Frederick County and western Maryland are seeing a surge in tourism this summer, thanks in large part to the region’s deep connections to Civil War history. With families and history enthusiasts traveling during the warmer months, the area’s historic sites are drawing visitors from around the world. More from DCNEWSNOW, covering the Frederick area:
On East Patrick Street in downtown Frederick, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine is one of many destinations immersing visitors in the realities of wartime.
“Frederick sits at the heart of some of the most significant Civil War battles,” says David Price, executive director of the museum. “We’re just a few miles from Antietam. The Battle of Monocacy happened here. South Mountain, Gettysburg—all within close reach.”
Beyond the battlefields, Frederick tells a broader story of the war’s impact. “We’re sharing a national story through the lens of Frederick,” Price explains. “Many of the buildings that served as hospitals during the war are still standing today and have been carefully preserved.”
The area’s Civil War legacy continues to capture the imagination of visitors. “This history has become a real fascination,” says Elizabeth Scott Shatto, executive director of the nonprofit Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. “Tourism here contributes $452 million to the local economy annually, supports nearly 6,400 jobs, and generates close to $60 million in state and local tax revenue.”
At Frederick City Hall, heritage tourism is also helping to tell a fuller story of the city’s past. Following this year’s Juneteenth observance, which focused on Frederick’s history of enslavement and emancipation, tours are drawing new interest in the city’s Civil War-era role.
“People are deeply interested in Frederick’s layered history—especially the story of enslavement and how it shaped this region,” says Christina Martinkowsky, division manager for historic preservation for the City of Frederick.
For more on Frederick’s Civil War history, visit the Heart of the Civil Way Heritage Area: https://heartofthecivilwar.org