A National Register Historic District, Mount Vernon encompasses the best of what city living has to offer. This lively neighborhood not only serves as the cultural center of Baltimore but as the home to a diverse group of residents and businesses. College students who walk to class and professionals who work here, downtown, or as far away as Washington and New York are just some of the people who take advantage of Mt. Vernon's convenient location. Singles and empty nesters who seek to avoid the monotony of the suburbs, enjoy a wide array of art, entertainment, and services just steps from their front door. Living spaces include single family Victorian row homes, carriage houses, condominiums, apartments in row homes, and several high-rises.

Following is a summary of what is available within the Mount Vernon's boundaries and does not include the many shops, services and attractions along the 15-minute walk from here to the Inner Harbor.

• The Washington Monument and Museum (1814): For $1.00 you can view the collection inside the base and climb the 228 steps to the top for a panoramic view.
• Mount Vernon Place and Washington Place: Four garden squares flanking the monument with fountains and statues, surrounded by the Walters Art Museum, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and grand residences including the largest row home in Baltimore. Site of the Baltimore Book Festival and Flower Mart.
• Over 35 restaurants: Ranging from the five-star Brass Elephant to the $3.50-for-breakfast Howard's Deli. 
• Theaters and concert halls: Live performances at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Lyric Opera House, the Peabody Institute, Center Stage, Theatre Project, Everyman Theatre, Spotlighters Theatre. Foreign and independent films at the Charles Theatre.
• Museums and galleries: The Walters Art Museum, the Maryland Historical Society, Maryland Institute College of Art, Mount Vernon Museum of Incandescent Lighting, the Meredith Gallery.
• Over 100 shops: Including a supermarket, pharmacies, book stores, boutiques, delis.
• Antique Row: 5 blocks, over 15 antique stores. Shop till you ... on North Howard Street.
• Over 20 Bars, Cafes and Nightclubs: Dance at the Hippo, listen to live jazz at Harry's or two-step at the Stagecoach. Try the house ale at Brewer's Art or sip espresso at City Cafe.
• Medical Facilities: Maryland General Hospital along with a multitude of private practices are within the neighborhood boundaries. Mercy Hospital is minutes downtown.
• Local Transportation: MTA buses  criss-cross Mt. Vernons boundaries with east-west/north-south services to points throughout the city. The Subway system runs along Mt. Vernon's western boundary with service to the northwest suburbs, downtown and Johns Hopkins East Baltimore campus.The central Light Rail line offers frequent service to Penn. Station, BWI Airport and north/south suburbs for $1.35 one way.
• Pennsylvania Station: Access to Amtrak, Marc, and the Light Rail systems here makes Mount Vernon a convenient place for commuters and frequent travelers to live. Amtrak's introduction of High Speed Rail in fall 1999 will reduce travel time to D.C. to 25 min. and to New York to 2hrs. 10 min. Discount passes available from MARC rail, Amtrak and MTA to most destinations.

Mt. Vernon consists of an eclectic mix of rowhomes from the late 18th to the early 20th century and a number of condominium and apartment units. Although most houses are approx. 20 ft. wide with 3 to 4 floors, sizes range from the largest rowhome in Baltimore on Mt. Vernon Place to the 10 ft. wide,-two room deep rowhomes on Tyson St.. In addition to the traditional Baltimore Federal style, Second Empire, Georgian, Edwardian, Romanesque, Beaux Arts, Tudor, Gothic and an eclectic mixture of all of the above are represented here. Extravagant use of materials is still evident in the details in many interiors. Although a few have remained in use as single family homes, many of these houses have been converted for use as doctors and lawyers offices or divided into apartments. Currently, an increasing number of these are being restored to their single family configuration. Prices range from $125,000 to $1,500,000.

Mt. Vernon acquired its land and name during the 19th century when John Eager Howard and his heirs donated the highest point in Baltimore to become the site for the first memorial to George Washington. The site of the Washington Monument in Mt. Vernon Square is generally regarded as one of the most beautiful urban sites in the world.

Between 1800 and 1900 Mt. Vernon was at the center of Baltimore's transformation from an insignificant harbor city to a place of prominence and wealth. This was the time when fortunes were made and great philanthropies bestowed. During the neighborhood's early history, wealthy residents including Henry and William Walters, Robert Garrett, A.S. Abell, and Theodore Marburg commissioned well-known architects such as Niernsee & Neilson, Stanford White, John Russell Pope, and Robert Mills to build the grand buildings and monuments that still grace the neighborhood.

In addition to serving as home to wealthy Baltimoreans, Mt. Vernon was chosen as the site for major cultural institutions. The legacies of influential people such as George Peabody, Henry and William Walters, and Enoch Pratt continue on as the Peabody Conservatory, the Walters Art Gallery, and the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Most of the original Mt. Vernon buildings remain today, but their functions have changed. For example, the home of Henry and William Walters at 5 W. Mt. Vernon Place now serves as offices for the Walters Art Gallery; the Garret-Jacobs Mansion is now the Engineering Society; and the Jencks-Gladding house now the houses the Asian art for the Walters Art Gallery. The rejuvenation of the many historic and architecturally significant buildings has enabled Mt. Vernon to remain not only a diverse residential neighborhood, but also a cultural center
and restaurant district.