Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/875351
B M & T ••• January/February 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 26 B ALTIMORE, M D The key to Baltimore's continued vitality are its many cultural and historic attractions that are of particular inter- est to the African-American visitor. Add to that Baltimore's strategic location on the Atlantic seaboard, right at the heart of the most densely populated area in the United States, and you've got a most convenient and appealing meeting destination. The city is in close proxim- ity to a large portion of the nation's population – a region that is home to more than 50 million people. This makes it easier for you to reach your target attendees and a built-in attendance base. Baltimore's premiere destination is the Inner Harbor with shops, restaurants and attractions all within a few city blocks. It's just steps from the Baltimore Convention Center, the Maryland Science Center and the National Aquarium with over 16,500 animals and a wonderful Dolphin Show. Baltimore also celebrates its diversity with festivals and events that spotlight its multicultural heritage, the African-American, Hispanic and Asian communities, and its LGBT pride. To savor the City's cultural offerings, conference atten- dees might want to explore some of Baltimore's informative African-American historic sites and museums. Just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor is the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, the largest African-American museum on the East Coast. The Lewis Museum shares the stories of African-American Marylanders' triumph over adversity and their influence on American life. Hop aboard a water taxi and visit the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park & Museum. Within the walls of the restored "Sugar House," trace the path of one of America's most famous abolitionists – Frederick Douglass – who, along with Isaac Myers and 14 fel- low African-Americans, started the first Black-owned ship- yard in the United States. The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, the only museum of its kind dedicated to the African-American expe- rience, displays one of the most talked about, moving and emotional representations of the Middle Passage. The muse- um also features a figure of former President Barack Obama, and is located not far from legendary Pennsylvania Avenue, once home to Baltimore's own artistic Black Renaissance. All three museums are featured in the Legends & Legacies Heritage Pass available for purchase through Visit Baltimore. Nestled in the heart of downtown Baltimore, the Baltimore Convention Center's location is a tourist's dream and a meeting planner's delight. Linked by a series of over- Convention, and Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families Congress in 2015, it's safe to say that Philadelphia is one of the most sought-after meeting destinations in the world. With its centrally located state-of-the-art Pennsylvania Convention Center, convention attendees can conveniently explore famed landmarks like Independence Hall, located on the most historic square mile in the country, just a short walk from the facility. Visitors will walk the same streets as influ- ential African-American leaders Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and Robert Purvis did more than 100 years ago and come face-to-face with historic attractions such as Mother Bethel, the first AME church in the United States and The President's House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation, an outdoor attraction commemorating the nine enslaved Africans that worked for George Washington on the site of the first White House. Philadelphia is also full of cultural masterpieces, from world-class museums to outdoor art galleries, there is so much to discover including the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), the first institution built by a major United States city to house and interpret the life and work of African-Americans. Museum Mile begins near the western entrance of the Convention Center providing access to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum and The Barnes Foundation (housing one of the largest collections of Impressionist, post-Impressionist and early Modern paint- ings plus an impressive collection of African sculptures). Philadelphia's thriving culinary scene, which draws from many diverse influences, is one of the destination's most highly-rated qualities. The city is known for its cheesesteaks, but at the Reading Terminal Market, located across from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, visitors can find an unpar- alleled variety of international and local cuisine, including Pennsylvania Dutch specialties and authentic soul food. Getting to Philadelphia is just as easy as getting around in the city. A sophisticated regional rail and subway network links the Philadelphia International Airport - with 30 airlines and nearly 550 daily departures to 126 cities, including 39 international destinations - to Amtrak's 30th Street Station, the Convention Center and downtown Philadelphia. Blending historic appeal with modern amenities, Philadelphia's walkable streets are here to be explored! To start planning your event in Philadelphia, visit www.PHLDiversity.com. Pennsylvania Convention Center at Night