Directions to the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

(Headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind)

Mailing Address:

200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230

Telephone: (410) 659-9314

Google map of 200 East Wells Street.

The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (NFBJI) building covers the entire block of 200 East Wells Street, with entrances to the building and to the parking garage located on Wells Street, on the south side of the block. Take the Wells Street elevators to the NFB reception desk in the fourth floor atrium. Visitors may park in the two-story parking garage in any unassigned space by informing the receptionist of the car's license plate tag number.

The NFBJI is located approximately twenty blocks south of downtown Baltimore in a section of the city known as South Baltimore. It is bordered by Johnson Street on the east, Wells Street on the south, Byrd Street on the west, and Barney Street on the north. Both Wells and Barney dead-end at Riverside Park, which is directly across Johnson Street, east of the building. The NFBJI is very close to Interstate 95, the nearest exit/entrance ramp being only about six blocks southwest of the Institute on Hanover Street. In 2007, the NFB opened its new, fully accessible entrance on Wells Street; the door on Johnson Street is no longer in use.

Details for the Wells Street Entrance:

On Wells Street: On the Wells Street side of the block, two short sidewalks curve off the main sidewalk into the entrance hall. Inside the hall, take the elevators, located on the back wall between the two entrances, up to the fourth floor. The elevator doors on the fourth floor open behind you, facing north, and the reception desk will be straight ahead.

Walking from 1800 Johnson Street to 200 Wells: If you arrive at the former entrance to our block facing the Johnson Street steps, the Wells Street entrance is around the corner to your left. Walk south to the corner, turn right and walk west to the grand entrance. The sidewalk into the entrance hall occurs shortly after passing the parking garage driveway. Note: Shortly before crossing the driveway, a gate permits guide dogs to enter an enclosed relief area with both pavement and grass.

From the South and Southwest via Interstate 95

Take I-95 north toward Baltimore. After you pass the exit to Baltimore/Inner Harbor (I-395), get in the right lane (and keep getting in the new right lanes) to take the next exit, Exit 54 (Maryland Route 2 South, Hanover Street).

As this exit heads you in the wrong direction, south, you must make a 'turn-around' to go back north toward I-95. Therefore, as you exit onto Hanover Street, stay in the right lane. Shortly you will be able to bear right to exit off of Hanover Street onto the first side street. (The street is across from a BP gas station.) Use the side street to turn around, making a dogleg back to the light at the intersection of the side street and Hanover.

Turn left at the light back onto Hanover Street and pass under Interstate 95. Shortly, at the light for the first street to the right, turn right onto Wells Street. Continue on Wells Street five blocks to Riverside Park. You will see the NFB's grand entrance to your left in the last block before Riverside Park.

From the South and Southwest via Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Including BWI Airport (BWI is approximately eleven miles from the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute)

Take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway north toward Baltimore. Pass the Waterview Avenue exit and immediately get in the right lane. Take the exit marked I-95 North/New York. Get in the right lane and keep getting in the new right lanes. You will be on Interstate 95 for a very short distance. Take Exit 54 (Maryland Route 2 South, Hanover Street).

As this exit heads you in the wrong direction, south, you must make a 'turn-around' to go back north toward I-95. Therefore, as you exit onto Hanover Street, stay in the right lane. Shortly you will be able to bear right to exit off of Hanover Street onto the first side street (across from a BP gas station). Use the side street to turn around, making a dogleg back to the light at the intersection of the side street and Hanover.

From the West and Northwest via Interstate 70 and Interstate 695 (Baltimore Beltway)

From I-70 take the exit onto I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) south toward Glen Burnie. Go several miles on I-695. Once you pass the exit to Wilkens Avenue (exit 13), get in the right lane. Take Exit 11, which will be marked (both) 'I-95 North, Baltimore' and 'I-95 South, Washington.' The left side of the double-lane exit is I-95 to Baltimore.

Take I-95 north toward Baltimore. After you pass the exit to Baltimore 'Inner Harbor' (I-395), get in the right lane (and keep getting in the new right lane) to take the next exit, Exit 54 (Maryland Route 2 South, Hanover Street).

This exit unfortunately heads you in the wrong direction, south, and you must make a 'turn-around' to go back north toward I-95. Therefore, as you exit onto Hanover Street, stay in the right lane. Shortly you will be able to bear right to exit off of Hanover Street onto the first side street (across from a BP gas station). Use the side street to turn around, making a dogleg back to the light at the intersection of the side street and Hanover.

From the North via Interstate 83 and Downtown Baltimore

As Interstate 83 South comes into the Baltimore area, it is referred to as the Jones Falls Expressway (JFX). Drive on the Jones Falls Expressway into downtown Baltimore and take the exit marked 'St. Paul Street.' This street is one-way going south. Get in the middle lane or the lane just left of center. At the center of town, where St. Paul Street intersects Baltimore Street, St. Paul Street becomes Light Street. Now stay in the center lane of Light Street through downtown Baltimore. (You will see the famous Inner Harbor on your left.) Be sure you are in the middle lane after you cross Pratt Street (beside the harbor). This is important as the right two lanes force a turn onto Conway Street (toward Oriole Park baseball field) and a few blocks later (at the end of the harbor, next to the Maryland Science Center), the left two lanes will force you to bear left onto Key Highway. Continue south on Light Street, crossing Key Highway at the light. Continue south about thirteen blocks, all the way to the last cross street, called Wells Street. Turn left (east) off of Light Street onto Wells Street.

Continue on Wells Street two blocks to the end of the street. You will see the NFB's grand entrance to your left in the last block before Riverside Park.

From the Penn Railroad Station (Amtrak and commuter trains)

Penn Station is at 1501 North Charles Street. Charles Street runs one-way north (away from downtown) and is one block west of and runs parallel to St. Paul Street, which runs one way south into downtown Baltimore). Take a cab for about $12 each way, or city bus number 64 for $1.60 each way.

Note: If the driver needs directions, say you want to go past the Inner Harbor on Light Street to the end of Light Street, then turn left on Wells Street. Go two blocks to the end of Wells Street. You will see the NFB's grand entrance to your left in the last block before Riverside Park.

From the East and Northeast via Interstate 95 and Fort McHenry Tunnel

Take I-95 south to Baltimore via the Fort McHenry Tunnel. As you approach the toll plaza, arrange to pay at the open booth furthest to the right so that you can be sure to take the extreme right tube through the tunnel. After leaving the tunnel, you will very quickly take the first exit on your right (Exit 55-Key Highway). At the end of the exit ramp there is a stoplight. Continue straight ahead until you reach the stoplight at Hanover Street.

Turn right at the light onto Hanover Street and pass under Interstate 95. Shortly, at the light for the first street to the right, turn right onto Wells Street. Continue on Wells Street five blocks to Riverside Park. You will see the NFB's grand entrance to your left in the last block before Riverside Park.

Bus Routes to National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

From Penn Station, the north, or from downtown Baltimore: The most convenient way to get to the to the Institute via bus is to get to downtown Baltimore, then transfer to a number 64 bus from Light Street or St. Paul Street in downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor. (The number 1 bus makes a stop at Fort Avenue if one feels like walking five blocks to the building.)

NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS: Get off at the corner of Light Street and Barney Street, the nearest bus stop to the building. Shops at the corner are Jacks Sub Shop and grocery (SE corner), Home Slyce (NE corner), and a bar without an obvious sign (NW corner). When you get off the bus at Barney, walk east two blocks on the south side of Barney. The first block has an alley halfway down the block, then Byrd Street. Cross Byrd street. You are now on our block. Turn right to walk south alongside the brick wall of our building. Pass by the car entrance, continue to the corner of Byrd and Wells, then turn left (east) alongside Wells Street. Turn left into the first sidewalk entrance off the main sidewalk. The automatic doors will swish open when you are close to them. Inside the hall, you will find the elevators on the back wall, about twelve feet ahead. Take an elevator to the fourth floor. The elevator door will open on the rear wall. Walk straight ahead to the receptionist.

FYI, Finding the Barney stop on BUS 64: If you miss the Barney Stop when going south on Light Street, after passing Barney Street, Bus 64 will go one more block south, then turn right on Wells to go west. From downtown to here, this is its first 90-degree turn. When going north to downtown, Bus 64 will turn right from Hanover onto Wells, then shortly, turn left from Wells onto Light to go north. The Barney Street stop is at the end of this first block of Light Street. Use the NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS.

From Essex: Take the number 23 bus to Lombard and Light Streets and transfer to the number 64 bus going south. Get off at Barney Street. Use the NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS.

From Glen Burnie: take the number 14 bus to Patapsco Avenue and Hanover Street and transfer to the number 64 bus going north. Get off at Barney Street. Use the NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS.

From Irvington: Take the number 2 bus to Light Street and transfer to the number 64 bus going south. Get off at Barney Street. Use the NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS.

From Parkville: Take the number 19 to Lombard and Light Streets and transfer to the number 64 bus going south. Get off at Barney Street. Use the NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS.

From West Baltimore: Take the number 1 bus from Fulton Avenue to Fort Avenue and Light Street; walk 3 blocks south on Light Street to Barney Street. Use the NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS.

From the Light Rail: The Light Rail runs north and south along Howard Street in the downtown area. Get off at the Baltimore Street stop (at the intersection of Baltimore and Howard, across from the Baltimore Arena) and board the number 1 (Ft. McHenry) bus on Baltimore Street. It makes a stop at Fort Avenue and Light Street, then walk 5 blocks to the Jernigan Institute (see above under 'West Baltimore').

You may also walk four blocks from the Light Rail stop, walking east to Baltimore and Light, in order to board Bus 64 going south (see above for route 'from the north/downtown Baltimore'), or you can transfer to any number of buses (numbers 8, 2, 36, 91, 20, or 11) to ride to Baltimore and Light Streets. You must then walk south one block to get to the Redwood Street stop to catch the 64 bus going south. Get off at Barney Street. Use the NEAREST STOP DIRECTIONS.

For any questions regarding bus routes, visit the Maryland Transit Administration online at www.mtamaryland.com or by phone at (410) 539-5000 or 1-866-RIDE-MTA (1-866-743-3652) between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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