Well worth the drive out, this grand 19th-century mansion provides a fascinating glimpse into upper-class Baltimore life of the 1800s. The house is packed with fine art and masterpieces of the decorative arts – including paintings by Modigliani, glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany and exquisite Asian porcelain – not to mention the astounding rare book collection, numbering some 32,000 volumes.
More impressive than the collection, however, is the compelling story of the Garrett family, who were world travellers (John W was an active diplomat for some years) and astute philanthropists, as well as lovers of the arts, if not always successful performers in their own right – though that didn't stop Alice from taking the stage (her own, which you'll see in the intimate theater below the house).
