Arts Entertainment and a Civil War Legacy
Hagerstown located in Western Maryland it features a distinct topography,
formed by stone ridges running from northeast to southwest through the center
of town defining its neighborhoods. These ridges consist of upper Stonehenge
limestone; the older buildings were built from this stone which is easily
quarried and dressed onsite. Several of Hagerstown’s churches are constructed
of Stonehenge limestone; brick and concrete eventually displaced this native
stone.
Hub City German immigrant Jonathan Hager built the first house here in
1739 and began laying out the town in 1762. Hager House still stands as a
carefully preserved museum, giving visitors a window to the 18th century.
The National Road brought growth and the railroads intersecting here gave it
its nickname, “Hub City.” The largest Civil War cavalry battle fought in an
urban setting happened here.
City Park offers 50 acres of beautiful outdoor space and Hagerstown City
Farmers Market sells crafts and baked goods as well as homegrown produce from
area farmers.
The Arts & Entertainment District is home to the Maryland Theatre’s year-round performances and
events, including Maryland Symphony Orchestra concerts. Hagerstown is also home
to the Western Maryland Blues Fest. The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is
in scenic City Park.
The Hagerstown Cultural Trail links the
Arts District with City Park and Fine Arts Museum
A Transit Center, Hagerstown is the chief commercial and industrial hub for a
Tri-State Area that includes much of Western Maryland as well as portions of
South-Central Pennsylvania and Eastern West Virginia.
Washington
County is home to many quaint towns, including:
Boonsboro founded by relatives of Daniel Boone and situated along the main
road to Hagerstown and Frederick. Historic markers explain the National Road,
Civil War battles, and quaint shops line Main Street including author Nora
Roberts' bookstore and bed and breakfast.
Clear Spring is located 12 miles west of Hagerstown. The historic National Pike which once linked the port of Baltimore to the western frontier of Ohio, runs through the center of town. Area attractions include Knob Hall Winery, Whitetail Mountain Resort, the C&O Canal and Fort Frederick State Park.
Clear Spring is located 12 miles west of Hagerstown. The historic National Pike which once linked the port of Baltimore to the western frontier of Ohio, runs through the center of town. Area attractions include Knob Hall Winery, Whitetail Mountain Resort, the C&O Canal and Fort Frederick State Park.
Explore the C&O Canal Towpath and the Western Maryland Rail Trail
Civil War Legacy Sharpsburg was the place
where two massive armies clashed, leaving 23,110 dead, wounded, or missing.
Every building overflowed with the wounded and dying. After the Civil War, its
population declined; today, it has fewer than 700 residents, many direct
descendants of families here during the Civil War. The Antietam National
Battlefield and the Antietam National Cemetery are part of Sharpsburg, and
nearby museums such as the Pry House Field Hospital Museum attract
international symposiums. Smithsburg played a role in the
Civil War, when residents helped care for wounded soldiers after the battles of
Gettysburg, Monterey, South Mountain, and Antietam.
Williamsport is located at the
confluence of Conococheague Creek and the Potomac River. When the C&O Canal
opened in 1834, it evolved into a thriving waterfront town. It was also once
considered a potential site for the United States’ capital.
Williamsport is the Finish Line for the JFK 50 Mile the Oldest
Ultra-Marathon in North America