Baltimore Day 1: Part 1 National Museum Of Dentistry

At the end of April Travis and I went to Baltimore, MD. Travis was attending a two day dental seminar on Friday and Saturday and I got to play tourist. We decided to arrive Wednesday so we could have all day Thursday to explore together first. In researching what we could do there together I found out the National Museum of Dentistry was there. I thought about not sharing that bit of info that probably wouldn't be the most exciting stop for me, but decided to be a good wife and tell him. So, of course, that was the first stop on Thursday.

One really nice thing about the trip was the weather. While it was muggy, it was sunny and warm and the idea of it being shorts weather was awesome! What a great change from Oregon's rainy spring!

But first a look at our hotel, the Hampton Inn that we stayed at. Part of the lobby:


More lobby


We stayed on the top floor of the hotel and this was the grand hallway up there. Our room was not actually in this hallway, but right next to it. Our room was supposed to be as nice as some of the rooms in this hallway too but when we arrived we were informed that our big jacuzzi was not working. So instead they offered to compensate us for up to $100 on a nice meal, just bring them a single receipt before the end of our stay.


Here's the room:


It was pretty roomy! The mirror on the right of this picture is a large door to a big closet as well.


We decided to take advantage of the $100 comp with a meal in which we could enjoy more variety with some appetizers and dessert (neither of which we often get) instead of trying to find a super expensive restaurant. So we headed over the the Hard Rock Cafe in the Power Plant on the Inner Harbor.




The bar




Okay so we didn't just get dessert, we got a few desserts to share! I saved half of my dinner for lunch the next day but all that dessert was so much! The little shooters were so rich that we couldn't even finish them. We left having eaten way too much but it was so good.


A statue on Harbor Bridge Walk right outside the Hard Rock. Besides my leftover food, Travis is carrying the Hard Rock hurricane glasses that came with the specialty drinks we ordered.


Thursday morning we headed out to the National Museum of Dentistry. Travis adds his smile to the "guestbook" of smiles.


What some cultures think looks good... This charming gentlemen belongs to the Bantu Indian tribe in Africa.


Jaw of an 8 year old to demonstrate the underlying permanent tooth buds.


All kinds of teeth


Cooky and corny old tooth related commercials and the like in this mouth jukebox.


A selection of many very old toothbrushes.


Using an old Egyptian style, these two are using gold wire to hold natural teeth in place of missing ones.


The toothworm strikes! From 18th-century French sculptures, these replicas show the toothworm devouring a man on the left and equating the torment of a toothache with the fires of hell on the right.


Not your average pocket knife!


Jadeite and turquoise inlayed teeth of the Maya.


A skull with some of these inlayed teeth, circa A.D. 900.


You know the phrase "bite the bullet?" Well, here's a musket ball found in Baltimore from the War of 1812 with teeth marks in it from probably several poor souls trying to survive surgery!


Travis reading what they have to say about G.V. Black who looks on. He has a whole corner to himself along with a replica of his office because he's known as the "Father of Modern Dentistry."


Travis checking out the table in G.V. Black's office.


Since he couldn't very well hop over and take a pic with G.V. Black, flossing him was the clear alternative.


Remember the tale that George Washington had wooding teeth? Not so. These are some examples of actual wooden dentures (I believe from Asia but now I can't remember) and those are nails in the back for chewing surfaces rather than molars.


Here are replicas of George Washington's dentures which were made of ivory. The one on the back pedestal had several human teeth including one of George's own, the others had ivory teeth.


Travis flossing with George.


George and I getting familiar.


And lastly, Travis flossing by the front entrance sign. There's a board in his office of pictures of flossing from all over, so Travis was doing his part to add more and from a new location.


After the Museum we walked to Westminster Hall where Edgar Allen Poe's headstone is.


Here's Edgar Allen Poe's famous headstone as well as the marker of his original burial place.


Also in the cemetery was this raised marble grave marker that's warping.


Here's the marker right next to it.


The path along the warped marble marker is pretty warped too! It was hard to walk on.


After Westminster Hall we started our walk back. Along the way we worked our way toward this clock tower that was a dominate feature of the cityscape.


Turns out it belongs to the Baltimore City Fire Department.


Next up, the National Aquarium.

This post covered the red markers and half the red route.

View Baltimore Trip 2011 in a larger map
Map Key
red - pt 1 - Day 1 National Museum Of Dentistry
yellow - pt 2 - Day 1 National Aquarium
blue - pt 3 - Day 2 Architecture, Walter's Art Museum
aqua - pt 4 - Day 2(3) Churches
green - pt 5 - Day 3 The Inner Harbor and War Related Sites
Lines: my day tours, there are no lines for our evening/night outings or my day 3 afternoon shopping.