Mount Airy Civil War Living History Experience
2026-05-16 12:00 (America/New_York) | Mount Airy MD Museum, 1 N. Main Street, Mount Airy, MD, 21771
Join the Historical Society of Mount Airy at the Mount Airy Museum on Saturday May 16, noon-4pm, to experience The Living History Battalion as they will portray Company G of the 3rd Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. This company was stationed in Mt. Airy from 1863 to 1864. In July 1864, they were sent to Frederick and participated in the Battle of Monocacy. Besides guarding the railroad at Mt. Airy, Company G also sent patrols through Carroll and Frederick Counties capturing and guarding confederate and political prisoners, as well as protecting the polls during elections. Throughout the day, there will be displays on Company G activities and lessons on the “life of a soldier.” Bring the family for a fun learning experience where the kids can march and drill with members of the Company! The Mount Airy Museum is located inside the historic Train Station at 1 N. Main Street, Mount Airy, MD.

Monocacy's Lost Battalions
2026-05-16 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
At the Battle of Monocacy, fought July 9, 1864, Union troops launched a desperate attempt to delay a Confederate advance on Washington, D.C. Throughout the battle, the Federal commanders, Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace and Brig. Gen. James Ricketts, waited for additional reinforcements that never came. Where was the rest of Rickett’s command? Nearly a thousand of his men failed to reach the battlefield on July 9. Park Ranger Matt Borders will unravel the fascinating story of what happened to them, and where they were found.

One Vast Hospital - Downtown Frederick Walking Tour
2026-05-17 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-05-23 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-05-24 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-05-30 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-05-31 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-06-06 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-07 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-06-13 10:30 - 11:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Explore the incredible Civil War history in Downtown Frederick with expert guides from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. from April until September, docents from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will explain how Frederick became “One Vast Hospital.” Arguably the most trying moment in city’s history came after the Battle of Antietam in the fall of 1862. The town’s population doubled when 8,000 wounded soldiers were delivered by ambulance to make-shift hospitals throughout Frederick. Walking tours last for an hour to an hour and a half.
Tickets are $15 and include admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in addition to the walking tour. Tickets are free for Museum members, but you must still reserve your spot. Reservations will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
Contact Chris Reed at chris.reed@civilwarmed.org for more information.

The History of the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company
2026-05-17 14:00 | Middletown Volunteer Fire Company Activity Building, 1 Fireman's Lane, Middletown, MD, 21769
Please join the Middletown Valley Historical Society on Sunday, May 17, at 2 pm, at the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company (MVFC) Activities Building, 1 Fireman’s Lane, Middletown, when Brian Beaulieu, Executive Board Member of the MVFC, will present the History of the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company.
Brian will describe the Fire Company’s progression from 1803 until today.
Fire service in the area dates back to at least 1803, although the department was not officially founded until January 26, 1894. Records indicate that a major fire in 1892 at the old tannery made clear the need for organized fire protection in Middletown.
After Brian’s talk, around 3:30 pm, guests and children are invited to visit the Middletown Volunteer Fire Station where he will showcase some of the Company’s special fire equipment from the past and present. Refreshments served at both locations.

Box Lunch Talk: A Tribute to Carroll County’s Hometown Heroes Presented by Steve Bowersox
2026-05-19 12:00 | Historical Society of Carroll County – Shriver-Weybright Auditorium, 210 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157
Remembering the reason for Memorial Day by paying Tribute to several of Carroll’s war casualties. Steve will speak about five soldiers from various conflicts and tell their stories.
Steve is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Historical Society of Carroll County. He is a lifetime resident of Westminster and is retired from the Carroll County Public School system. He loves history in general and is particularly fond of Westminster History.
As always, there is no registration for Box Lunch Talks. You bring your lunch, and we provide the drinks and desserts (thanks to our volunteers and staff). The cost is $3 for HSCC members and $5 for nonmembers.
Questions? Please contact Laura Bankard, Outreach & Events Director at lbankard@hsccmd.org or 410.848.6494 ext. 200.

Boonsboro Historical Society "Show and Tell"
2026-05-19 18:00 | Boonsboro Free Library, 401 Potomac Street, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
The Boonsboro Historical Society invites community members to present artifacts or family heirlooms related to the history of Boonsboro and Washington County on Tuesday, May 19th 6pm-8pm at the Boonsboro Free Library.
In the interest of time, individual presentations will be limited to ensure all guests may participate. We ask you bring only one item and it be reasonably sized. Please be advised that firearms are not permitted on the premises. We look forward to an evening of local history and shared stories.

Last Full Measure of Devotion - Memorial Day at Monocacy National Battlefield
2026-05-25 14:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Join Park Rangers as they discuss the history and importance of Memorial Day. Listen to patriotic music and participate in the National Moment of Silence as they commemorate those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

New Anthony Wayne Historic Marker Dedication at Noland’s Ferry
2026-05-28 14:00 | Nolands Ferry C&O Canal, Nolands Ferry C&O Canal, Tuscarora, MD, 21790
The largest troop movement through western Maryland during the Revolutionary War will be commemorated at an Historic Marker dedication on Thursday, May 28 at Nolands Ferry on the Potomac River in Frederick County.
The marker, entitled “Anthony Wayne’s Potomac Crossing,” is a cooperative venture between the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Other partners in the dedication ceremony are the Maryland Two Fifty Commission, the Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Frederick County US Semiquincentennial Commission, and the Frederick and Carrollon Manor Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
The dedication ceremony will be held at the Nolands Ferry Picnic Area of the C&O Canal Park, Tuscarora, Maryland, reached via New Design Road about two miles south of MD Route 28. After the ceremony, MDOT will install the marker in its permanent location at the intersection of MD Route 28 and New Design Road.
The Nolands Ferry historic marker will be the second in Frederick County, and the third in western Maryland, after previous marker installations at the Bruceville Encampment site in Carroll County, and at the Monocacy River encampment site in the City of Frederick’s Riverside Park. A fourth marker is planned for a site near the Hessian Barracks in Frederick.
The May 28 ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For further information, contact Michael Moore at 301-676-9562, or Edward Spannaus at 301-969-8001.
The text of the marker is as follows: ANTHONY WAYNE’S POTOMAC CROSSING ON MAY 31, 1781, GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE AND AROUND 1,100 PENNSYLVANIA CONTINENTAL TROOPS, CROSSED THE POTOMAC RIVER AT NOLAND’S FERRY, LOSING 4 MEN TO DROWNING, ON THEIR WAY TO REINFORCE THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE IN VIRGINIA. THEY MET LAFAYETTE’S TROOPS SOUTH OF THE RAPIDAN RIVER NEAR CHARLOTTESVILLE ON JUNE 10TH. FACING LAFAYETTE’S AND WAYNE’S COMBINED FORCES, BRITISH GENERAL CHARLES CORNWALLIS WITHDREW TO YORKTOWN. HE SURRENDERED OCTOBER 19TH.
**IF RAINING ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT, IT WILL BE HELD AT Emmanuel Trinity Lutheran Church, 4004 Ballenger Creek Pike, Adamstown. PLEASE CHECK THE SGT. LAWRENCE EVERHART CHAPTER FACEBOOK PAGE AT https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070816913651 FOR UPDATES.**

Ranger Hike and Skirmish Demonstration at Historic Newcomer House
2026-05-30 13:00 | Newcomer House, 8422 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville, Maryland, 21756
On Saturday, May 30, the 3rd US Regular Infantry will present military and civilian living history near the Newcomer House, including a skirmish demonstration. The demonstration will be part of a ranger-led hike of the Middle Bridge area of the battlefield, including the Tidball Trail and Sherrick Farm Trail, to focus on the 5th Corps at the Battle of Antietam.
Visitors will meet at the historic Newcomer House on the Antietam National Battlefield at 1:00 pm for an introduction and safety briefing before walking to the Tidball waysides for the skirmish demonstration. After the demonstration, visitors may return to the Newcomer House, talk with the Regulars, or continue on the ranger-led hike. The hike will be under 2 miles and will last up to two hours. Visitors are reminded to wear comfortable footwear and to dress appropriately for the weather. This program is free and does not require advance registration.
The Newcomer House is the only dwelling on the Antietam National Battlefield that witnessed the battle and is regularly open to the public. It serves as an exhibit and visitor center for the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Knowledgeable volunteer docents are available to share information about the Newcomer House and offer assistance to visitors to the three-county Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.
This is the tenth season of Porch Programs at the Newcomer House. Porch Programs feature presentations, demonstrations, pop-up exhibits, interactives and more during the season.

14th New York State Militia in the Maryland Campaign – Jim McLean
2026-06-01 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
The Antietam Institute will be kicking off their 2026 Civil War Lecture Series on Monday, June 1st, with historian James L. McLean, Jr., telling the unique story of the 14th New York State Militia (14th Brooklyn) and the regiment’s actions in the 1862 Maryland Campaign.
The 14th New York State Militia, nicknamed the “14th Brooklyn,” “Brooklyn Chasseurs,” or “Red-legged Devils,” was a prominent Brooklyn volunteer regiment famous for its distinctive red-pants Zouave-style uniform and service in the Civil War as the 84th New York Infantry. Formed in 1847, it saw major action at First & Second Manassas and Gettysburg, earning high praise for bravery, and remained in service through later conflicts.
McLean’s interest in the Civil War, sparked at an early age on a bus trip to Gettysburg. In November 1863 (on the eve of JFK’s assassination), Jim attended his first meeting of the Baltimore Civil War Round Table at the age of 12. His interest in the Civil War has never waned. In September 1978, Jim gave a talk to the Round Table about Lysander Cutler’s brigade at Gettysburg. He had collected material on that brigade, which included the 14th New York State Militia/14th Brooklyn, ever since. Cutler’s Brigade at Gettysburg was published in 1987, revised and enlarged in 1994, and recently republished in 2023 by Savas Beatie. Jim has also published several articles in Civil War magazines. In October 2025, Savas Beatie released The 14th New York State Militia Volume I: “Baptized by Fire”—from Bull Run to Bull Run, April 1861–August 1862, of Jim’s proposed trilogy about the 14th NYSM. The book is full color throughout. It includes: 36 color maps; more than 100 photos/illustrations (many in color); over 500 pages; several appendices, one of which provides a detailed list of casualties, discharges, and desertions; footnotes at the bottom of the pages; high-quality, glossy paper; and an attractive dust jacket.
For thirty years, Jim taught high school mathematics. Much of the time, Jim also ran Butternut and Blue, a Civil War book business.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

Tolson's Chapel Open House
2026-06-06 10:00 | Tolson’s Chapel, 111 E. High St., Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Open House 10am – 2pm.
Tolson’s Chapel is open the first Saturday of every month between April and October. Onsite docent(s) will explain the historical significance of Tolson’s Chapel from its inception in 1866 as the spiritual and educational center of a vibrant and newly freed community of African American families in Sharpsburg, MD.

1776: Hager's Town at War Living History Event
2026-06-06 10:00 | Jonathan Hager House, 110 Key St, Hagerstown, MD, 21740
Commemorate the roles that the people of Washington County played in the fight for independence during the American Revolution. Meet with living historians and reenactors representing civilians, farmers, soldiers, blacksmiths, and gunsmiths during the year 1776. Featuring militia drills and 18th century musket and rifle firing demonstrations. Free.

Apples Church Bicentennial Celebration and Concert with Richard Troxell and Friends
2026-06-06 11:00 | Apples Church UCC, 7908 Apples Church Rd, Thurmont, MD, 21788
Celebrating 200 Years of Apples Church and the Community
Come join Apples Church for a day of games, stories with local “celebrities” Mayor John Kinnaird and others, food by the Thurmont Lions Club, face painting, antique cars, moon bounce, horseshoes, corn hole, church tours, a “family church photo” at 1:30, live music at 2, just some old fashioned fun and more!
Then at 6:30, bring a lawn chair or blanket and join for a beautiful outdoor summer evening concert.
Richard Troxell and Friends Concert!! On June 6 @6:30 pm. An evening of music and musicians through the years with special guests from New York, Philadelphia, Emmitsburg and Thurmont!

Reel Reflections with AARCH Society
2026-06-06 11:00 | African American Heritage Center, 125 East All Saints St, Frederick, MD, 21701
Watch. Reflect. Discuss.
Reel Reflections is a dynamic series of film screenings followed by guided conversations that illuminate African American history, culture, and lived experiences. Come ready to engage, learn, and be inspired. This film will be “The Tale of the Lion” – a documentary featuring some of the oldest living African Americans in Frederick, MD who reveal life during segregation, the Black experience in Frederick County, life’s lessons, and human resilience.

All Aboard America 250
2026-06-06 11:00 | City Park Train Hub, 770 City Park Drive Hagerstown City Park, Hagerstown, MD, 21740
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the City of Hagerstown at the Train Hub with face painting, balloons, and Tommy 202 wagon rides! Free.

Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy
2026-06-06 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for a special First Saturday Speaker Event with Barbara Franco. She will share her findings from a 10-year project to identify the surgeons who cared for the wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. A database of more than 1,200 surgeons, both Union and Confederate, is the basis for her new book, “Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War’s Deadliest Battle.” The study includes not only well-documented and prominent physicians who left written accounts, but also the lesser-known surgeons who were part of a complex system of doctors and caretakers both during and after the battle.
Barbara Franco is Founding Executive Director Emerita of the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center and a new board member of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. As a public historian, curator, and museum director she has written and consulted about museum practice and historical interpretation. Her broad interest in the social, cultural, and intellectual history of the 19th century includes the decorative and fine arts, communal societies, fraternal organizations, the role of religion, and the Civil War era. She served as executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and Assistant Director for Museums at the Minnesota Historical Society.

"Ancestors at Antietam" - Lt. Samuel McBride Pringle and Garden’s Battery
2026-06-06 14:00 | Antietam Institute Education Center, 101 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
Drawing on decades of research in original letters, diaries, and archival records, this presentation tells the story of Lieutenant Samuel McBride Pringle, set within the decisive stand of Captain Hugh R. Garden’s Palmetto Light Artillery during the Final Assault at Antietam. Under devastating Union fire across Antietam Creek, Garden’s Battery held Cemetery Hill until A. P. Hill’s arrival turned the tide. Mortally wounded, Pringle—great-great-uncle of the presenter—attempted to rise three times before being carried from the field, calling to his men, “They have killed me, boys, but stand by your guns!” Join us Saturday, June 6, as Institute member, Susie Ingles shares the story of her ancestor during her talk called, “They have killed me boys but stand by your guns!” Lt. Samuel McBride Pringle and Garden’s Battery in the Final Assault at Antietam”.
Susie Ingles is a legal aid lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina, practicing consumer protection law. She obtained a B.A. in History from Clemson University and her law degree from the University of South Carolina. She has spent many years researching and eventually writing the story of her great, great uncle, Confederate 1st Lieutenant Samuel McBride Pringle, the namesake of her father and brother, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam. She has traced his life through his original letters preserved by her family from his college years at Furman University in Greenville, through the 1st and 2nd Battles of Bull Run, and finally Antietam, where he was mortally wounded, then on to Winchester, Virginia, where he ultimately died and was laid to rest.
These monthly “Ancestors at Antietam” talks are free and open to the public – anyone may attend – and you do not need to register. The talks will be held at the Institute’s Education Center at 101W Main Street, Sharpsburg, beginning at 2 pm.

The Marines Land in Sharpsburg – Keith Snyder
2026-06-08 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
The largest event ever to take place in Sharpsburg, after the Battle of Antietam, was in 1924 when the Marine Expeditionary Force marched to Antietam for a twelve-day training encampment. They brought aircraft, tanks, balloons, machine guns, plus their band and baseball team. On June 8, see numerous historic photos of this somewhat unknown event in the history of the park, as retired ranger, Keith Snyder presents: The Marines Land in Sharpsburg.
Keith Snyder had worked for the National Park Service since 1985 at four National Parks. He recently retired as the Chief of Resource Education and Visitor Services at Antietam National Battlefield. He is a graduate of Shepherd University and received his master’s degree from the U. S. Army War College. He retired from the United States Air Force and Air National Guard in 2016 after 40 years of service.
Come join leading historians and scholars as they discuss intriguing topics about their latest works and research on the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War during the Antietam Institute’s Civil War Summer Lecture Series. See the complete 2026 schedule.
These indoor programs are held in McKinley Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The church is located at 209W Main Street with a small parking area off the alley. More parking is available on Main and Hall Streets. These lectures are free and open to the public. Each week, the Antietam Institute holds a drawing in which the proceeds support the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and changes to the schedule.

Voices of the Maryland 400: Maryland's Revolutionary War Soldiers at the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776
2026-06-10 19:15 | C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E Patrick Street, Frederick, MD, 21701
Voices of the Maryland 400: Maryland’s Revolutionary War Soldiers at the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776:
In August 1776, the Continental Army suffered a terrible defeat at the Battle of Brooklyn, the first major battle of the Revolutionary War. The battle nearly saw the complete destruction of the American army, but a desperate stand by a contingent of Maryland soldiers helped to stave off the British and allow the Americans to fight another day.
Learn more about these soldiers, now called the Maryland 400, and hear first-hand accounts of their actions at the battle. This talk will also discuss the lives of several soldiers from the unit, exploring them and their families during and after the Revolutionary War
Speaker’s Bio:
Owen Lourie is a senior archivist at the Maryland State Archives specializing in Maryland government and military history during the colonial era and early republic. He holds an M.A. in history from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a B.A. from Kenyon College in American Studies. Owen is the director of Finding the Maryland 400, a research project studying the First Maryland Regiment. He is the author Finding the Maryland 400, a history of the Maryland Line, chronicling the soldiers of the Maryland 400 during the Revolutionary War, due out this summer.

19th Annual Barnstormers Tour and Plein Air Paint Out: "The Barns of Carrollton Manor"
2026-06-13 10:00 | Frederick County Landmarks Foundation, 1110 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, 21701
This popular self-guided tour of historic barns brings awareness to the public of Frederick County’s strong agricultural heritage and how barns were constructed to last. Barn docents will greet ticket holders at each barn location to share information and answer questions. During this time, artists and crafters will be creating at the barns. Visit barns on farms around the Adamstown area with demonstrators and artists at work. After the tour, join the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation for food, music, and art sale.
This tour is $20 per person (children 12 & under are free).

Elevated Architecture Double Decker Bus Tour
2026-06-13 10:00 | The Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E Church St, Frederick, MD, 21701
Heritage Frederick is excited to partner with Maryland Double Deckers to bring you an all new history experience! Most people walk through Downtown Frederick with absolutely no awareness of what’s happening above their own eyebrows, which is precisely how gargoyles gain confidence. This tour aims to correct that.
Many of the defining features of historic Downtown Frederick’s charming architecture are found high above the streets in upper stories, cornices, and spires. Discover beautifully preserved examples of commercial, residential, religious, and public buildings displaying major American and European styles that span more than two centuries. Along the way, we’ll explore how the history of Frederick is told by the enduring structures that witnessed it.
Recurring program: Saturdays: June 13, July 11, August 8 10-11:30am Sundays: September 13, October 11 2-3:30pm

Carroll 250 Event: What a Revolution! A Dress in Two Days - Day 2
2026-06-13 10:00 | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Visit the Historical Society of Carroll County and engage with mantua makers, milliners and seamstresses as they create an 18th-century gown, influenced by a portrait of Mrs. Mordecai Gist, attributed to Charles Wilson Peale.
Dressed in 18th century clothing, the ladies will be reproducing a stylish silk sacque back gown, to be displayed in July. Event runs from 10 am – 3 pm This is a free event. No registration is required.

Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage - Frederick County Tour
2026-06-13 10:00 - 17:00 | Throughout Frederick County, Frederick County, Frederick, Maryland, 21701
The Maryland House and Garden Tour of Frederick County showcases the region’s rich layers of history, from its earliest Native inhabitants to its role as a crossroads of trade, culture, and conflict. Formed in 1748, Frederick County flourished along the Old National Road, where stagecoaches and Conestoga wagons once carried settlers and goods westward, fueling the growth of thriving towns like Frederick, Middletown, and New Market. Visitors will explore historic homes and gardens that reflect the area’s agricultural prosperity, industrial innovation, and Civil War legacy. Today, Frederick County remains a vibrant mix of scenic farmland, mountain landscapes, and lively Main Street communities, where the past and present come together in one of Maryland’s most picturesque and historic destinations. Find the full list of tour sites here. Learn more and purchase your tickets here: https://www.mhgp.org/frederickcounty
