One Vast Hospital - Downtown Frederick Walking Tour
2026-08-02 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-08 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-09 12:00 - 13:30, 2026-08-15 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-08-16 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Storytime in the Park
2026-08-03 09:00 | Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Rd, Jefferson, MD, 21755
Join the South Mountain Recreation Area for an all-ages, all-abilities story time at rotating parks! Ages 6 months and up, must be accompanied by a caregiver. Enjoy a nature-themed book and activity. Meet under the War Correspondents Arch.

Meet a Tree
2026-08-03 10:00 | Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Rd, Jefferson, MD, 21755
Learn how to really “see” trees and improve your ability to identify and appreciate them. Meet at pavilion near War Correspondents Arch in Gathland State Park, 10AM.

Slaughter along a Stone Wall: Gregg’s South Carolina Brigade during the Maryland Campaign – Benjamin L. Cwayna
2026-08-03 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
As Lee’s victorious army pivoted away from the bloody field at Manassas and crossed over the Potomac, a simmering feud between Stonewall Jackson and his staff on one side and A.P. Hill and his South Carolina Brigade on the other, took center stage. Multiple arrests, accusations, innuendo, and other high drama played out as the army approached its most critical fight of the war along the banks of the Antietam. With so much on the line that Fall, egos and critical decisions both on and off the field would help define a campaign and set in motion a series of events that saved Lee’s army in an obscure 40-acre cornfield. Join us on August 3, as Benjamin L. Cwayna presents – “Slaughter along a Stone Wall: Gregg’s South Carolina Brigade during the Maryland Campaign.“
Benjamin L. Cwayna is an attorney in private practice and a prominent leader in the Civil War reenacting and living history community. For many years, Ben commanded the 12th South Carolina/4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc., a nationally recognized reenacting organization. He has been featured on the “Addressing Gettysburg Podcast” with Matt Callery. He has dedicated his life to preserving the memory of the Civil War through living history demonstrations, presentations, and tours on numerous battlefields. A graduate of Michigan State University and Michigan State University College of Law, Benjamin resides with his son, Grant, in Grand Ledge, Michigan. An active member of the community, Cwayna is a member and past president of the Grand Ledge Rotary Club, a volunteer coach, and participant in numerous other civic organizations. Ben is the author of The Invincible Twelfth: The 12th South Carolina Infantry of the Gregg-McGowan Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. published by Savas Beatie in 2025.
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.

A Quiet Hike
2026-08-04 12:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Enjoy a “hidden gem” trail in Greenbrier on a quiet group hike. Meet in lower parking lot by boat launch ramp in Greenbrier Park. Hike will be on paved and natural trails, approx. 1 mile, beginner-friendly! 6PM

Nature Prints Walk
2026-08-04 14:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Take a walk partway around Greenbrier Lake and make unique prints of your discoveries to take home. 2PM meet at the trail head near gazebo #1 in the day-use area of Greenbrier State Park.

Elevated Architecture Double Decker Bus Tour
2026-08-08 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

Freedom of the Press in 2026
2026-08-08 18:00 | Frederick Book Arts Center, 127 S. Carroll St., Frederick, MD, 21701
A talk and discussion about press freedom in America in 2026.

A Longer Quiet Hike
2026-08-09 09:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Enjoy a peaceful, quiet group hike on a less-populated trail in Greenbrier. Hike is ~1.25 miles on maintained trails. Beginner/intermediate difficulty. 9AM. Registration required- please contact SMRA.Interpreter@maryland.gov.

Surgeon Charles Tripler: A Re-Examination of an Overlooked Civil War Medical Pioneer
2026-08-09 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 Sunday Speaker Event! Drawing on extensive original research, Jack Dempsey traces Charles S. Tripler’s distinguished career from the Seminole and Mexican-American Wars to his service as a Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac. Dempsey demonstrates how Tripler’s innovations in military medicine and battlefield care saved countless lives, and also how politics undermined and obscured his achievements. The talk is based on the book, “His Sword A Scalpel,” a publication by the Michigan Civil War Association, and copies will be available for signing.

“No Further Record” POWs of the 7th Michigan Infantry – Jack Dempsey
2026-08-10 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
Mauled in the West Woods during the II Corps’ ill-conceived assault by echelon, the 7th Michigan Infantry lost 221 out of 402 combatants. Some casualties are well-known, such as John A. Clark, whose grave Bill Frassinito identified, and Allen H. Zacharias, whose poignant note tears at the heart. What was the fate of those in that number who were captured or missing? Join author, editor, and historian Jack Dempsey as he delves into their story to reveal answers and to examine why the inquiry bears investigation during his talk on August 10.
Jack Dempsey has been a student of the Civil War since the Centennial. His name appears on 8 Civil War titles as author or editor, including the award-winning Michigan and the Civil War (2011), the most recognized single volume on that subject. Co-written with Brian James Egen, Michigan at Antietam (2015) was the pioneer study of the Wolverine State’s role in the Maryland Campaign of 1862. The two historians co-founded the Michigan Civil War Association in 2013 to advance understanding of Michigan’s role in the nation’s greatest crisis. Jack first visited Antietam in 1973 with two fellow congressional interns. He returned there with his new bride in 1975. In 2012, as chairperson of the Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, he was a part of the State’s commemoration of “Michigan Day at Antietam” at the invitation of the National Park Service. The MCWA is working with the NPS to erect a Michigan monument at the epicenter of the Antietam battlefield. Like the Institute, the MCWA publishes an annual monograph as part of a series of studies on the Civil War. The fifth will appear, as per custom, close to September 17th of this year. In addition to being an accomplished writer, he is a longtime contributor to the American Battlefield Trust. All proceeds from Jack’s Civil War writings, including his biography of Alpheus Starkey Williams, support the MCWA.
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.

Interpreting South Mountain
2026-08-11 12:00, 2026-08-11 18:00 | Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Rd, Jefferson, MD, 21755
South Mountain is part of the oldest mountain range in North America. How have people interacted with this mountain through history? What can we learn about our own present and future here? Meet at War Correspondents Arch in Gathland State Park. Hike is approx. 0.6 miles on wooded trail, beginner-friendly.

An Evening with Toby Mendez
2026-08-12 19:00 | National Road Museum, 214 N. Main Street, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Join the National Road Museum on the evening of Wednesday, August 12, as they welcome acclaimed sculptor Toby Mendez to speak at the museum about his career, notably the works he has created for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, the Clara Barton monument near Hagerstown City Park, and the George Washington sculpture being unveiled in Hagerstown this coming September.

Art in the Park- Frogs!
2026-08-13 17:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Learn about some of the beautiful frogs native to Maryland while touring their habitat. Paint some jumping frogs to take home! Meet in lower parking lot by boat launch ramp in Greenbrier Park. Walk will be 0.25 miles beside the lake ending at gazebo #4. 5PM

Carroll 250 Speaker Series: 1876 The Centennial Celebration & America’s First World’s Fair
2026-08-13 18:30 | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
This talk, presented by Jim Shriver (HSCC Board of Trustees President), will cover how the USA celebrated the Centennial and the significance of a World’s Fair. Local and Maryland participants in the Philadelphia Exposition (The World’s Fair) will be included and local events held to commemorate 1876 will also be highlighted.

Living History Weekend
2026-08-15 11:00 | Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums, 1611 N Market St, Frederick, MD, 21701
Experience themed demonstrations and exhibits highlighting different eras of history. Stop by for the FSK Antique Car Show on Saturday to enjoy antique cars, antique fire apparatus, vendors, and more.

Carroll 250 Event: Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration
2026-08-15 13:00 | Carroll County Public Library – Eldersburg Branch, 6400 Hemlock Drive, Eldersburg, Maryland, 21784
One woman, Mary Katharine Goddard, Katy to her family and friends, risked treason by signing her full name on the Declaration of Independence along with all the male signatories. Who was she, and why was she tasked with such an important job? Author Betty Bolte will share how she came to know Katy despite the absence of personal information. Find out more about Katy, the inspiring and respected woman who signed the Declaration of Independence. Ms. Bolte’s book, Katy: The Woman Who Signed the Declaration of Independence, will be available for sale and signing.
If you plan to attend, please register here.

Civil War Drumming: The Stirring Music That Inspired Civil War Soldiers
2026-08-15 14:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Accomplished drummer Patrick Jones will discuss the role of drums and fifes in the military during the Civil War, as well as drum construction and makers. After exploring the various tasks musicians performed during the war, including helping with wounded removal, Patrick will play a number of stirring tunes used by the armies of both sides. He will also have original drums on hand to view.
Patrick Jones has been playing Civil War drums with various organizations since he was 13 years old. He gives frequent presentations on the topic and also creates museum-quality reproduction drums and their associated accouterments. When not drumming, he teaches 5th grade Social Studies and Science at the Upper St. Clair School district in Pittsburgh, Pa. Learn more about Patrick at rudimentsandrope.com

Storytime in the Park
2026-08-17 09:00 | Washington Monument State Park, 6620 Zittlestown Rd, Middletown, MD, 21769
Take a walk partway around Greenbrier Lake and make unique prints of your discoveries to take home. Enjoy a nature-themed book and activity. Meet in front of the Washington Monument museum.

Skull Identification
2026-08-17 10:00 | Washington Monument State Park, 6620 Zittlestown Rd, Middletown, MD, 21769
Analyze different types of skulls, including their shape and teeth. Based on your observations, identify which skulls are those of herbivores, carnivores or omnivores. Meet in front of the museum at Washington Monument State Park, 10AM.

Battlefield Calculus: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of Antietam – Steven Eden
2026-08-17 19:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 209 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
On August 17, author Steven Eden will present “Battlefield Calculus: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of Antietam.” Using examples from Antietam, and describe the factors that caused a unit to withdraw or stop advancing. Surprisingly, it was rarely because of casualties. In fact, it was fairly uncommon for a regimental commander to lose control of his unit because of fear; it happened much more often in the wake of some tactical success. Unit commanders typically weighed several factors when deciding to hold or withdraw. These include honor, exposure, ammunition, available cover, loss ratio, and support, among others. The talk will cover this “battlefield calculus” and show how it helps to explain the tactics of the Civil War.
Steven Eden served in the Army for 25 years, including a tour in Afghanistan. During service Steve was assigned to West Point as an instructor in the History Department, where he taught Military History among other subjects, and led several staff rides for senior officers. After retirement, Steve was employed as an instructor for the Department of Defense at Fort Meade; his duties included presenting the Maryland Campaign of 1862 as a case study to field grade officers. Steven has led close to two dozen staff rides to Antietam as part of this instruction. His new book Crisis at Antietam: The Cornfield and West Woods and the Opening Rounds of the Civil War’s Bloodiest Battle, September 17, 1862, published by Savas Beatie is due to come out in 2026. Steve currently resides in Manchester, MD, with my wife Kathleen.
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.

Box Lunch Talk: Stories in Cloth: Using Genealogy to Stitch Together the Past Presented by Amy Hunt
2026-08-18 12:00 | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Amy will explore the use of genealogy to bring stories to light through cloth. Amy Hunt is the curator of The Museum of Frederick County History at Heritage Frederick. She has a degree in Art History from the University of Maryland at College Park and has 25 years of experience curating museum exhibitions. She is a monthly contributor to Frederick Magazine. Born and raised in Frederick County, Amy, her husband and her children have lived in Gettysburg, PA for the last 20 years. She enjoys genealogy, travel, reading and visiting cemeteries. 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.

Who Lives at the Lake
2026-08-19 13:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Greenbrier Lake is home to many fascinating animals, insects, plants, and more! Meet at Greenbrier State Park at trail head near gazebo #1. Hike will be partly around the lake, approx. 0.6 miles, beginner-friendly! 1PM

Art in the Park- Pollinators!
2026-08-19 17:00 | Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
Learn about the crucial role native pollinators and native plants play in our ecosystem. Make a flapping paper Lepidoptera (moth or butterfly). Meet in gazebo #2 in Greenbrier day-use area. 5PM

MD Natural Resources Police Day
2026-08-22 10:00 | National Road Museum, 214 N. Main Street, Boonsboro, MD, 21713
The Maryland Natural Resources Police has protected wildlife and our natural environment for over 150 years, including along the National Road! Come see objects and badges from this agency’s rich history, presented by the MDNRP Museum, and learn more about the men and women who keep our forests and waterways safe. Children can design and color their own paper badge or insignia to take home.
