Baltimore Travel Guide

Walters Art Museum

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, two Baltimore men, William Walters and his son, Henry, amassed a diverse range of artwork from around the world, which they then bequeathed to their hometown. The 22,000 pieces they collected span 55 centuries, including ancient Egyptian art as well as late 19th century European art and decorative objects. Some favourite pieces on display at the Walters include seven ancient Roman sarcophagi, judged to be among the finest in the world; a collection of Japanese arms and armour; a medieval ivory casket covered with scenes of jousting knights, one of only a dozen such items remaining; and 900 illuminated manuscripts as well as the letters of Catherine the Great and the diary of Napoleon.