10/09/2026
Have you ever wanted to explore our historic Jernigan Institute? If you're in the Baltimore area, you can tour our headquarters tomorrow as part of Doors Open Baltimore.
Our Jernigan Institute brings together three interconnected buildings—two built in the early 1900s, and the other added in 2004. This unique merging of structures is an entire city block and showcases a blend of modern design and historic structural features like the original masonry, as well as rough cut Georgia pine beams, decking, and support columns.
On this guided tour, you get a behind-the-scenes look into our 350,000 square foot headquarters including our magnificent marble atrium, state-of-the-art auditorium, and Members Hall; our grand ballroom made possible through the generosity and commitment of our members.
Speaking of our members, as you move from place to place within the building, you will notice our hallways are filled with audio-described portraits of blind Americans living the lives they want. Other featured artifacts on this tour will include tactile renderings of the building, tactile art that contains text from Federation Presidents’ speeches, and the first official US minted coins with proper Braille.
Whether you've long wondered about the distinctive green glass and brick building visible from Interstate 95 or are discovering us for the first time, we invite you to visit this historic South Baltimore building and learn how blind people are transforming lives, communities, and expectations across the nation.