If you’ve never been: The H.L. Mencken open house is Friday, Sept. 11

An open house featuring a casual piano performance and a presentation on H.L.
Mencken’s place in the Jazz Age social scene is planned for 6-8:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the H.L. Mencken House Museum in West Baltimore.

The event, on the eve of the famed journalist’s 146th birthday, is planned in cooperation with the Mencken Day events scheduled at the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
The open house will feature jazz performed on Mencken’s piano by Carter McMullen, founder and artistic director of Salon Concerts of Baltimore and music director for the Mencken House Museum. The open house will also include a brief presentation on Mencken’s place in Jazz Age culture. As was the case at gatherings Mencken frequented, the open house will feature some libations. The Society to Preserve H.L. Mencken’s Legacy will present a short program on Mencken’s prominent place among the literati and glitterati of Jazz Age America. In addition to being the host for Baltimore salons, Mencken was often a guest at events organized by others of his social circle.

Mencken House event:
6 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, H.L. Mencken House, 1524 Hollins Street.

The main event for the weekend is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Pratt Library, 400 Cathedral Street in Baltimore, highlighted by a lecture at 2 p.m. delivered by historian Andrew Holter.