Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower

I was so happy to visit the Bromo-Seltzer Clocktower! I bought a Groupon that was for two people, and I was solo, so I gave my extra ticket to one of the ladies that showed up to the tour. I got to the tower at 11 AM on a Saturday and was really happy to not only ride the Otis elevator, but to visit inside the clock tower and see the relay system for the elevator along with the weighted mechanism that runs the clock. The museum was also fascinating ! This clock tower is bigger than big Ben! The folks working inside this historical attraction were very informative and kind. My only wish is that there were some posters to buy or postcards or T-shirts that features the clock tower. I would’ve been happy to buy some souvenirs! I would definitely return here again and it was a wonderful experience to walk down the 15 flight of stairs and see all the artwork lining the walls. The entrance fee was very affordable, and it is a great lesson in history! This tower used to be topped with a stainless steel 51 foot blue bromo-seltzer bottle that rotated - with a crown on top - it was lit up at night. I wish I could’ve been alive prior to the 1930s and gotten to see such a sight -before it was taken down! I am a person with a disability, to see the clocktower was doable - if you can do two short flights of steep stairs. There are handrails on the stairs.

A very cool and unique experience. The clock tower itself feels like a step back in time, and almost fairytale-esque. Then floor after floor of art pieces to enjoy. A wonderful experience for a great price.

At the Bromo-Seltzer tower, you can hear the echoes of the past ringing loud and clear. Of the many artworks on display in the building, one artist brings visuals of bright jazz music to mingle with those echoes of clinking cobalt and heavy machinery. Although some notable aspects of the museum (honestly, the whole building is a museum in a way) were out of commission this visit due to inspections and repairs, I can imagine how incredible this attraction would be in full swing - bold sculptures in the lobby, the clock ticking away, the hand elevator working with an operator at the ready dressed in period garb, drinks in the clock tower at night, ringing in the New Year, secret tours to the extra levels above the clock. Okay, so they don't do the last few in the list according to the docents, but wouldn't it be cool? A girl can dream! Still, it was fun to see the art, clock and machinery and to learn about the history of the factory from the friendly docents. This is a place to come back to over and over again.

One of Baltimore's underrated landmarks! This tower defines helps everyone within a distance from it, answer,z "What time is it?" They do offer tours in the tower for $8. The building is only open to the public for 2 days a week. It is notnly a museum, but, home for a handful of local creators. Ad, this is a house of studios for artist to create! On the way down the stairwell, their works are up on the walls. This makes thie Bromo Seltzer Arts Towrr a great place to inspire other local creators!

Waiting for the start of a nasty-weather game at M&T Bank Stadium, we decided to explore the clock tower and art galleries. It was fun. The clock, which is over 100 y.o. with faces in four directions, is fascinating to see. The cost was $8 per person. There were only two artists (that we saw, at least) but they both took time to describe their work and techniques. Nice!

The self-guided tour of the tower with both art galleries and the clockworks is a definite hidden gem in downtown Baltimore. A 3 room exhibit on the top floor houses a museum of Emerson Drug company history, advertising, and the iconic blue bottles. Views of the downtown area are nice from the 15th floor. The one thing this site lacks is a gift shop, but the stairwell art exhibits and guides in both the museum rooms and clockwork room make up for it. A nice hour or so worth of nostalgia with a uniquely Baltimore twist. Take the elevator or make the 15 floor climb to the top, but note that the clockworks room is accessed only by a ship's ladder style staircase, so there is no handicapped access to the clockworks room.

The bromo Seltzer tower is impressive architecturally, the history behind it is also quite interesting. The glass bottle collection is nice to see, the presentation about Bromo Seltzer and its founder, Isaac Emerson well worth attending. Overall, a captivating visit about Baltimore memorabilia, I had always seen the tower as I drove by, I really wanted to visit it and I was finally able to do it.

This visit was very worthwhile. According to the sign on the street, the clock tower ‘tour’ runs from 11 am to 4pm on Saturday only. It was minimally priced. As a senior I paid only $6. The charm of the building starts with the elevator floor dial. It’s one of those arched dials with a pointer that move to show you what’s floor the elevator is at. The clock tower is just above the 15th floor, and the Bromo Seltzer museum on that floor is very interesting. The star of the show is the clock tower room. What I first noticed was the clacking of the relays that control the elevators. In this digital electronics age, it was a blast to see an old fashioned relay panel (at least it was to me). There are also the old Otis motors running the elevators. The clock mechanism is pretty amazing. Driven by weights and regulated by a pendulum, the intricate drive turns the hands on four dials simultaneously. The guide said that the clock advances two seconds for every swing of the pendulum. The frosted glass dials are held in by massive clamps, which look like they can be removed to do maintenance on the clock hands. You also see the led floods that back illuminate the dials at night. And finally, you can walk down the stairway to see informal exhibits of the resident artists’ works. All in all, a worthwhile hour-and-a-half on a Saturday morning.

This is an underrated Baltimore classic! For $8 you can go up 15 floors (there is an elevator) and go INSIDE of the clock! It's so cool! The stairs going from the 15th floor into the clock are quite steep and narrow so not accessible to everyone but for those who can go up, I would recommend it! You are allowed to walk around inside the clock and there is a docent who gives you some history of the clock tower and explains how it works. You can then go back downstairs and go to the museum which is about Bromo Seltzer and the glass company. It was a neat piece of Baltimore history. You can then walk down the 15 flights and go to whatever artist studios are open. Unfortunately there were only 2-3 open on the Saturday that I went, but there was artwork on the walls all the way down. We got to chat with one of the artist for awhile and met another one in the elevator. They were all really nice. I've been in Baltimore for over 5 years and only just went for the first time, but I would definitely put this on my list of things to do for when people are visiting!

This is a must visit. It's the best $6 you'll spend. Took the elevator up and then climbed some steep stairs to get up to the clock tower. Super cool seeing the mechanics and inner workings. Support this spot, awesome and informative to see.

Visiting the Emerson Bromo Seltzer Tower is a fun, Baltimore bucket list experience. For $8 you're granted access to the clock tower room and the Bromo Seltzer museum residing on the 15th floor. The tour is now self-guided so the recommendation is to take the elevator up to 15 to start at the top and then work your way down. Once you get to 15, you climb a steep but short staircase to the clock tower room which is hot and noisy but impressive. The 15th floor is the museum with vintage bottles, advertisements, newspaper clippings and model replicas. It's very cool and worth reading all of the descriptions to get the full history of the building and details about Emerson Bromo and the company's manufacturing/production. Then, you can walk down each flight of the building and on every level there are artist studios. Unfortunately few were open when we visited but the walls are lined with work on exhibit as you walk down.

Designed by Joseph Sperry and built by Isaac Emerson in 1911, the Tower was meant to resemble the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, and was at that time the tallest structure in Baltimore. It's open to visitors every Saturday from 11a-4p (admission free), but you can also join tours for $8 at specific times (11:30a, 12:30p, 1:30p and 2:30p). If you want to go all the way to the top, you must join a tour. I got there too late, so I couldn't go up. Still, it's an impressive structure, well-worth seeing. Keep in mind that the very top of the tower is currently covered by scaffolding, so you can't see it.

An absolute Baltimore gem that everyone needs to go visit - specifically, the tour is a must. I'm not much of a history person, but enjoyed it thoroughly. I can see the appeal of walking through the building yourself, but it is difficult (if not impossible) to truly appreciate the history and charm behind the building without expert guidance, so for $8 per person for a 1 hour session, it is truly a steal. The tour typically starts with a ~40 minute presentation about the history behind the place, after which you get to see their collection of items, and then go to the top of the clock tower. If anyone has any recommendations about other hidden gems in the city, please message me!

We were so excited for our tour of the Bromo Seltzer Tower with Baltimore Heritage. Our tour guide was Betsy and her enthusiasm and knowledge of the tower made it come alive for us. She gave a 45 minute presentation. This most unusual tower was built in 1911 by Captain Isaac Emerson, the inventor of the headache remedy Bromo Seltzer and was the tallest building in Baltimore at the time. If you have traveled to Florence, Italy, then you know that this tower is modeled after the Palazzo Vecchio. When it was built, it featured the largest four dial, gravity driven clock in the world. We were able to climb very steep steps (ships steps) and stand inside the clock. It was fascinating to see the inner workings of the clock. Take a close look up at the tower and notice that Captain Emerson was a master at marketing. He used the letters of Bromo Seltzer in addition to, and larger than, the Roman numerals. This enormous clock was made by Seth Thomas. In the tower, there is also the Emerson/Maryland Glass Museum. We were delighted to have the opportunity to meet Ernie Dimler. He collected the cobalt blue Bromo Seltzer bottles and about 800 of them are on display. It was a real walk down memory lane. After extensive renovations, the tower is now called the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower with 15 floors of artist studios, gallery spaces, the history museum and, of course, the clock. The tower is open from 11 to 4 on Saturday - admission is free. If you would like a guided tour, the cost is $8.00 and the tours are also on Saturday at 11:30 - 12:30 - 1:30 - 2:30. The clock room itself is not handicap accessible.

It is a very unique spot. The Emerson clock tower was inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Italy. However, the 4 clocks on it is larger then the Westminster Clock Tower in London. They also have the oldest functioning elevator in the US. Plus, the tour was fantastic, very informative.

This little hidden jewel is AMAZING! I have walked past this tower SO MANY times, and never stopped in. A few Saturdays ago, my wife and I had a "date day" and decided to check out the Bromo Seltzer Tower, and we were not disappointed. We live within walking distance, and it was a gorgeous fall day to enjoy the city. Each floor of this tower is a space that can be rented out as an art studio! We saw so many different varieties of creative expression as we took the stairs up each floor. (Yes there is an elevator!).Many things are for sale, and many are VERY reasonably priced On Saturdays, at certain times, there is a tour behind the clock tower face, as well as the history of the tower, and BROMO SELTZER. I LOVE history, so this was amazing to me and the guide had ...personality! lol. To see the extremely detailed workings of the time piece of the tower is breathtaking. The guide also shows the "old way" they would wind the clock, and the new way. (much easier!). If you are visiting our beautiful city please take a few hours to visit this historic landmark.....you will not be disappointed!!

Arguably the best known building in Baltimore, the Bromo Seltzer Tower has stood since 1911. Today the tower contains art studios that are open to the public every Saturday. A lot of the art is for sale. The work also lines the walls on the staircase. An old fashioned elevator runs all the way to the 15th floor. Walking the tower itself is self guiding and free, the clock room tour is not. It costs $8 and leaves at specific times with a tour guide. The guide gives a history of the building before escorting the group to the clock room and explains how the clock works. It's 100% worth it. The only issue is that the 2:30 tour started at 2:11 while I was still exploring the tower.

Yeah! Such a cool place. Great historic building that now contains artists studios. The first Saturday of every month they hold an open house where the general public can visit the artists studios. The best is that you can also visit the clock tower on top of the building. Just like Hugo (best movie ever!). Such a fun activity for kids and adults!! Note: to get to the clock tower you do have to climb a flight of stairs and then a ship's ladder (kind of a cross between stairs and a genuine ladder). The studios are all accessible by elevator. You should go! It's FREE!

Loved visiting this landmark. So glad it has been saved! Loved the tour with the history of the blue glass and the clock!!

The Bromo-Seltzer Tower is a Baltimore landmark. I've been to the city many times but never knew until my recent trip that the building is open to the public on Saturdays. They offer an $8 tour that shares the history of the company and the building along with a visit inside the clock tower. The tour guide was fabulous. He had so much energy and clearly loved sharing the stories about the building and its place in Baltimore's history. The 45-minute tour was time and money well-spent, especially if you are interested in history, architecture, and/or advertising. This is definitely a hidden gem. I'm so glad that the very friendly docent at the Top of the World Observation Deck (which is also worth the price of admission) told my friend and I about the Bromo-Seltzer tour. If you're in Baltimore, I'd recommend checking it out. And Edgar Allen Poe's grave is just a few blocks away, so you could make it a twofer like my group did!

The Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower is an iconic symbol within the city of Baltimore that is open on Saturdays to the public for free. For 5$, they also provide tours (which is the only way that you would be allowed to see the very top of the tower, where the gears of the clock face are hidden). After spending many years in Baltimore, I finally found decided to venture in and am so glad that I did. Turns out that this historical tower is actually home to a variety of fantastic and interesting art pieces - ranging from watercolor to photograph prints to acrylic/oil paintings, in addition to many artists studios. The tower is 15 stories high, and the art pieces line the walls of the stairs leading up to the clock. There are also little galleries within the studios on every floor (as well as bathrooms for those who have small bladders). It is recommended to take the elevator to the 15th floor, and slowly work your way down the stairs from the top. Definitely worth the trip, especially if you live within the city.

We went on the 2:30pm tour on a Saturday and got to learn a lot about the history and the architecture of the building, as well as about Emerson (the founder). We are not much history people but our guide made it so interesting that we ended up being fascinated about it! We learned so much about Baltimore, Bromo seltzer drug company, and marketing in general - I would recommend it to people of all age. The building is accessible (there is an elevator except for the clock room). The layout is very interesting, after you're done with the tour you can go down on each floor to see local art work and even meet the artists sometimes. It's an hidden gem in Baltimore and you get a great experience in the heart of the city for only $8 (expect to stay there about an hour).

My friend and I went through the tower quickly because we got there late and it was going to close in under 30 min. We didn't get to do the tour, but we did get to pop into the various rooms by ourselves successfully! When you walk in, you will want to take the elevator to the top floor and work your way down. Self-guiding around the tower is free. A lot of the rooms were closed, but some of the ones opened were pretty neat. It's a cool setup for artists to be able to rent these spaces to show their creations. I didn't think most of the quality of art was all that great though. There were a handful of people who were genuinely talented, but a lot of the art was so-so and overpriced. It's an interesting enough experience, though, so if you have 30 to kill, this is a decent option.

Such a cool place! I've been trying to get here for a while so when my parents came to town we thought it would be a great tourist activity to do together! We Ubered over from Federal Hill since parking is in issue in this part of town but there was a parking garage nearby. On Saturdays the tower is open for visitors. You can take a clock tower tour and you can also check out local artists at work since each floor holds galleries for the artists. We were able to watch a few artists at work and even purchased some artwork. The clock was my favorite part! The steps were a little steep but once I was in the top of the tower I couldn't believe what I was seeing! **Note that this involves a fair amount of walking. The tower is 15 floors tall but you can take the elevator to the top and walk down checking out the artists work.

Wonderful and beautiful historic site with a fascinating and very human history. Very cool to go on a Saturday and see artists at work

This place is amazing. I think this is the single most underrated tourist attraction in all of Baltimore. Only paying $5 for a guided tour and actually getting to go inside the clock tower is amazing. Visiting all the local artist and seeing their work for free is also neat. If you're a Marylander looking for a quirky place to visit, add this to your list.

The tour was worth way more than just $5! Learned so much about the history of Baltimore. Also, many great artists with extremely friendly people!

The tower is a great spot to visit if you are anywhere near downtown Baltimore on a Saturday afternoon, such as to attend a sports event or a conference. I agree with previous reviews about visiting the artist studios. Each also has windows with different perspectives of the surrounding city. After taking the elevator to the top, the walk down should be relatively easy for most people, especially because you can view art on sale along the stairwell and stop on most floors to talk with artists and possibly buy their work. The small ground floor lobby usually has a temporary exhibit. I suggest that more of the artists sell cards and prints of some of their work for those who lack the space or money for originals.