Heart of the Civil War

Painting the Past
2026-02-14 13:00 (America/New_York) | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Join Monocacy National Battlefield staff as they look at a wide variety of uniforms from the American Civil War and paint your own miniature soldiers. All paints and materials are provided; participants should be 10 or older. Registration is limited, so please email e-mail us with the number of intended participants. Please contact Monocacy National Battlefield at Mono_Mail@nps.gov or by phone at 301-662-3515 to register.

What to the Hawaiian is the Fourth of July? Paradoxes of Liberty and Independence in U.S. History - With Mallory Huard, Ph.D.
2026-02-11 19:00 (America/New_York) | Hood College, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, 21701
In 1852, Frederick Douglass gave his famous speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” Forty-two years later, after a coup against the Hawaiian Queen Lili‘uokalani, the Republic of Hawaii was declared on July 4, 1894. Assistant Professor of History Mallory Huard, Ph.D., explores the complicated meanings of July 4 celebrations for African Americans and Native Hawaiians, offering an important perspective on the meaning of Independence Day and 250 years of American History.
This presentation will take place in the Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons, 2nd floor.
Hood College and Frederick Community College have created a series of events for the 250th, called “Liberty in Context: The American Story at 250.” Some events are at Hood, some are at FCC, and they are open to the public. The event page is on Hood’s website, and the events will end in September on or about Constitution Day.

HSCC's Hard Hat Open House (Day 2)
2026-01-30 14:00 (America/New_York) | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
The Historical Society of Carroll County is excited to offer a one-of-a-kind open house to everyone! Join on January 30 (one of two days) for their afternoon open house from 2 pm – 4 pm which will start at the HSCC’s 210 E. Main Street Kimmey building. Enjoy a look at their progress for their Capital Campaign with the Cockey’s Tavern library and Kimmey building renovations, have some yummy food and drinks, and ask any questions you may have of HSCC staff. No reservations required for this free event.

Carroll 250 Event: Doing History: An Archivist’s Approach to Uncovering the Past
2026-01-29 18:30 (America/New_York) | McDaniel College, Hoover Library, 2 College Hill, Westminster, MD, 21157
Join Kyle Dalton (Union Mills Homestead), Adrienne Smith (Gatehouse Museum), and Gwen Coddington (McDaniel College) for an engaging session exploring the theme of “Doing History” as part of the Semiquincentennial celebration. This conversation invites participants to step into the historian’s role—examining how archivists interpret evidence, uncover silences in collections, and craft inclusive narratives. Through an archivist’s lens, attendees will gain insight into the historical method, learn how community knowledge and oral histories shape our understanding of the past, and discover how they too can “do history” in meaningful ways. This session emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and the evolving nature of historical interpretation, encouraging public engagement with history as a dynamic and participatory process. Registration is required is now open for this event.

HSCC's Hard Hat Open House (Day 1)
2026-01-29 16:00 (America/New_York) | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
The Historical Society of Carroll County is excited to offer a one-of-a-kind open house to everyone! Join on January 29 (one of two days) for their evening open house from 4 pm – 6 pm which will start at the HSCC’s 210 E. Main Street Kimmey building. Enjoy a look at their progress for their Capital Campaign with the Cockey’s Tavern library and Kimmey building renovations, have some yummy food and drinks, and ask any questions you may have of HSCC staff. No reservations required for this free event.

Feast & Famine: Rations in the Civil War
2026-01-24 10:00 (America/New_York) | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
During the American Civil War the standard army ration was the same for both Federal and Confederate armies. Each ration was divided into five components —meat, flour, vegetable, coffee/sugar, and seasoning. Commissioned officers in the United States Army did not draw rations directly. They were given a cash allowance that was used to purchase food from the Commissary; while commissioned officers in the Confederate Army drew the same ration as privates. Depending upon the season, the region of the country and the availability, the food that was actually issued varied dramatically.
During the Civil War, soldiers did not rely solely upon the government for food either. Foraging, or taking food from the land and farms in the path of the army, was common in all armies. Soldiers could also purchase food from sutlers and received food from family and friends who sent it to camp.
This presentation will describe the food soldiers actually ate and how they cooked it through looking at original ration returns, diaries, letters and cooking equipment.

Curious Iguana Presents: Author Richard Bell
2026-01-22 18:00 (America/New_York) | C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E Patrick Street, Frederick, MD, 21701
With America’s 250th birthday on the horizon, join Curious Iguana on Thursday, January 22, from 6:30-7:30 pm for a fascinating look into the past with author Richard Bell as he discusses his new book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. Following his talk, Richard will answer questions and sign books. Copies of The American Revolution and the Fate of the World will be available for purchase at the event.
Location: C. Burr Artz Public Library – 110 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
This free, public event is presented in partnership with Frederick County Public Libraries. For accessibility requests, email info@curiousiguana.com at least two (2) weeks prior to the event.
About the book: A prize-winning historian’s fascinating and unfamiliar recasting of America’s war of independence as a transformative international event
In this revelatory and enthralling book, award-winning historian Richard Bell reveals the full breadth and depth of America’s founding event. The American Revolution was not only the colonies’ triumphant liberation from the rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm that pulled in participants from around the globe and threw the entire world order into chaos. Repositioning the Revolution at the center of an international web, Bell’s narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central America, and Australia. As his lens widens, the “War of Independence” manifests itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis. Bell conveys the impact of these developments at home and abroad by grounding the narrative in the gripping stories of individuals—including women, minorities, and other disenfranchised people. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected work of American history that shifts everything we thought we knew about our creation story.
About the author: Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, and the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the National Endowment of the Humanities Public Scholar award and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. His new book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, was published by Penguin in November 2025.

Box Lunch Talk: The Miller’s Apprentice: The Murder of Abraham Lynn and the Execution of Joseph Davis Presented by Dave Owings
2026-01-20 12:00 (America/New_York) | Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Joseph Davis, 22 years old, murdered his friend and employer Abraham Lynn on April 5th, 1872. Lynn was a husband and father, a prosperous businessman, and just shy of his 28th birthday. The murder resulted in two trials, several hearings by the Court of Appeals, the State Legislature, and ultimately ended with Governor Pinkney Whyte interviewing witnesses himself. The final act in this story was the dramatic execution of Joe Davis before a crowd of thousands behind the old jail in Westminster. This tragic episode is a precedent – setting legal case and a peek into the lives of average Carroll Countians in the 1870’s.
Dave Owings was born and raised in Carroll County. He was a public school teacher for 30 years in Baltimore and Carroll Counties, most recently at South Carroll High School. He is currently an adjunct English professor at Carroll Community College. He has two adult daughters and lives in Finksburg with his wife, Lucy, and his dog, Roscoe.
**NOTE** – As of January 2026, our Box Lunch Talks are moving to the Society. All Box Lunch Talks will be at 210 E. Main Street in the auditorium and exhibit space. Parking is available in our back parking lot, behind Ascension Church in the municipal lot (off of Ralph Street), and on Main Street. Some Main Street parking is metered and some is free. 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.

19th Century Winter Life Lecture in Clear Spring & Fiddling
2026-01-18 14:00 (America/New_York) | Plumb Grove Mansion, 12654 Broadfording Road, Clear Spring, MD, 21722
Everyday life in Clear Spring during the winter months. Includes who died from rat poison to Civil War happenings from a private diary. There will also be period fiddle tunes every time a party is mentioned. Learn what you don’t know and share some laughs. Held in the barn social room.

How Civil War Medicine Killed President James Garfield
2026-01-17 14:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
When an assassin’s bullet struck James Garfield in July 1881, the battle to save the president’s life began. In the weeks that followed, doctors argued over how to treat the stricken executive. In the end, Dr. D. Willard Bliss, a former Civil War surgeon, took control of Garfield’s recovery and controversy has surrounded his role ever since. Historian Jake Wynn will discuss the history of Garfield’s recovery and how antiquated techniques learned by Dr. Bliss during his Civil War experience played a role in James Garfield’s death in September 1881.
Jake Wynn is the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Visit Frederick and the former National Museum of Civil War Medicine Director of Interpretation. He is a 2015 graduate of Hood College, with degrees in history and communications arts. He has formerly worked with Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.

Art At Night: Carroll Street Buildings of Industry
2026-01-15 19:00 (America/New_York) | The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S Carroll St, Frederick, MD, 21701, United States
Join Heritage Frederick Archivist Jody Brumage, McClintock Distillery’s Braeden Bumpers, Twin Bear’s Bakery’s Andrew and Emily Roy, and the Delaplaine for an engaging look into the history of each of their buildings and the industries that shaped the Carroll Street area of downtown Frederick. You can also enjoy a whiskey tasting from McClintock, bread tasting from Twin Bears, and the art in the Delaplaine’s galleries!

Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting and Presentation
2026-01-15 19:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Please join the FCCWRT as Robert E. Crickenberger Jr. presents “Point Lookout and the Second Wave of Prisons.” As the Civil War progressed into its third bloody year, federal campaigns were sending thousands of prisoners north in numbers that overwhelmed existing prisons. Furthermore, the forced cessation of a prisoner exchange cartel compounded the burden of the already overcrowded prison system, further denying the Confederate government of its much-needed manpower. By mid-1863, a desperate Commissary General of Prisoners, Colonel William Hoffman, began scouring the northern states, seeking locations to build new camps to better manage this sudden influx of prisoners. Hoffman’s latest prison, Point Lookout, began the succession of new holding areas in what is now referred to as the “Second Wave of Prisons.”
This presentation is free for members, $5 suggested fee for non-members.

Carroll County's 189th Birthday Celebration
2026-01-10 14:00 (America/New_York) | Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
This year’s 189th Carroll County Birthday Party will also start the celebration of the 250th Birthday of the United States of America. The title of the celebration …
Patrician Patriot: Charles Carroll and his Fellow Maryland Signers
Charles Carroll of Carrollton and three other Marylanders were among the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in support of America’s revolutionary cause. Historian Glenn E. Campbell profiles the personal lives and political careers of Charles Carroll and his fellow Maryland Signers: Samuel Chase, William Paca, and Thomas Stone.

History: Shaken & Stirred - Untold Stories of Industry in Carroll County
2026-01-08 18:00 (America/New_York) | Covalent Spirits, 118 E. Main Street, Westminster, Maryland, 21157
Stop in for a drink at Covalent Spirits Westminster on January 8th 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 Stories of Industry in 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.

Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship
2025-12-26 15:00 UTC | Multiple Sites, Downtown Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, 21701
The beloved Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship returns this holiday season in Downtown Frederick. This special open house celebrates Frederick’s stunning architecture, local history, and the holiday season on Friday, December 26, 2025 from 3PM-8PM. This is Frederick’s most popular church tour and is a great opportunity to step inside some of its most beautiful buildings.
As the sun begins to set, visitors can tour many of Frederick’s famous clustered spires and other historic houses of worship by candlelight. Guests will be welcomed with special programs, angelic choirs, and nativity scenes.
Stop by the Information Center at 19 E Church Street to pick up a printed map of participating sites and other information about Frederick including dining, shopping, and lodging guides.

Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting and Presentation
2025-12-18 19:00 (America/New_York) | MD
Stephen Romaine will present “The 1864 American Insurrection That Wasn’t” in an online-only presentation. The failure of Confederate clandestine operations in the latter part of the American Civil War to prevent Lincoln’s reelection are generally attributed to ineptness, poor planning, and a last-minute loss of nerve by the collaborators. There is some truth to this, yet it is undeniable that the Lincoln Administration received an early leg-up on Rebel plans that proved consequential. The essay presents how a highly effective counter-insurgency effort was put in place that prevented the opening of a northern front that could very well have derailed Lincoln’s reelection.
Please note: This is an online only event and may be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/@nmcwm at the time noted.

Box Lunch Talk: 40 Years of the Artist Studio Tour and the History of Art Entrepreneurship in Carroll County Presented by Linda Van Hart
2025-12-16 12:00 UTC | Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
The Carroll County Artists’ Studio Tour celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. The tour was the brainchild of metalsmith Linda Van Hart, a founding member of the Carroll County Arts Council and renowned art educator. Linda will talk about her work and the work of other artists who comprise the vibrant art scene in Carroll County. 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.

Christmas and the Civil War
2025-12-14 15:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine on Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 PM as volunteer Brad Stone, portraying a Civil War Santa, discusses the history behind the celebration of Christmas during the Civil War. The Civil War shaped the way we celebrate the holiday season in the United States in surprising ways. One of the most surprising is the depiction of Santa Claus, as Civil War era illustrator Thomas Nast toyed with images of the jolly elf during the conflict that evolved into the Santa we know today in the United States.

Civil War Style Church Service
2025-12-14 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, 7817 Rocky Springs Road, Frederick, Maryland, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. HRSC Trustee and Preacher Kirk Callison 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 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 and Preacher Kirk Callison or HRSC Trustee Maria Callison at (301) 874-4737 (Home); (240) 409-8361 (cell); or kmcallison@verizon.net

Plumb Grove by Candlelight
2025-12-13 14:00 (America/New_York) | Plumb Grove Mansion, 12654 Broadfording Road, Clear Spring, MD, 21722
Plumb Grove Mansion was once surrounded by Civil War encampments, but is again now a peaceful house fully decorated in 19th century style for the holidays. Visitors will discover the house looking as it did in the 1860’s. Fireplaces will keep guests warm as they view the thirteen rooms, slave quarters, washhouse, and barn. Live music and refreshments. The house is also open the following day, Dec. 14th from 1-4pm.

Carroll 250 Speaker Series: After the Fashion of His Country – Asia and Asians in the 18th Century Mid-Atlantic
2025-12-13 14:00 UTC | Carroll County Public Library – Mt. Airy Branch, 705 Ridge Ave, Mt Airy, Maryland, 21771
This fascinating talk with be presented by Daniel Sieh. Asia was known for centuries in Europe, and the British were keen to profit off the exotic goods through commerce. This trade was far from a one-sided exchange; it was a dialogue between two very distinct cultures. Goods, ideas and people flowed through trade routes established by the British East India Company and reached as far as the 13 colonies (soon, the nascent United States). These goods, and yes, even people, arrived as distant foreigners in a strange land, but left an indelible mark that has only recently been uncovered. Register at the link below.

Museums by Candlelight
2025-12-13 12:00 UTC | Throughout Frederick County, Frederick County, Frederick, Maryland, 21701
Once a year, Frederick County’s numerous historic sites and museums provide visitors with a living reminder of this area’s remarkable past. During Museums by Candlelight, special programming and hands-on fun will delight visitors of all ages, and special children’s activities are featured at most locations.
This is a FREE self-guided event. Visit many locations, or just a few, in any order. Enjoy period demonstrations, living history vignettes, hands-on crafts, refreshments, tours, music, holiday decorations and historic settings by candlelight as night falls.

Revolutionary War Historic Marker Dedication
2025-12-06 11:00 (America/New_York) | Riverside Park, 1801 Monocacy Boulevard, Frederick, MD, 21701
An interpretive marker commemorating the march of Anthony Wayne and a thousand Pennsylvania troops through Frederick County in 1781 will be dedicated at a December 6, 2025 ceremony in Riverside Park on the Monocacy River. The ceremony is sponsored by the Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and is being organized in partnership with the Frederick County U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.
Wayne and his troops left York Pennsylvania on May 26, 1781, and passed though Frederick County on their way to reinforce the troops under Lafayette’s command in Virginia who were attempting to hold back a much larger British invasion force under Cornwallis. When Wayne combined forces with Lafayette, this changed the course of the war in Virginia; Cornwallis turned back toward the seaboard, resulting in the American-French victory at Yorktown.
The interpretive marker to be dedicated, entitled “Revolutionary War Encampment,” has been made possible by a grant from the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, a certified heritage area of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.

"Teas the Season" Holiday Tea
2025-11-29 11:00 UTC | Sunday Morning at Savannah’s, 111 South Springdale Avenue, New Windsor, Maryland, 21776
The HSCC and Sunday Morning at Savannah’s are partnering to bring you a holiday tea like no other. Their “Teas the Season” holiday tea will have you enjoying a full tea complete with savory and sweet dishes and a selection of teas. Featuring a Kentucky Derby Hat Show by Margae Hicks! All are welcome! Don’t forget to wear a hat and gloves, to get in the spirit. Visit the HSCC website for menu details.

260th Anniversary of Repudiation Day
2025-11-23 14:00 (America/New_York) | Frederick City Hall Park, 101 N Court Street, Frederick, MD, 21701
Join the Carrollton Manor Chapter, NSDAR; Frederick Chapter, NSDAR; and Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter SAR Dressed in your mid 1700’s Attire to Reenact this Important Frederick County Historical Event
On November 23, 1765, twelve judges of Frederick County became the first to repudiate the British Stamp Act, a tax which was designed to cover the costs of keeping British troops in the American colonies. The judges met in a home on Record Street, near the county courthouse (today’s City Hall), and decided they were not going to charge the tax and refused to require local residents to use stamped papers. The late Judge Edward Delaplaine called the 12 Frederick County judges who repudiated the Stamp Act the “12 immortal judges.”
A reenactment of the well-documented parade by the celebrating citizens of old Frederick Town will form up at 2:00 PM in front of City Hall and we encourage community participation. A parade will follow the sidewalks of old town Frederick. Participating in the parade will be the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, the Monocacy / Old Line Music Corp, “citizens of the town” carrying the coffin in which the Stamp Act was symbolically laid to rest and people carrying signs expressing their feeling about the Stamp Act. Once back at City Hall, there will be a brief ceremony on the front steps then activities will move into the City Hall Meeting Room. Guest speakers will relate the history of the period and the story of everyday people doing extraordinary things to secure their rights and liberties. Adults and children interested in the history of Frederick and this period in Colonial America should find the presentations informative and educational.

Civil War Style Church Service
2025-11-23 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, 7817 Rocky Springs Road, Frederick, Maryland, on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. Preacher Bobby Rogers, founder of the Landmark Bible Society, 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 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

Christkindlmarkt
2025-11-22 10:00 (America/New_York) | The Union Mills Homestead, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD, 21158, United States
Join the Union Mills Homestead for a German-style Christmas market. Food and drinks will be available to purchase, along with a variety of hand-crafted and unique gifts from vendors in the Grist Mill and Tannery. Their gift shop will be open for your holiday shopping as will the blacksmith and woodworking shops. A portion of the historic Homestead will be decorated and open for you to visit. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season at Union Mills, celebrating their German heritage!

Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting and Presentation
2025-11-20 19:00 (America/New_York) | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the Frederick County Civil War Roundtable as Carleton Young presents “The Vermont Brigade in the 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac – Voices From the Attic: The Williamstown Boys in the Civil War,” at their November meeting. Imagine clearing out your family attic and discovering an enormous collection of letters written by two soldiers during the Civil War, but not knowing why the letters were there. Faced with that situation, Carleton Young spent more than a decade visiting battlefields and researching the two soldiers as well as other people who appear in the letters. The two brothers were members of the celebrated Vermont Brigade in the 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. In “Voices From the Attic: The Williamstown Boys in the Civil War,” he tells the story of these two brothers who witnessed and made history by fighting in the Peninsula Campaign, then at South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Bristoe Campaign, the Wilderness, Petersburg, and Cedar Creek.
This presentation is free for members and $5 suggested fee for non-members.

Carroll 250 Speaker Series: Francis Scott Key presented by Lou Giles
2025-11-18 18:30 UTC | Exploration Commons, Westminster Branch of Carroll County Public Library, 50 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
This fascinating talk will focus on Francis Scott Key and will include his family and early years, the War of 1812 and the Dr. Beanes rescue mission, the Star-Spangled Banner, religion, politics (and major cases), and his views on slavery. *Registration is required for this event. Please register at the CCPL link below.
Mr. Giles retired in 2012 as a senior executive in the Defense Department. He presently serves as the President of the Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Maryland, a patriotic organization limited to descendants of soldiers who fought in the War of 1812, and is a member of the Boards of Directors and counsel to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in Baltimore. Mr. Giles also volunteers at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis and as a docent at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore.
As a passionate amateur historian and genealogist interested in the War of 1812 in Maryland, Mr. Giles enjoys delving into primary sources, local archives, and historical newspapers to uncover new findings and perspectives and sharing these findings through writing, presentations, and community engagement.
Mr. Giles first became interested in Francis Scott Key in 2014 when he was tasked with providing presentations on Key to visitors to Fort McHenry. His genealogy experience and knowledge of resources available at the Maryland State Archives and National Archives allowed him to uncover records on Francis Scott Key that provide a different perspective from most biographers of Key. He has published several articles on Key, including identifying Key’s truce ship on which he authored the Star-Spangled Banner and Key’s views on slavery.
He was recently featured in local and national press reporting after winning an appeal against the Veterans Administration resulting in a ruling allowing enslaved black Americans who fought in early Wars of the United States as servants or waiters to be considered veterans. Mr. Giles is a lifelong Maryland resident who holds degrees in physics, electrical engineering, and law.

Box Lunch Talk: "Growing into Greatness" Big Tree Documentary presented by Dr. Robert Lemieux
2025-11-18 12:00 UTC | Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street, Westminster, MD, 21157, United States
Within Maryland’s 2.5 million acres of forest there are 12 national champion trees. Dr. Robert Lemieux, Associate Professor of Communication and Cinema at McDaniel College, is creating a documentary featuring six of these trees. He will share his work on these inspiring grand champions. 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.
