Traverse our History
Washington County's Museums and Historic Destinations
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Welcome to Washington County!
Take a tour of the many sites Washington County has to offer.
Established in 1776 and named for then Gen. George Washington, our county’s history reflects the history of our nation.
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Antietam National Battlefield
Learn, listen, hike and explore. Antietam includes Dunker Church, the National Cemetery, and Pry House Field Hospital Museum.
Visit the website for more details.
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Boonsborough Museum of History
A collection of Civil War items from the Antietam and Gettysburg Campaigns, as well as historical items pertaining to Boonsboro's history.
Visit the website for more details.
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Boonsboro Trolley Station
Housed in a restored building that was the town trolley station from 1902 to 1938, this museum focuses on the electric trolley that ran within Washington & Frederick Countys. It is the last remaining trolley station in Washington County.
Visit the National Road Heritage Foundation site for more details.
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National Road Museum
Coming Soon! This museum will honor the nation's first federal highway system intended to expand and populate America's untamed west.
Visit the National Road Heritage Foundation site for more details.
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Bowman House
The headquarters for the Boonsboro Historical Society , this house is typical of log houses built in Western Maryland during the first half of the 19th century.
Visit the Boonsboro Historical Society site for more details.
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C & O Canal National Historical Park (Williamsport)
"Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures." - National Park Service
205 W Potomac St, Williamsport (Milepost 99)
Visit the National Park Service site for more details.
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C & O Canal National Historical Park (Hancock)
"Hancock has a rich history and a unique place in the state of Maryland. It’s located in the narrowest part of the state – less than two miles separate Pennsylvania from West Virginia – and it’s one of the oldest settlements in Maryland." - Canal Trust
439 East Main Street, Hancock (Milepost 123)
Visit the National Park Service site for more details.
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Doleman Black Heritage Museum
"From its beginnings in 1974, the Doleman Black Heritage Museum has sought to preserve and enhance the history and culture of blacks in Washington County Maryland and the United States through conservation, education, and community involvement. Today we are entering an exciting new chapter as plans for a permanent home for the collection begin." - Doleman Black Heritage Museum
Visit the Doleman Black Heritage Museum for more details.
Image Credit: Doleman Archive - Western Maryland Railroad Workers 1890
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Fort Frederick State Park
"The centerpiece of the Fort Frederick State Park is a unique stone fort that served as Maryland’s frontier defense during the French and Indian War. Built in 1756, the fort's stone wall and two barracks have been restored to their 1758 appearance. Historic exhibits are in the fort, barracks, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum and visitor center." - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources site for more details.
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The George Alfred Townsend Museum & Civil War Correspondents Arch @ Gathland State Park
"A large stone monument dedicated to the memory of Civil War correspondents is the outstanding attraction of this day-use park." - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for more details.
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Hagerstown Model Railroad Museum @ Antietam Station
Antietam Station, built by the Norfolk and Western Railroad in 1911, is owned by the Town of Sharpsburg and leased by the Hagerstown Model Railroad Museum. The station houses railroad artifacts and model railroad layouts of various scales.
Visit the website for more details.
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Hagerstown Railroad Museum - City Park Train Hub
Located in City Park, the Hagerstown Railroad Museum features hundreds of signs, signals, bells, telephones and tools that were used by railroad workers every day. Most of the items in this significant collection came from the Western Maryland Railroad Company. It is also home to Steam Locomotive Engine #202 .
Visit the City of Hagerstown for more details.
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Hagerstown Aviation Museum
The Hagerstown Aviation Museum hosts events at the Hagerstown Regional Airport showcasing historic aircraft including Bellanca CE, Kreider Reisner KR-31 and many models of Fairchild airplanes all manufactured in Washington County. The museum is currently working toward a permanent location near Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR).
Visit the Hagerstown Aviation Museum site for more details.
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Newcomer House - Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Exhibit
The historic Newcomer House at Antietam National Battlefield is the site of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Exhibit and Visitor Center, made possible by a cooperative agreement between the National Park Service and the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Visit the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area site for more details.
Image Credit: Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area
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Jonathan Hager House Museum
Located within City Park this is the refurbished home of Hagerstown's founder, Jonathan Hager, built circa 1739. This one of a kind house museum is staged with historic furniture and artifacts.
Visit the City of Hagerstown for more details.
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Kennedy Farm (John Brown's Headquarters)
Kennedy Farm, Maryland a national historic landmark , used during the summer of 1859 by John Brown and his Provisional Army of the United States.
Visit the John Brown Historical Foundation or National Park Service for more details.
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Miller House Museum
The Miller House Museum serves as the headquarters of the Washington County Historical Society, and has served as a historic house and local history museum since 1966. It is also home to the Kinship Genealogy Center .
Visit the Washington County Historical Society for more details.
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Plumb Grove
Also known as the Nesbitt-Warner House , Plumb Grove is owned and operated by the members of the Clear Spring District Historical Association. It is a National Register property within Washington County built c.1831.
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South Mountain State Battlefield
"South Mountain State Battlefield seeks to preserve and interpret the first major Civil War battle to take place in Maryland. Fought on September 14, 1862, the Battle of South Mountain was a critical turning point in the American Civil War." - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Visit Maryland Department of Natural Resources for more details.
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Tolson's Chapel
"Located near Antietam National Battlefield in western Maryland, Tolson’s Chapel is a log-and-frame church built by an African American congregation in 1866. The congregation later established a cemetery on the property, and the church served as a school during Reconstruction." - National Park Service
Visit the Friends of Tolson's Chapel for more details.
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Washington County Rural Heritage Museum
Depicting the heritage of local farming life, this museum displays antique farm equipment, an authentic turn-of-the-century country store, and model rooms of a typical 19th century farmhouse and a gift shop.
Visit the Rural Heritage Museum site for more details.
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Washington Monument State Park
"Located atop South Mountain, Washington Monument State Park is named for the first completed monument dedicated to the memory of George Washington. The Washington Monument is a rugged stone tower that was initially erected by the citizens of Boonsboro in 1827." - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resource s for more details.
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Williamsport Town Museum & Springfield Barn
The Springfield Barn, which overlooks Williamsport’s Byron Memorial Park, was built circa 1755 by Otho Holland Williams, the founder of Williamsport. The Town of Williamsport purchased this barn in 1987. A town museum is located inside the barn.
Visit the Town of Williamsport for more details.
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Wilson Village
The Rufus Wilson property comprises a complex of mid-late 19th century buildings which create the center of a small rural settlement named Conococheague located on the National Road in Washington County. It is one of many properties in Washington County on the National Register.