Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, the
216 Emory Street, Baltimore MD, 21230
Information
George Herman “Babe” Ruth was born February 6, 1895 at 216 Emory Street, a Baltimore row house that is now just a long fly ball from Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The property was leased by Babe’s maternal grandfather, Pius Schamberger, who made his living as an upholsterer. The date of construction is unknown, but it is believed to be circa 1850.
By the late 1960s, the property and adjoining three row-house structures had fallen into disrepair and were scheduled for demolition. A successful campaign saved and restored the Birthplace, which opened to the public as a national shrine in July, 1974. Exhibits depicting the life and times of Babe Ruth were installed with the help of Babe’s widow, his two daughters, and his sister who was also born at 216 Emory Street.
In 2015, the museum began its first major restoration project in its 40 years of operation, creating a new entrance on the Dover Street side of the four tenement houses. The restoration included a new elevator, Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant bathrooms, and re-imagined galleries that tell the story of Babe Ruth as an American icon.
