If you think Baltimore is all crabcakes, baseball, and waterfront walks… you’re only seeing half the story.

This city’s got a wonderfully weird side and it doesn’t try to hide it. From tiny crime scenes to teeth museums to legal street-art alleys, Charm City’s quirks are what give it character.

Whether you’re into strange history, underground art, or just off-the-wall fun, here are some weird things to do in Baltimore that locals actually rave about.

1. The National Museum of Dentistry

Location: University of Maryland Campus

Teeth. Everywhere. Real ones, fake ones, George Washington’s wooden ones.

This museum might sound like a punchline, but it’s oddly fascinating. You’ll find antique drills, bizarre toothbrushes, and stories about how our smiles became a billion-dollar business.

Not your average afternoon activity but that’s the point.

2. The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

Location: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (by appointment only)

This one’s hard to get into, but unforgettable if you do.

Housed in a secure building are 18 dollhouse-style dioramas each one a grisly unsolved death scene. Built in the 1940s by Frances Glessner Lee, they’re still used today to train homicide detectives.

They’re tiny, creepy, and completely brilliant. Call ahead if you want a shot at seeing them.

3. American Visionary Art Museum

Location: Federal Hill

No pretentious art speak here. Just wild, messy, joyful creativity from outsider artists all over the world.

You’ll see sculptures made from toothpicks, mirrored mosaics, and a fart-powered robot (yes, really). Even the gift shop is weird and wonderful.

Don’t skip the Kinetic Sculpture Race they host every spring. It’s part parade, part obstacle course, and 100% bonkers.

4. Graffiti Alley

Location: Behind The Motor House, Station North

Baltimore’s only legal graffiti zone lives in an alleyway off North Avenue, and it changes constantly.

Taggers, muralists, and curious tourists all mix here. It’s loud, messy, colorful, and absolutely photogenic. Come during the day for photos, or at night for live painting sessions and popup shows.

If you’re into street art, this is your sacred ground.

5. The Book Thing of Baltimore

Location: Abell neighborhood, near Charles Village
Open: Weekends only

Imagine a place where every single book is free. Not for trade. Not for donation. Just… free.

The Book Thing is a beloved local nonprofit that lets you take as many books as you want. Bring a tote, wear comfy shoes, and get ready to lose track of time.

It’s like a library, but no one makes you return anything.

6. Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower

Location: Downtown Baltimore

Once a factory for headache medicine, now an arts hub inside a giant clocktower.

The Bromo Seltzer Tower feels like stepping into an alternate version of Baltimore one with quiet studios, vintage elevators, and a ticking clock the size of a car. Climb the narrow staircase to see the clock gears and skyline views.

It’s a little creepy. A little charming. Very Baltimore.

7. The Giant Golden Hand (You’ll Know When You See It)

Location: Highlandtown

No plaque. No context. Just a massive golden hand reaching skyward near a tire shop.

Locals don’t really know why it’s there, but we kind of love that about it. It’s quirky, It’s confusing, and It’s perfect for your “weird things to do in Baltimore” checklist.

Bonus: Highlandtown has some of the city’s best hidden murals nearby, too.

8. The Final Resting Place of Edgar Allan Poe

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying Ground

Poe is Baltimore’s most famous literary ghost, and his grave doesn’t disappoint.

Visit his headstone, then explore the old churchyard where he was buried. The atmosphere is straight out of a gothic novel and sometimes, that’s exactly what you’re in the mood for.

9. Mr. Trash Wheel

Location: Inner Harbor

He’s a googly-eyed floating trash collector. And we love him.

Mr. Trash Wheel isn’t just cute he’s helped remove millions of pounds of waste from Baltimore’s harbor using solar-powered paddles. He’s become a local icon, complete with a live Twitter feed and custom merchandise.

You can visit him by walking the harbor loop. Wave hello. He deserves it.

So What’s the Bottom Line?

If Baltimore had a motto, it might be something like: “Weird, but make it wonderful.”

This city embraces the oddball, the offbeat, and the strangely specific and honestly, that’s what makes it feel real. So if you’ve already done the harbor cruise and the ballgame, give Baltimore’s quirky side a shot.

You might not know what to expect… but that’s kind of the fun, right?