In this first of a series of blog posts, Preservation Maryland Board Vice President Diane Caslow will provide a travelogue of her journey across the state to visit some of Maryland's most historic places in all twenty-four counties over the next twenty-four...
History
What Maryland Looked Like the Last Time the Cubs Won the World Series
On November 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs have recently made baseball history by ending the longest ever championship drought by winning the World Series after 108 years. In 1908 there were 46 U.S. states, Thomas Edison was still alive, and the FM radio, sliced bread, and...
New Website for the Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites
Some of the most sacred sites in Maryland are in impending danger due to environmental factors as well as the passage of time. Through our intensive and impactful Six-to-Fix program, Preservation Maryland will work with the Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites...
A Maryland Favorite With A Long History: Hasty Pudding
For centuries, puddings have been a staple in the English diet, and when the English colonists settled in America, they brought their love of puddings with them. One of the most popular pudding recipes from colonial America was the Hasty Pudding, named for how easy it...
Tour Recap: Behind the Scenes at the Conowingo Dam
Last weekend, on October 1st, Preservation Maryland members and supporters were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour at the Conowingo Dam, a hydroelectric dam in the lower Susquehanna River situated between Cecil and Howard counties. Special thanks to Exelon, current...
A Pivotal Moment: The Battle of Shepherdstown
The fighting didn't stop at Antietam — and just two days later the armies re-engaged along the banks of the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Preservation Maryland Executive Director Nicholas Redding published the following essay in Hallowed Ground on the 150th anniversary of...
The Maryland Signers of the Constitution
On September 17, 1787, three representatives of Maryland signed their names to the freshly-inked United States Constitution, beginning the path towards full ratification and establishing a new government. Signing on behalf of Maryland were James McHenry, Daniel of St....
History of the Bel-Loc Diner
Marylanders have an undeniable connection to the time spent and memories made at the Bel-Loc Diner in Baltimore County - but there is a question about the Diner's architectural significance. Preservation Maryland is happy to share two essays on the architectural...
Field Report: Archaeology Field Session at River Farm in Anne Arundel County
For the past 45 years, the Archaeological Society of Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust's Office of Archaeology have hosted an archaeological field session to explore the Old Line State's treasured past. The Field school brings together many organizations and...
19th Century Foodie’s Story Preserved in Ellicott City
Ellicott City’s flood-damaged historic buildings hold many stories of the people and events that have animated the city over its long history. Culinary historian Patricia Bixler Reber recently linked the severely damaged frame structure at 8113 Main Street, which...
The First Cookie: Jumbles Perfected at Waverly Mansion in Howard County
Historic preservation isn't only about preserving historic buildings, structures, and sites. It's also about preserving our intangible heritage - the music, dress, oral traditions, crafts, festivals, and cuisines that define our state's culture. One of the earliest...
A Brief History of the Capital Beltway
On August 17, 1964 Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes cut the ribbon to officially open the final stretch of the just-completed Capital Beltway, I-495. Buckle up for a brief history of the Capital Beltway! RING ROAD CONCEPTS As early as the 1880s, planners had floated...
Six Events to Discover Maryland’s Historic Battlefields this Fall
As the weather cools and weekly routines return after summer break, fall is the ideal time for a day trip or weekend getaway. Plan an autumn outing to one of these events at some of Maryland’s most scenic historic sites, recommended by Preservation Maryland and the...
Historic Context of the Ellicott City Flood
European settlement of the area today known as Ellicott City began as early as 1766 when James Hood built a grist mill along the banks of the Patapsco River. One of the earliest recorded floods in 1768 destroyed the original mill, which his son Benjamin Hood...
Two Maryland Places to Celebrate Amelia Earhart Day
Each year July 24 is recognized as National Amelia Earhart Day, the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, who was born on that day in 1897. In 1933, Amelia Earhart and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt flew together from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore,...
Audio: “Preserving and Protecting Ocean City History” on WYPR
The Maryland Humanities Council invited our Director of Communications, Meagan Baco, to read and record an essay on the history and some of the architectural losses of historic Ocean City, Maryland - by natural disasters and by demolition - a place visited by many...
Classic Hot Dog Stands in Maryland
Take a bite out of history by visiting one of these classic hot dog stands in Maryland: ANN'S DARI-CREME Ann’s Dari-Creme in Glen Burnie opened its doors in 1950, when a hot dog cost only thirty cents. Despite pressure from developers to close its doors when the...
Alexander Hamilton Visits Maryland
As the Tony award-winning musical, Hamilton: An American Musical continues to entertain audiences across the country, it’s important to remember the moment the actual Hamilton came to Maryland in 1786 to address the profound challenges of the Articles of...
Discover Historic Cumberland: Cumberland Outdoor Club
The City of Cumberland and the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, an instrumentality of City government, plan to demolish portions of the historic Rolling Mill neighborhood to build incompatible and economically unsustainable low-density sprawl. Proponents...
Tour Recap: Columbia Archives Bus Tour
During the time of development of the planned community of Columbia, Maryland, there was always a community organization envisioned; it was originally named the Columbia Park and Recreation Association, and now, the Columbia Association. The Association has done the...
Reflections on D-Day: “To set free a suffering humanity”
On June 6, 1944 the United States along with its Allies from around the globe landed on the shores of fortress Europe and opened up a new front in the campaign to free the world of fascism and tyranny. This was D-Day. Anniversary Conversation: Upon the 76th...
Columbia, Maryland in Context
An early planning document pertaining to the development of the Columbia Mall, a major component of Columbia’s Town Center, summarizes James Rouse’s aims for the city he founded: "Columbia is designed to provide the best possible environment for the growth of people....
Fort McHenry: Revolutionary War Fort & Birthplace of the National Anthem
As Marylanders, we are stewards of one of the great sites of American history; Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shine, and the birthplace of the National Anthem.We're proud to tell the story of the preservation of Fort McHenry and the flag that inspired our...
Historic Sites of Ocean City, Maryland
One of Maryland's go-to summer spots is the beach and boardwalk of Ocean City, Maryland! So today on National Sunscreen Day, Preservation Maryland wants to remind you to (1) protect your skin and (2) dig a little deeper into the history of OC when you visit this...
The First Telegram from Washington to Baltimore
On this day in 1844, the first telegram was sent from Washington, DC to Baltimore by Samuel F.B. Morse; the first words sent across the wire were, "WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT." This ominous phrase was suggested by Annie Ellsworth, the daughter of the Commissioner of...
Maryland’s Strawberry Legacy
Marion Station in Somerset County, Maryland was once locally considered to be the Strawberry Capital of the World! Marion Station's reputation as leader in strawberry production came with the arrival of a line of the Pennsylvania Railroad to the Eastern Shore in 1866....
Origins of the Library “Bookmobile” in Washington County, Maryland
The Washington County Free Library in Maryland was the first national library to utilize a bookmobile, basically a transportable library on wheels, to reach rural areas and provide access to books in 1905. The ingenious idea, and the access to literature and...
James Rouse’s Vision for Columbia, Maryland
In 1933, British author James Hilton published Lost Horizon, a novel about a mysterious, fictional utopia named Shangri-La. Over time, the term became synonymous with idyllic but isolated places. In 1962, Shangri-La became the code name for a secret proposal to build...
Celebrating Johns Hopkins’ Birthday in Maryland
Let's celebrate Johns Hopkins' birthday by reflecting on his contributions to Maryland's scientific culture, and also, current efforts to preserve sites of his life, including his childhood home, Whites Hall. Johns Hopkins (May 19, 1795, Anne Arundel County,...
V-E Day
This year, Mother's Day, celebrated the second Sunday in May, falls on May 8th, which is also Victory in Europe or V-E Day. On May 8, 1945, the Allies accepted the surrender of Germany's Nazi armed forces. The photograph above is by A. Aubrey Bodine, a widely known...
Statewide Smart Growth Workshop
December 10 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pmPreservation Basics with Talbot Historical Society
SAVE THE DATE! More information and registration page coming soon.
January 8, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pmHeritage Fund FY25 Information Session
Save the Date! Join Preservation Maryland on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, to learn more about the He...
January 22, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Events
Preservation Maryland participates in and hosts many events in and around Maryland. Take a look at our upcoming events to see where we’ll be next.