BALTIMORE. Edgar Allan Poe, the American master of suspense writing, wrote many of his most famous works while living in this tiny duplex in the heart of Baltimore. Originally built in 1830, the small home was the main residence of Mr. Poe for three years (1832-1835). #13;#10;The home has been restored to its condition during the years Poe lived there. Look for period furnishings as well as historic items like his traveling desk, a telescope, illustrations from his work "The Raven,", a rare portrait of Poe's wife, Virginia and and a copy of his obituary. Call ahead to confirm hours, which may vary slightly from week to week.

DOWNTOWN. Everyone knows about how Francis Scott Key wrote our National Anthem while watching the American flag fly during the War of 1812, but few people know the name of the woman who sewed that flag. Her name is Mary Pickersgill, and she made that historic banner by hand. Her Federal-style home is decorated in period furnishings, and an interesting museum next door tells the story of the War of 1812.

BALTIMORE HARBOR. This patriotic attraction is best known for its role in the writing of our national anthem ­ Francis Scott Key watched the flag wave above this fort during the 1814 Battle of Baltimore and was moved to write his moving tribute to the Stars and Stripes. After that fateful day, when the American forces stood firm, the fort continued as a military base but it never again faced attack. A guided tour and a short film tell the fascinating stories behind the fort.

DOWNTOWN. This traditional Federal-style dwelling was home to the first American-born saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Elizabeth Anne Seton founded a girls school here in 1808 and also established the first sisterhood of nuns in the US. The gothic-style chapel where Mother Seton took her vows is a popular tourist attraction, as is her home, which still contains many personal items and furnishings from the 1800s.

INNER HARBOR. This is the last of the all-sail, wooden warships built by the US Navy. It was completed in 1854, and is the only Civil War ship still afloat. In the early years, she was part of the US Mediterranean Squadron, then spent a few years plying the Atlantic to discourage slave ships and Confederate ships. The Constellation was permanently decommissioned in 1955 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1963.