Heart of the Civil War

Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln’s Killer
2026-03-21 14:00 (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 for their Saturday Speaker Series with author Karen Stone. While helping catch President Abraham Lincoln’s killers, the barge “Black Diamond” was rammed and sank in the Potomac River, killing 87 men. In this talk, Stone will unfold the story of this heroic pursuit that turned tragic.
Karen Stone has been the Museum Division Manager for St. Mary’s County, Md., where this event took place, since 2017. A Lincoln fan and student of his assassination since childhood, she was fascinated when she first heard about this story and its connection to Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. She is the author of “Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in Pursuit of Lincoln’s Killer.”

Maryland, My Maryland
2026-03-21 10:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Join Living History Volunteers at Monocacy National Battlefield as they discuss the perilous position of Maryland in the Civil War. Marylanders fought on both sides of the Civil War and even occasionally fought each other! Learn about the clashes between Marylanders in blue and gray during the Monocacy Campaign, their fights and their relation to the parts of the state they fought in.

Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting and Presentation
2026-03-19 19:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Jim Rada will present “Battlefield Angels: The Daughters of Charity.”
When the Civil War broke out, the Union and the Confederacy were prepared to fight, but they weren’t prepared to care for the wounded that their fighting created. While many people volunteered to care for the soldiers, the only ones with any experience were Catholics sisters. Among the sisters, the most-experienced were the Daughters of Charity based in Emmitsburg, MD. When war broke out, they had already been caring for the sick for decades. However, the brutality of the war would test even their abilities as they ran hospitals, served on troop transports and provided care in battlefield hospitals and ambulances. They even had their own Central House occupied by armies from both sides of the war.
The Daughters of Charity had such a high level of trust among the government officials that they were allowed in the early part of the war to move back and forth across the border between the two warring countries. Nor did they betray that trust as they served officers and soldiers, Union and Confederate, with the same level of care. With their wide, white cornettes looking almost like wings, the Daughters of Charity did resemble battlefield angels. The sight of those wing-like cornettes told soldiers that relief was on the way; someone who cared for them was coming.
This presentation is free for members and a $5 suggested fee for non-members.

The American Experiment: American Ideals Through the Lens of the U. S. Military
2026-03-19 19:00 | Hood College, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, 21701
Hood Alumni Dr. Youssef Aboul-Enein is a 9/11 Pentagon survivor who spent 28 years on active duty, retiring as a US Navy Commander. Youssef spent the bulk of his career combating terrorism and he served as Director for North Africa and Egypt and as Assistant Director for Arabian Gulf Affairs for the late Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He retired from active duty at the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2022. Youssef authored and coauthored seven books on the Mid East, extremist ideology, and radicalization. He will be talking about his books and the importance of America’s unique experiment in liberty in his effort to understand why other countries struggle with managing alienation with a segment of its population. He will also discuss his experiences in advising policymakers in finding the right balance between civil liberties and public safety.
This presentation will take place in the Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons, 2nd floor.

Carroll 250 Speaker Series: Accidental Citizen: Major General von Steuben and the American Revolution
2026-03-19 18:30 | Eldersburg Branch of Carroll County Public Library, 6400 Hemlock Drive, Eldersburg, MD, 21784
Join U.S. Army Historian Joseph Seymour for this presentation on Friederich Wilhelm von Steuben, who proved to be among the more unlikely American revolutionaries. Rising through the ranks of the army of Frederick the Great, von Steuben found himself in the service of a much different army, in a much different setting—the Continental Army’s encampment at Valley Forge. Serving as a volunteer without pay or formal rank, von Steuben took to the task of drilling George Washington’s army. His efforts paid off, and in June 1778, a newly reorganized and thoroughly drilled Continental Army marched out of Valley Forge. During the war, von Steuben learned to appreciate the unique culture of the American soldier and earned the respect of privates and general officers alike. Von Steuben’s career in the Continental Army mirrored that of so many Continental Army veterans. He performed inestimable service to his adopted country, but in his lifetime achieved neither great fame nor material wealth. As the decades passed, successive generations of Americans, many of whom, like von Steuben, were new arrivals from Germany, came to recognize the old drillmaster for his service in the founding of the country. They took pride in his achievements and elevated him as a symbol of the contributions of German immigrants to the establishment of the United States. This presentation will trace his journey from a military adventurer to an American military icon.
About the Presenter: Joseph Seymour has worked as a U.S. Army historian since 2004 and presents regularly on this topic. His professional focus has been on organizational history, the history, and culture of the American soldier in the 18th century, and the evolution of small arms and tactics during that era. Representative works include The Pennsylvania Associators, 1747-1777 (Westholme Publishing, 2012), “Light the Match Load Away: The Ordnance and Organizational Structure of the Philadelphia Artillery, 1747 – 1777,” American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin (May – June 2006), and “A Chart Showing the Results of a 1779 Woolwich Ballistic Test,” Military Collector & Historian (Winter 2013). He works at the U.S. Army Center of Military History at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, DC.

Curious Iguana Presents: Bestselling Author Erik Larson
2026-03-18 18:30 | Downtown Community Room at ERUCC, 15 W Church St, Frederick, MD, 21701
We are excited to welcome New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson to Frederick on Wednesday, March 18, from 6:30-7:30 pm at the Downtown Community Room at ERUCC in Downtown Frederick. Erik will be discussing his bestseller, The Demon of Unrest. Following his talk, Erik will answer questions and sign books. Copies of The Demon of Unrest and additional backlist titles will be available for purchase at the event.
Tickets are required for this event and can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/erik-larson-the-demon-of-unrest-tickets-1978477572679?aff=oddtdtcreator
There are 2 ticket options, each including a paperback copy of The Demon of Unrest with admission. Books purchased as part of a ticketed bundle and books purchased at events are non-returnable.
For accessibility requests, email info@curiousiguana.com at least two (2) weeks prior to the event.
About the book: #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Splendid and the Vile offers a gripping account of the run-up to the Civil War in this “riveting reexamination of a nation in tumult” (Los Angeles Times).
“This is Erik Larson at his best . . . an irresistible thriller.”—The Wall Street Journal
Master storyteller Erik Larson brings to life the pivotal five months between Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860 and the Confederacy’s shelling of Fort Sumter—a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, enflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals. At the heart of this suspense-filled narrative are Major Robert Anderson, Sumter’s commander and a former slave owner sympathetic to the South but loyal to the Union; Edmund Ruffin, a vain and bloodthirsty radical who stirs secessionist ardor at every opportunity; and Mary Boykin Chesnut, wife of a prominent planter, conflicted over both marriage and slavery and seeing parallels between both. In the middle of it all is the overwhelmed Lincoln, battling with his duplicitous Secretary of State, William Seward, as he tries desperately to avert a war that he fears is inevitable—one that will eventually kill 750,000 Americans.
Drawing on diaries, secret communiques, slave ledgers, and plantation records, Larson gives us a political horror story that captures the forces that led America to the brink—a dark reminder that we often don’t see a cataclysm coming until it’s too late.
About the author: Erik Larson is the author of six New York Times bestsellers, including The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, which examines how Winston Churchill and his “Secret Circle” went about surviving the German air campaign of 1940-41. Larson’s The Devil in the White City is set to be a Hulu limited series; his In the Garden of Beasts is under option by Tom Hanks for a feature film. He recently published an audio-original ghost story, No One Goes Alone, which has been optioned by Chernin Entertainment, in association with Netflix. His Thunderstruck has been optioned by Sony Pictures Television for a limited TV series. Larson lives in Manhattan with his wife, who is a writer and retired neonatologist; they have three grown daughters.

Box Lunch Talk: Springfields Iron & Copper Mining Legacy Presented by Johnny Johnsson
2026-03-17 12:00 | Historical Society of Carroll County – Shriver-Weybright Auditorium, 210 East Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157
George Patterson’s “Springfield Estate” (where ACTS-Fairhaven formerly Integrace/EMA is located) once hosted significant 19th-Century iron and copper mines. Initially, iron ore was mined to supply the Elba Furnace in Sykesville. Then rich copper ore was discovered and the mines prospered for a time during the 1850s & 60s. We will recount some details of the history of these interesting mines through maps, photos, text, & discussion.
Johnny Johnsson received his B.S. in mining engineering from Virginia Tech in 1985. He later acquired his Professional Engineer’s License and earned his M.B.A. at the University of Baltimore. He is responsible for environmental permitting and compliance in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware for Vulcan Materials, a major aggregates and concrete manufacturer. Mineral collecting as a youngster led to his career and to an interest in mining history, particularly the mining and manufacture of chromium, copper, and iron related to Maryland’s Tyson family. Johnny serves as a Volunteer Ranger at the Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, a serpentine barren near Reisterstown with historic chrome mines, one of several locations where he conducts interpretive mining history hike programs. Johnny has published several papers on local mining history. He resides in Finksburg, Maryland with his wife Dawn and three children.
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.

Carroll 250 Event: Historical Women of Carroll County
2026-03-14 14:00 | Sunday Morning at Savannah’s, 111 South Springdale Avenue, New Windsor, Maryland, 21776
This program honors the women of Carroll County whose lives, labor, leadership, and resilience helped shape the Carroll County community across generations. From homemakers to entrepreneurs, educators to advocates, the program will highlight stories often overlooked but deeply influential. Join to celebrate women’s history, legacy, and lasting impact — past, present, and future. This is a free event.
Please contact Sunday Morning at Savannah’s for more information at 240.550.2312.

Painting the Past
2026-03-14 13:00 | 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 for reservations.

History Pub Crawl: Downtown Frederick
2026-03-12 16:30 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Uncover stories from Frederick’s Civil War nightlife on a historically-inspired pub crawl presented by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and Jake Wynn – Public Historian
Civil War soldiers loved Downtown Frederick for the same reasons we love it today. Stores hawking anything from clothing to home furnishing, busy restaurants filled with hungry patrons, and notorious drinking establishments. The bustling streets of Downtown Frederick in the 1860s were filled nightly with soldiers looking for a strong drink and night away from their concerns about the war. On the other side were the military authorities and local police seeking to stop the booming alcohol trade in Frederick. What played out was a cat-and-mouse game featuring drunken riots, shoot-outs in the street, and chaotic evenings under the glow of the city’s gaslights.
The tour will gather at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25/person and $20 for members.

'Meet the Authors' Book Signing of "Armies of Antietam"
2026-03-07 14:00 | Antietam Institute Education Center, 101 W Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782
“Armies of Antietam: The Union and Confederate Armies at the Battle of Antietam” is a comprehensive look at the organization of both armies during the Maryland Campaign of September 1862. This work focuses on each regiment of the Federal and Confederate armies, as well as biographical information on the regimental commanders. Each regimental entry includes information on service before, during, and after the Maryland Campaign. The work also provides for each regiment where its companies were organized, how it was armed, and the casualties it suffered during the Maryland Campaign.
Robert Gottschalk first became interested in the Civil War 60 years ago, when his family regularly visited Gettysburg. Growing up in the Philadelphia area, he graduated with a B.A. in History from West Chester University. A temporary ranger at Antietam during the 125th anniversary years, Bob continued to do interpretive programs there after leaving, as well as at Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Valley Forge, and Richmond, among others. “Armies of Antietam” is his first book. Robert currently lives near Indianapolis. J.O. Smith is a native of Miami, Florida, and a lifelong student of the Civil War. Jim began volunteering at Antietam in 2017 and became a certified battlefield guide in 2018. He currently serves as Vice President and a board member of the Antietam Institute. Jim contributed chapters for “Brigades of Antietam” and “Commanders of Antietam”, and has written for “The Antietam Journal.” He has an MA in history from the University of Georgia and undergraduate and law degrees from Duke University. A corporate lawyer for more than 25 years in the Washington, DC area, he has been with Hilton since 2011. Jim and his family live in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Books will be available to purchase.

Multiple Belongings Reception
2026-02-28 15:00 | Hodson Gallery at Tatem Arts Center, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, 21701
Reception – Feb. 28, 2026, 3 – 5pm; Exhibit – Feb. 23 through March 6, 2026 Hood College Galleries is pleased to present “Multiple Belongings,” an exhibition of ceramic sculptures fulfilling the Master of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics by artist Rosa M. Torres. Through her works, Torres invites the viewer to examine “belonging” and “identity,” and the roles these play in shaping culture and heritage.
In “Multiple Belongings,” clay serves as a metaphor for place and a vessel for memory, symbolizing resilience and reclamation. The exhibition offers an opportunity for dialogue about migration, identity, and cultural connection, making it a meaningful show for the arts and cultural community. By posing open-ended questions, such as “What stories of migration or movement do you see reflected in this artwork?” viewers are invited to reflect on the experiences of migration, diaspora, and transnational communities, and to consider how diverse perspectives and journeys shape both individual and collective identities, inviting visitors to a thoughtful exploration of belonging and cultural memory.

Carroll 250 Event: History Day Expo
2026-02-28 09:00 | Winters Mill High School, 560 Gorsuch Road, Westminster, MD, 21157
This year, Carroll County History Day will be at Winters Mill High School from 9 am – 1 pm. Attend programs and visit exhibitors, including museums, historical societies, and historic sites.
Experience the incredible work of middle and high school students as they showcase their historical research on this year’s History Day theme: “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” Explore Carroll County’s rich heritage by visiting exhibits from local historical sites and organizations at the History Expo. Plus, enjoy a keynote address from a special guest representing Maryland 250!

Parsons Newman Lecture Series: Connecting Sites and Stories: New Insights on African American History Research in Frederick County
2026-02-26 17:30 | Heritage Frederick, 24 E Church ST, Frederick, Maryland, 21701
The Parsons Newman Lecture Series is FREE to attend. The series honors the civic leadership of Parsons Newman and is presented through the Parsons Newman Fund established by Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hendrickson II at The Community Foundation of Frederick County.
Building relationships through the sharing of cultural memory, research collections, and personal experiences creates a more complete and compelling understanding of our history. In recent years, such relationships between local organizations have been crucial to helping our historical sites and museums discover and share more of their own stories and their interconnectedness through the lives of the people that once inhabited them.
Particularly, this collaboration has expanded our understanding of how enslaved people experienced different living and labor conditions among Frederick County’s domestic, industrial, and agricultural settings. In the midst of such challenging circumstances, we are introduced to stories of courageous people who risked everything to seek the promises of equality, justice, and freedom that inspired our nation’s founding, for which we celebrate the 250th anniversary in 2026. We are discovering how they navigated emancipation and established new lives as free people, and how communities were formed, moved, and in some cases, lost as time went on.
This program will feature representatives from several history organizations, including Heritage Frederick, Rose Hill Manor Parks and Museum, and the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, in conversation about their shared research initiatives and how these new insights are being shared with visitors and local communities.

What Happened to Halfway African American Cemetery? With Emilie Amt, Ph. D., and Elizabeth Paul
2026-02-24 13:00 | Hood College, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD, 21701
Created in 1897, Halfway African American Cemetery housed 400 individuals. But when the property was sold for development in 1944, the cemetery was not relocated. Instead, it was largely destroyed and forgotten – until being rediscovered decades later. Emilie Amt, Ph. D., professor emerita of history at Hood College, and Elizabeth Paul, president of the Friends of Halfway African American Cemetery, will discuss the history and preservation of this important local landmark and its significance to marginalized communities.
Supported by the Hood Office of Community and Inclusivity and the Center for the Humanities. This presentation will take place at the Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons, 2nd floor.

Carroll 250 Event: Love Letters from the Past
2026-02-21 13:00 | Sunday Morning at Savannah’s, 111 South Springdale Avenue, New Windsor, MD, 21776
Experience history through the most personal lens — love. This intimate evening features letters exchanged between couples in the early 1900s, revealing romance, devotion, longing, and everyday life from another era.
Through readings and discussion, we’ll explore how love was expressed, endured, and preserved long before modern communication, reminding us that some sentiments truly are timeless. This is a free event.

Contending Combatants: 20th North Carolina vs 9th New York Heavy Artillery
2026-02-21 10:00 | Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD, 21704, United States
Among the forces fighting against each other at the Battle of Monocacy were the 9th New York Heavy Artillery and the 20th North Carolina. Both regiments fought as infantry, and both were heavily engaged as skirmishers and sharpshooters during the battle. So how did these regiments compare when facing off?
Join Living History Volunteers representing these regiments as they exhibit their equipment, both reproduction and original, as well as discuss the similarities and differences between the tactics and deployments used by the 9th New York Heavy Artillery and 20th North Carolina during the Battle of Monocacy.

Hearts, Kisses, & Love of Country
2026-02-15 13:00 | Plumb Grove Mansion, 12654 Broadfording Road, Clear Spring, MD, 21722
A combination of President’s Day and Valentine’s Day Exhibit. The 1831 museum house will display 19th century political items such as a Whig and Harrison for President quilts, Lincoln and Clay lithographs, and other 1840’s lithographs, an 1825 Lafayette pitcher, and other items. In addition, more than 100 antique Valentine’s Day cards will be displayed. All and all, a beautiful exhibit at a house where Civil War soldiers camped, with a charming mountain view.

History on Tap: Civil War Beer Tasting
2026-02-14 16:00 | National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 21701, United States
Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for History on Tap: Civil War Beer Tasting on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 4:00pm. Sample Civil War-inspired beers, hardtack, and cookies while exploring the stories of the people, places, and themes they’re named for. A special Valentine’s Day event. Tickets are $20/person or $35/couple. A limited number of tickets will be sold.

Painting the Past
2026-02-14 13:00 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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!
