Baltimore, a seaport city located in Maryland, USA, is famous for its rich history, unique culture, charming coastline and vibrant communities.
From the waterfront scenery of the Inner Harbor to Fell’s Point where street art and jazz meet, every inch of land exudes a strong city personality. And for every visitor, condensing a journey into a small item that can be taken home is the best way to continue this memory.
1. The taste of the Old Harbor: blue crab themed souvenirs
Blue crab: Baltimore’s seafood business card
Speaking of Baltimore, the first thing that comes to mind is often its famous blue crab. As the representative seafood of Maryland, blue crab is not only a star on the table, but also widely used in souvenir design, from key chains, refrigerator magnets, mugs, to art paintings, pillows and T-shirts, with a wide variety and full of life.
Recommended purchase place
In the souvenir shops around the Inner Harbor, you can find almost all the blue crab peripheral products you can imagine. The stalls and boutiques in historic old street areas such as Fells Point, Harbor East and Broadway Market also hide many interesting and unique handmade souvenirs.
Recommended crowd
Suitable for friends who like cooking or love marine culture, or yourself who want to put a “seaside memory” in the office.
2. Maryland flag derivatives: visual symbols of state pride
The most recognizable state flag design
The Maryland flag is unique in the United States. The pattern composed of black and gold grid and red and white cross comes from the emblems of two British noble families. This unique and distinctive visual language is widely used on T-shirts, baseball caps, socks, scarves, backpacks and even car stickers, forming a highly recognizable local cultural expression.
Where can I buy it?
Visit the designer shops of The Baltimore Museum of Industry, Local Color Flowers or Mount Vernon, which often sell limited edition designer collaborations with modern styles and nostalgic feelings.
Recommended People
Recommended for young hipsters, art students, or travelers who are particularly interested in the culture of various states in the United States.
3. Baltimore Literary Souvenirs: The Shadow of Allen Poe
A city memory of horror and poetry
Allan Poe, the writer known as the father of Gothic literature, spent most of his life in Baltimore. His former residence is now a small museum and a popular check-in spot for literary pilgrims. Related souvenirs include hand-painted cover posters of works such as “The Black Cat” and “The Crow”, vintage bookmarks, sculpture figurines, and even unique peripherals such as “Poe’s” dark chocolate and coffee bean packaging.
Where can I find these?
Go to the bookstores and museum shops around Poe House, or famous bookstores in the city such as Atomic Books and The Ivy Bookshop, where you can find tasteful literary souvenirs.
Recommended People
Recommended for art lovers, writers, English majors and all literary fans.
4. Echoes of Jazz and Blues: Music-themed Souvenirs
Music is the soul of Baltimore’s streets
Baltimore not only has a deep tradition of jazz and blues music, but also gave birth to music superstars like Billie Holiday. Her portraits, signed lyrics or replicas of representative records often appear in record stores and street art. In addition, local artists often have homemade guitar pick necklaces, hand-painted vinyl record clocks, etc., which are very unique.
Best Places to Buy
Visit the Billie Holiday Memorial Plaza in Upton or the small art market in Charles Village. You can also find many surprises in the second-hand record stores and handicraft shops in the Station North Art District.
Recommended People
Suitable for music lovers, collectors, independent art supporters or souvenir hunters.
5. Shell crafts and glass art: Inspiration from the harbor
The beauty of glass, ingenious work
Baltimore’s glass art is well-known throughout the country. Many local artists incorporate harbor elements into their creations, such as glass pendants with harbor blue as the base tone, handmade vases that meander like water waves, and photo frames inlaid with shell fragments. This type of souvenir is both beautiful and practical, and is a representative of high-end souvenirs.
Purchase suggestions
It is recommended to visit local studios such as Baltimore Glassworks, or visit art exhibition spaces in Mount Vernon or Station North, where many works can be purchased. There are also art fairs during the holidays, with more choices and more friendly prices.
Recommended groups
Suitable for those who are decorating a new home, collecting independent crafts, or want to give gifts that appear particularly tasteful.
6. Sports fanatic souvenirs: from the Orioles to the Ravens
Sports is a magnifying glass of urban emotions
If you visit Baltimore during baseball or football season, it is almost impossible to ignore the elements of the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens on the streets. Ball caps, jerseys, limited edition ball cards, team flags, mugs, sports water bottles, etc. are both practical and full of “live feeling”.
Where to buy
The official store in Camden Yards is the first choice. In addition, major shopping malls and stations in Baltimore also sell them. The variety is the most complete and the most lively during the special season.
Recommended crowd
Suitable for sports fans, teenagers or any passionate you.
7. Retro posters and industrial memories: nostalgia is eternal
The glory of Baltimore industry
Baltimore in the 20th century was one of the important industrial centers in the United States. Ports, railways, steel, and shipbuilding left many old factories and retro-style advertising posters. Today, these nostalgic elements are reinterpreted as printed posters, metal road signs, magnets, and commemorative albums, awakening people’s memories of the city’s evolution.
Where to find them?
You can find these souvenirs with time stamps in the store of the Baltimore Museum of Industry, Lexington Market, or nostalgic theme stores (such as the Station North area).
Recommended crowd
Suitable for history lovers, urban culture researchers, or friends who love retro style.
8. Local soaps and skin care products: the urban atmosphere in handmade
The aroma of Maryland’s native herbs
In recent years, Baltimore has set off a wave of natural handmade skin care products. Many independent brands focus on using lavender, mint, chamomile, seaweed and other plant extracts grown locally in Maryland to make soaps, hand creams, essential oil candles and lip balms.
Shopping Guide
Go to the weekend market in Fells Point, the lifestyle store in the Hampden area, or the farmer’s market to find many niche and attentive handmade brands.
Recommended people
Suitable for friends who love beauty, advocates of environmentally friendly life, or for your own use, it is also a continuation of travel.
9. Flavor seasoning and local food packages: take home the taste buds memory
Old Bay seasoning: Maryland’s unique weapon
This classic spice mixture used to season seafood, fried chicken, popcorn and even French fries is almost a standard in Maryland kitchens. Its unique salty and slightly spicy taste is loved by locals, and the packaging design is also full of retro style. In addition, there are Maryland crab cake mixes, seasoning sauces from local beer brands, etc., which are all good choices for taste bud lovers.
Where can I buy it?
Major supermarkets such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, as well as souvenir shops and seafood markets, are available all year round. You can also ask the stall owner directly at the farmer’s market for a homemade recipe, which is more personalized.
Recommended people
Suitable for cooking enthusiasts, gourmets, or those who can’t give up the flavor of Baltimore.
10. City Tote Bags and Eco-Friendly Living Products: Practical and Beautiful
Show Your City Footprints in a Low-Key Way
More and more designers are printing Baltimore’s city maps, port outlines, historical landmarks (such as the National Aquarium and Washington Monument) on eco-friendly canvas bags, folding cups, reusable water bottles, and travel notebook covers. The styles are simple, retro, or very modern, easy to carry, and the best companion for travel.
Which brands are worth a look?
Visiting independent cultural and creative stores around Mount Vernon, or design shops in Hampden and Canton, there are often limited series in collaboration with local artists.
Recommended People
Suitable for friends who travel frequently, environmentalists, and art lovers.
The trip is over, but the emotions can be continued through a small item. Choosing souvenirs is never as simple as “buying something”, it is more like a process of in-depth dialogue with the city. Those seemingly ordinary objects actually hide the historical context and life details of the city.
Baltimore, with its port soul, literary warmth, and blue crab flavor, has built a three-dimensional and story-filled souvenir world. From retro metal plates from the industrial age to glass crafts with the smell of sea salt, each one carries a unique local memory.
Sometimes, a map of the old city, a bag of Old Bay seasoning, or a hand-blown glass pendant is enough to evoke the journey fragments of the sun shining on the inner harbor and the steamy streets on a quiet afternoon in the future.