and/or lease them for commercial purposes,
but the Baltimore Sun got wind of it and a large article brought such a
storm of controversy they retracted the planned sale and denied ever
intending to do so.  My guess is each building will rise or fall
(literally) on its own merits.  The H.L. Mencken House seems to be
getting a great deal of support from its local community, but I doubt it
will reopen as a museum necessarily.  One local Museum director thought a
tea room in the Peale Museum was a swell idea, and the newest building,
the one that helped put it into debt, may become a welcome center and/or
catering facility.

And, FYI, the much touted Columbus Center for Biotechnology also recently
closed the doors to its Hall of Exploration about 6 months ago.  Both
BCLM and the Columbus Center were at the center of a Museum News piece on
museums being at the center of Baltimore's Second Rennaissance. Now both
are closed.  Who'd a thunk it?  Port Discovery, Baltimore's Children's
Museum and another institution highlighted in the MN article, is slated
to open in December within three blocks of both failed institutions.
Will Disney magic and $$$ keep it from going the way of the other
museums?

  But our new Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and ESPN Zone are doing
great.



Matthew White
Director of Education
B&O Railroad Museum
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