Heart of the Civil War

Jonathan Hager Week - Hager Patriot Lecture
2025-11-03 18:00 (America/New_York) | Washington County Free Library, 100 South Potomac St., Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740
Hager Patriot Lecture, 6pm
McCauley Lecture: Jonathan Hager – The Forgotten Patriot Legacy of the Father of Western Maryland presented by Hager House guide Matthew Penrod. Hosted at the Fletcher Library by Washington County Public Library.

Jonathan Hager Week - Homecoming Celebration and Reunion
2025-11-02 11:00 (America/New_York) | Zion Reformed United Church of Christ, 201 North Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD, 21740
Homecoming Celebration & Reunion, 11am
Zion Reformed United Church of Christ, 201 N Potomac St. Stay tuned for a live stream link to the event.

Opium Slavery: Civil War Veterans and America’s First Opioid Crisis
2025-11-01 15:00 UTC | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
In the wake of the Civil War, many veterans struggled with lingering pain, disabling illnesses, and trauma. Old soldiers often turned to opioids to cope, and thousands became addicted to opium and morphine. Jonathan S. Jones, Assistant Professor of History at James Madison University, will discuss his new book Opium Slavery: Civil War Veterans and America’s First Opioid Crisis. It investigates how the Civil War sparked an opioid epidemic among veterans, how addiction affected their lives, and what this crisis can teach us about the war’s unexpected aftershocks in the postwar decades.
This presentation is free with museum admission.

The Sharpsburg Slave Auction Block - History or Folklore?
2025-11-01 13:00 (America/New_York) | Washington County Rural Heritage Museum, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713, United States
Visit the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum this coming Saturday, November 1st at 1:00pm for a great event the Friends of the Washington Rural Heritage Museum have planned. The museum is hosting a speaker on an topic of local interest. This is a wonderful way for history and social studies high school students to bring to life topics taught in the classroom. Visit their Early Home and Business, Farm exhibit halls, and outdoor Rural Village to learn about African American aspects of 19th-century Washington County rural history about slavery, farmers, Black schools, blacksmiths and Black broom makers.

Founder's Footsteps Walking Tour
2025-11-01 12:00 (America/New_York) | Downtown Hagerstown, MD, 21740
Founder’s Footsteps Walking Tour Open House, 12pm – 4pm
Visit all the historic sites on the Founder’s Footsteps walking tour in one day from noon – 4pm! Take tours, view their special collections, and learn about the history of Historic Hagerstown! Includes: Hager House, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Miller House Museum, Western Maryland Room, Zion Reformed Church.

The Historic Strawbridge Shrine Open House
2025-11-01 10:00 (America/New_York) | The Strawbridge Shrine, 2650 Strawbridge Lane, New Windsor, Maryland, 21776
Come One, Come All! to the historic Strawbridge Shrine Open House. At this site Robert Strawbridge was the first to introduce & establish the Wesleyan Methodist Movement. It is also the former home of Jesse Barnes Union soldier, U.S. Civil War. Featured will be tours of log houses, live music, games for kids and delicious refreshments. All for FREE! For more information call 443-289-0191.

Jonathan Hager Week Kickoff
2025-11-01 10:00 (America/New_York) | Jonathan Hager House, 110 Key St, Hagerstown, MD, 21740
Proclamation & Living History at the Jonathan Hager House, 10am – 4pm
Come to the Jonathan Hager House to kick off Jonathan Hager Week with music, living history, and free tours! Official proclamation scheduled for 10:30am. This event part of the weeklong Jonathan Hager Week.

Jonathan Hager Week - Fall Vendor Event
2025-11-01 09:00 (America/New_York) | Christ’s Reformed Church, 130 W. Franklin St, Hagerstown, MD, 21740
Christ’s Reformed Church Fall Vendor Event, 9am – 2pm
Enjoy fall fun with vendors and food trucks at Christ’s Reformed Church, 130 W. Franklin St.

Haunted History Halloween Night at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
2025-10-31 19:30, 2025-10-31 17:00 UTC | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Tour the most haunted building in Frederick – the National Museum of Civil War Medicine on HALLOWEEN NIGHT! Explore the building’s history amidst the darkened galleries and offices. On the tour, staff and volunteers will share stories of Civil War embalmers, the building’s most infamous tenants, and their first-hand accounts of paranormal activity that have given the building its spooky reputation. In addition to a trip through the museum galleries, the tour provides exclusive access to the third floor where numerous sightings have occurred.
You are invited to bring your own cameras and ghost-finding apps – who knows what you’ll capture! Flash photography and LIVE streaming are prohibited.
This year we are offering two special Halloween tours on Friday, October 31 from 5:00-7:30 and 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. During these special Halloween night tours, you’ll have additional time to tour the galleries without a guide. Click below to buy your ticket(s) today.

2025 Annual Meeting – “From German Auxiliary to American Artist: The Life and Work of Frederick Kemmelmeyer” presented by Nicholas Powers
2025-10-28 11:30 UTC | Westminster Riding Club, 366 N. Colonial Avenue, Westminster, Maryland, 21157
Mark your calendar for this year’s HSCC Annual Meeting of the membership on October 28, doors will open at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served at 12 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Westminster Riding Club, 366 N. Colonial Avenue, Westminster. A sandwich buffet and dessert will be provided by Lib’s Catering followed by Society business and the event’s keynote speaker. HSCC’s third annual Distinguished Awards and Volunteer of the Year recognition will also be presented. If you haven’t already done so, please submit your recommendation for Distinguished Awards at Award Nominations – Carroll County Historical Society.
This year we will hear from A. Nicholas Powers, Curator of Collections at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. The title of his presentation will be “From German Auxiliary to American Artist: The Life and Work of Frederick Kemmelmeyer”.
At the end of the Revolutionary War, some 3,000 of the 30,000 German troops fighting for the British cause chose to remain in America. Among them was Frederick Kemmelmeyer, a surgeon’s assistant who deserted British forces as they pulled out of Charleston, South Carolina. Kemmelmeyer re-emerged from the war as an itinerant artist working in Baltimore, western Maryland, and the Shenandoah Valley, with a surviving body of work that tracks his evolution from a cultural German to a visually-literate German-American citizen. In addition to an impressive body of portraiture, including one subject from Carroll County, Kemmelmeyer produced genre paintings replacing recognizable images of European monarchs with American heroes like George Washington. In addition to exploring Kemmelmeyer’s life and extant works, this lecture will also preview the MSV’s upcoming semi-quincentennial exhibition Revolutionary Valley, which will feature works by the artist painted in the Shenandoah Valley.
The menu will be released shortly. The cost is $45 for members, $55 for non-members. Please contact Laura Bankard to reserve your place today! Reservations and payments need to be received by October 14.
Currently there are two Exclusive Sponsorships available:
Food Sponsorship – $500
Speaker Sponsorship – $500
We look forward to seeing you on October 28th!

Haunted History at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
2025-10-26 17:00, 2025-10-25 17:00, 2025-10-18 17:00, 2025-10-11 17:00 UTC | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Starting on October 11th, tour the most haunted building in Frederick – the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Explore the building’s history amidst the darkened galleries and offices. On the tour, staff and volunteers will share stories of Civil War embalmers, the building’s most infamous tenants, and their first-hand accounts of paranormal activity that have given the building its spooky reputation. In addition to a trip through the museum galleries, the tour provides exclusive access to the third floor where numerous sightings have occurred.
48 East Patrick Street was built in the 1830s. Before it became the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the building was a furniture shop and a site of Civil War embalming, as well as home to many Frederick residents and their businesses. The past still echoes through the halls of the building. The haunting sights, sounds, and sensations from the building have been reported for decades by the people who lived and worked in the building over many years. Join us to hear our staff and volunteers’ stories first-hand.
You are invited to bring your own cameras and ghost-finding apps – who knows what you’ll capture!
Flash photography and LIVE streaming are prohibited. Tours will be given on October 11, 18, 25, and 26 from 5:00-6:30PM. This year we are offering two special Halloween tours on Friday, October 31 from 5:00-7:30 and 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. During these special Halloween night tours, you’ll have additional time to tour the galleries without a guide.

Civil War Style Church Service
2025-10-26 13:00 UTC | Rocky Springs Chapel, 7817 Rocky Springs Road, Frederick, MD, 21702, United States
Attend a Civil War-style, nondenominational Christian church service at Historic Rocky Springs Chapel on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. Chaplain Edward “Scott” Sturdivant will preach the sermon wearing Civil War period attire. A short living history program will follow the church service. HRSC is dedicated to using living history programs to accurately educate the public on Christian practices and the impact of faith on American society during the Civil War.
The chapel is located at 7817 Rocky Springs Road, Frederick, Maryland. The event is free and open to the public. The wearing of Civil War period attire is encouraged but not required.
Questions about the event should be directed to HRSC Trustee Kirk Callison or HRSC Trustee Maria Callison at (301) 874-4737 (Home); (240) 409-8361 (cell); or kmcallison@verizon.net

Box Lunch Talk: The History of New Windsor State Bank presented by Tom Rasmussen
2025-10-21 12:00 UTC | Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
From 1932 until 2017, when it was purchased by ACNB Corporation, New Windsor State Bank played an important role in the community and in the development of Carroll County. Recently the bank’s historical records were donated to the New Windsor Heritage Society. Tom Rasmussen, President of New Windsor State Bank from 2001 to 2017, will share important milestones in the bank’s 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.

Mason-Dixon Jeep Gathering
2025-10-19 10:00 UTC | The Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD, 21158, United States
Come out and see a large collection of Willys and Jeeps at the historic Union Mills Homestead. This is one of the largest vintage Jeep shows on the East Coast. This year is the 18th Anniversary of this annual event. See World War II and Korean War era military Jeeps and the civilian Jeeps and utility vehicles that are the grandfathers of today’s Jeeps & SUVs.
Jeeps can be entered into one of three categories at the show: Best Military Jeep, Best CJ (Civilian Jeep) and Best Non-Jeep. The non-jeep category features Willys trucks and station wagons. Everyone in attendance will vote on each of the three categories to name the winners.
This eventis free, standard admission for tours of the Homestead and Grist Mill. Tours of the Historic house and Mill available for a small fee from noon – 4:00 pm, with the last tour starting at 3:00 pm.

Spirits of the Furnace
2025-10-18 18:30 (America/New_York) | Catoctin Furnace, 12610 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont, Maryland, 21788
The spirits come out one night a year at Catoctin Furnace. Meet a soldier in the Mexican American war who died in a duel. See the ghost of an enslaved ironworker. You might even run into the Snallygaster, a creature who haunted the skies above Frederick County.

Cannons & Caverns Bus Tour: Antietam Battlefield and Crystal Grottoes Caverns
2025-10-18 09:00 UTC | Bus Pickup at JCPenney Valley Mall Parking Lot, 17301 Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740
Explore Antietam Battlefield and Crystal Grottoes Caverns on Saturday, October 18th, as the Washington County Historical Society travels back in time to visit our historic landscapes. The bus tour will meet at the JC Penney parking lot located on the East side of the Valley Mall in Hagerstown, MD. The group will depart from this location by bus at 9:00 AM, but guests should plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure.
The first stop of the day will be Antietam National Battlefield, site of the famous 1862 Civil War battle. Dr. Tom Clemens, an Antietam Battlefield Guide and author, will join us for a tour of the battlefield by bus. After a catered boxed lunch, we will head to our second stop, Crystal Grottoes Caverns, discovered in 1920. It is the only public, commercial cave in the State of Maryland. We will return to the JC Penney parking lot at the Valley Mall by 3:30 PM.
Price per guest is $60 for WCHS members and $75 for non-members (tickets include all fees for Crystal Grottoes and Antietam National Battlefield). Contact us at 301-797-8782 or email us at info@washcohistory.org to make your reservation.

Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting and Presentation
2025-10-16 19:00 UTC | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Author Scott Mingus will present “Railroads of the Gettysburg Campaign.” More than a dozen railroads in Virginia, Maryland, and southern Pennsylvania played roles in the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. These, of course, included the Gettysburg Railroad and its connecting partner, the Hanover Branch Railroad. Starting with the Battle of Brandy Station, discover how railroads influenced Confederate strategy, Union defensive tactics, and the impact on the civilian populace who relied on rail transportation.
This presentation is free for members and $5.00 for non-members.

History: Shaken & Stirred – Untold Ghost Stories of Carroll County
2025-10-16 18:00 UTC | Covalent Spirits, 118 E. Main Street, Westminster, Maryland, 21157
Stop in for a drink at Covalent Spirits Westminster on October 9th at 6pm as HSCC continues History: Shaken and Stirred. Once again there will be five speakers telling three 5-minute, untold, local history stories shared with the crowd in a fun, relaxed setting. This quarter, Untold Ghost Stories of Carroll County will be told. A special history-themed drink will be developed by owners Jenn and Drew. Please have dinner before you come, as the refreshments are light and meant for snacking. Light refreshments provided by Collision Course. No RSVP or reservation required.
Covalent Spirits is located at 118 E Main St, Westminster, MD 21157 in the 1920s building that served as the City Garage. More information can be found here: https://covalentspirits.com/home

Civil War Perils and Pursuits 1863
2025-10-14 18:30 (America/New_York) | Smithsburg Library, 66 W. Water Street, Smithsburg, MD, 21783
From Gettysburg, to Monterey Pass, to Maryland. Presenter Darwin Seiler of Monterey Pass Battlefield Association presents the dramatic story of Union cavalries pursuing Confederate regiments and their wagon train fleeing southward after the Battle of Gettysburg. Three non-profits collaborate to share stories about the perils and hardships faced by locals in Ringgold, Smithsburg and Leitersburg, Maryland during many skirmishes in June and July 1863.
This program is free to the public.

SAR 250 Speakers Series - Black Soldiers Serving in the Continental Army
2025-10-12 14:00 UTC | Frederick Masonic Lodge, 6816 Blentlinger Rd, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
Join the Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Sons of the American Revolution for a presentation titled, “‘You never see a regiment in which there are not a lot of negroes:’ Black Soldiers Serving in the Continental Army,” by John U. Rees, a Revolutionary War historian who specializes in the common soldier. The role of Black Americans, free and enslaved, in the regiments of the Continental Army is not well-known; neither is the fact that relatively large numbers served in southern regiments, and that the greatest number served alongside their white comrades in integrated units. John Rees will discuss Black soldiers’ acceptance, service, and experiences during and after the War for American Independence. African American women with the army will also be featured, including a Connecticut soldier’s letter sent home to his wife who also spent time in camp.
John U. Rees, a lifelong resident of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, has been writing for almost 40 years on the experiences of common soldiers and women in the armies of the American Revolution. He has authored over 200 articles, most available free online. His first book, “They Were Good Soldiers:” African Americans Serving in the Continental Army, 1775-1783, was published in 2019; his second, titled “Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865,” came out in January 2025.

America 250 Speaker Series
2025-10-11 15:00 UTC | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Author John Rees will examine the role of Black Americans, free and enslaved, in the regiments of the Continental Army. Black troops served in nearly every Continental regiment, and even relatively large numbers served in southern regiments. The greatest number served alongside their White comrades in integrated units. Rees will discuss Black soldiers’ acceptance, service, and experiences during and after the war for American independence. African American women with the army will also be discussed, including a rare Connecticut soldier’s letter sent home to his wife who also spent time in camp.
John U. Rees, is a lifelong resident of Bucks County, Pa., and has been writing for almost 40 years on the experiences of common soldiers and women in the armies of the American Revolution. He has authored more than 200 articles, most available free online. His first book, ‘They Were Good Soldiers’: African Americans Serving in the Continental Army, 1775-1783 was published in 2019; his second, titled Don Troiani’s Black Soldiers in America’s Wars, 1754-1865, was published in January 2025.
The presentation is included with admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and FREE for NMCWM members.

Culture & Cocktails: The Two Emilie Lawrence Reeds of Blue Ridge Summit
2025-10-10 18:00 UTC | Miller House Museum, 135 W Washington St, Hagerstown, MD, 21740, United States
On Friday, October 10, join genealogist Pam Anderson as she presents, “The Two Emilie Lawrence Reeds of Blue Ridge Summit.”
Celebrate Family History Month this October by attending this C&C with Pam Anderson of Anderson CoGen Collaborative Genealogy Services, as she presents on the lives of two women, both named Emilie Reed, who were connected to U.S. Army physician Dr. Walter Reed. Dr. Reed owned the historical Washington County home, Keewaydin, on Blue Ridge Summit.
This month’s cocktail is the Tom Collins, a late-19th century gin-based drink. Doors open at 5:30 PM and light hors d’oeuvres will be served!
Culture & Cocktails 2025 has been made possible by the generous support of the James and Mary Schurz Foundation. Please register at the link.

Fall Fest
2025-10-10 10:00 - 2025-10-11 10:00 (America/New_York) | Catoctin Furnace, 12610 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont, Maryland, 21788
Visit the quaint village of Catoctin Furnace during Fall Fest when the sweet smell of apple butter boiling over an open fire is in the air. You can take home a fresh pint, shop for crafts, or watch a blacksmith ply his trade.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall
2025-10-09 18:00 UTC | New Windsor Fire Department Carnival Grounds, 101 High Street, New Windsor, Maryland, 21776
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is a 3/5 scale replica of the original in DC standing over 6′ tall, spanning 300 feet end to end. The Wall honors the over 58,000 names of the men and women of the armed forces who served and lost their lives in Vietnam.
Inscribed on the Wall includes the names of 18 Carroll Countians who were killed in action serving in the Vietnam War. Of the 18 KIA, Sherman E. Flanagan Jr. from Westminster is still missing in action. We also had one POW from the war. Peter “Eddie” Drabic, Army, was taken as Prisoner of War while on patrol in the jungles in South Vietnam on September 24, 1968, and was held until his release on March 16, 1973, spending 1,635 days in captivity. We will have the panel numbers available for those wishing to do a rubbing from the Wall of our hometown heroes.
Bringing The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall® into our county is an opportunity to REMEMBER the 58,281 heroes’ names inscribed on the Wall, HONOR those who served and provide a sense of comfort for our Vietnam veterans as they HEAL through reflection and remembrance of their comrades, away from the hustle and bustle of DC at a location many calls home.
It also serves as a means to EDUCATE through the numerous exhibits to understand the valor and sacrifices made; remembering those who never returned home and those still fighting the fight. The Wall will remain open at the New Windsor Fire Department Carnival Grounds, 24 hours/day starting at 6:00pm, Thursday, October 9th (following a Vietnam era concert starting at 5:00pm) with the Wall closing Monday, October 13th at 11:00am.

Frederick in the Civil War: A Bus Tour of the Historic City
2025-10-05 14:00 UTC | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Step back in time aboard a vintage 1966 double-decker bus for a fascinating one-hour journey through Downtown Frederick, exploring the city’s critical role in the Civil War and the evolution of battlefield medicine.
Departing from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, this guided tour is led by a professional docent who will share gripping stories of local hospitals, heroic caregivers, and the medical innovations that emerged from wartime necessity. As you roll through historic streets and landmarks, you’ll gain insight into the challenges faced by doctors, nurses, and soldiers alike during one of the most pivotal periods in American history.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
– Explore Frederick’s Civil War history through a medical lens aboard a restored 1966 double-decker bus
– Hear expert narration from a professional museum docent
– Visit key sites where wounded soldiers were treated
– A unique educational experience in the heart of historic Frederick
– Every ticket includes admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine
DEPARTS FROM: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine
TICKET PRICE: $39 per person (includes admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine)
HOW TO BOOK: Spots are limited — join us for an unforgettable ride through the past — where history meets healing.

Heritage Apple Fest
2025-10-05 11:00 UTC | Washington County Rural Heritage Museum, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD, 21713, United States
JOIN THE WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL HERITAGE MUSEM FOR FALL FUN AND FARMSTEAD CHARM SUNDAY OCTOBER 5th from 11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M
Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of autumn apple harvesting from the 18th to the 20th century, at this charming heritage Washington County Maryland village and farmstead. Discover how early settlers ingeniously preserved apples—explore age-old drying techniques and the craft of moonshine making. Try your hand at pressing apples or relax with a wagon ride pulled by robust draft horses. Explore what our founding fathers sipped over two hundred years ago and appreciate the beauty of three authentic historical gardens brimming with nature. Stroll through three indoor museums of gleaming antique cars, farming history, and home history. Watch as our 18th century-era housewife bakes pies and breads in the Farmstead’s outdoor bake oven. Treat yourself to delicious barbeque and locally made apple dumplings while enjoying lively music.
Adults can delight in the signature Apple Pie Moonshine cocktail from Pathfinder Farm Distillery, along with other beverage options. Browse through an array of products from local orchard merchants offering crisp apples, fresh cider and gleaming honey. Young guests can don colonial-era accessories in the historic 1760’s Glass Family Cabin and embark on a lively scavenger hunt inspired by colonial traditions. This memorable activity is generously sponsored in part by a grant from the Maryland Alcohol Manufacturing and Production Fund and the Boonsboro Town Alliance. Parking is by donation and proceeds will support the museum’s programs. Visit www.ruralheritagemuseum.org
