Heritage Frederick – The Historical Society of Frederick County

Discovering Charles Carroll of Carrollton Day
2026-10-24 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 5843 Manor Woods Rd., Frederick, MD 21703
Come spend the day learning about the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Manor he owned in Southern Frederick County!

Enjoy learning about this “unjustly neglected” Founding Father and his connections to Frederick County. Tours of the newly renovated historic St Joseph’s church and cemetery will be offered throughout the day. Exhibitors will present related information, and an all new self-guided tour of the Carrollton Manor grounds will be launched allowing visitors to tour the area and learn about the early history of the region. Food trucks will be on-site from 11am-2pm!

Parsons Newman Lecture: Charles Carroll of Carrollton
2026-10-08 18:00 - 19:00
Dr. John George will present, “Charles Carroll of Carrollton,” Frederick’s own Signer to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Attendees will hear about Carroll’s life and legacy to The Bill of Rights, transportation, agriculture, commerce, and his descendants with a side note on the impact of the enslaved on 18th Century Frederick County.

John George was raised with sisters Mary and Sara on a sheep farm north of Libertytown in a fieldstone house (ca. 1750) and attended local schools (FHS “Cadet” 1964). His degrees are from Georgetown (1968), Johns Hopkins (1972), and American University (1980). John retired from a 47-year career in education, both public (FCPS 33 years) and private (Professor Emeritus Hood College 14 years). He is proud cofounder of the high school Academic Tournament (1982).

John was nominated to membership to the Historic Society by Theresa Mathias and Elizabeth Peters in 1971. Currently, John enjoys reading, caring for his garden, and walking in Baker Park. He has traveled extensively and won a Fulbright Scholarship to Egypt in 1988. Since 1990, John has made 15 presentations to the Torch Club of Frederick; is essay coordinator to the Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (since 1989); is member of the Rotary of Frederick; and last year named “Farm Advocate for 2025” by the Great Frederick Fair (he was the Chair of the 150th Anniversary of the GFF several years ago); and creator of “A Frederick County History Map” for sale exclusively by Heritage Frederick. As a former principal of Carroll Manor E.S. (1982-1984) John became an enthusiastic fan of Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

These lectures are FREE, but RSVPs are appreciated!

Storytime in the Garden Series, 2025
2026-10-01 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-09-03 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-08-06 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-07-02 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-06-04 10:30 - 11:30
Enter our enchanted garden for a FREE special storytime and activity! Held on the second Thursday of every month, little learners will have the opportunity to hear a story and make their own related craft, as well as explore the beauty and sweet details of our Heritage Garden. Books and authors will be announced the month of the program. In the event of inclement weather, Storytime will be moved inside.

Please RSVP: https://www.cognitoforms.com/HeritageFrederick1/_2026StoryTimeInTheGardenSeries

Patio Music: ENSLOW
2026-08-26 17:30 - 19:00
Bring a lawn chair or blanket and come ready to eat, drink, and jam! Pack some snacks and take advantage of local vineyards and breweries who will be selling on site (BYOB also allowed!)

Gate opens at 5, music 5:30-7

*Depends on weather, NOT a rain or shine event

RSVPs not required, but appreciated!

Parsons Newman Lecture: "Witnessing Revolution" and "Cultivating Independence": An expanded tour with Heritage Frederick’s Archivist Jody Brumage
2026-07-30 18:00 - 19:00
Join Heritage Frederick’s Archivist Jody Brumage on an in-depth, small group tour of our 250th focused exhibits! These connected exhibitions explore Frederick County’s role in the Revolutionary War and its place in an emerging nation, ranging from the colonial settlement of the county to the nation’s centennial celebration in 1876. Highlights include items from the family of Maryland’s first elected governor Thomas Johnson; the journals of prolific Frederick diarist Jacob Engelbrecht; and handwritten letters from John Adams, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Frederick’s own signer of the Declaration of Independence. Participants will have an up-close view of additional artifacts that reveal even more about the people and stories featured in the exhibits. Take advantage of this opportunity to be guided through these stories by the person who conceptualized, researched, and designed the exhibit!

An overview of the exhibits featured on this tour:

In Cultivating Independence, discover Frederick County’s indigenous and colonial history and learn how its position in the backcountry during the French and Indian War planted the first seeds of resistance that unified a diverse population in the build up to the Revolution. The leaders among the founding generation who hailed from Frederick County will be featured alongside the everyday farmers, merchants, and laborers, free and enslaved, who worked to feed, supply, and serve the Continental Army throughout the war.

Witnessing Revolution examines how the struggle for liberty and equality that galvanized the fight for independence continued in the century after the founding of the United States. Visitors will discover lives and stories that have been overlooked in traditional treatments of Frederick County’s history as well as reexaminations of the complex legacies of more well-known figures who played consequential roles in shaping the idea of who possesses the rights promised in our nation’s founding documents. Witnessing Revolution reveals these stories through the perspective of an ordinary man, Jacob Engelbrecht, using entries from the voluminous diary he maintained over two-thirds of the 19th century. Together, these words and stories reveal the local context to a national story and witness the ongoing revolutions that continue to define the American experience.

These lectures are FREE, but RSVPs are appreciated!

Art & Architecture Walking Tour
2026-07-25 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-06-27 10:30 - 12:00
Look at Frederick with new eyes. Experience the history and beauty of downtown as we explore some of the popular architectural styles, local art, and history.

*Tour starts at the Museum of Frederick County History, 24 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Length: 90 minutes

https://www.cognitoforms.com/HeritageFrederick1/WalkingTourTicketReservation

Patio Music: Jason Ager
2026-07-22 17:30 - 19:00

Civil War Walking Tour
2026-07-18 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-06-06 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-05-16 10:30 - 12:00
Explore what it was like to live in Frederick during the Civil War. Stories include the last Confederate invasion of the North, the ransom of Frederick, and the Battle of Monocacy.

Purchase tickets: https://www.cognitoforms.com/HeritageFrederick1/WalkingTourTicketReservation

Ice Cream Social
2026-07-11 13:00 - 15:00
Join Heritage Frederick for a FREE sweet treat! Our garden will be full of games and activities, and the museum is free admission 1-3pm. *Please enter through Garden gate, accessible through the parking lot between us and Winchester Hall*

Frederick’s Black Heritage Walking Tour
2026-07-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-06-13 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-05-23 10:30 - 12:00
Visit landmarks and hear stories revealing Frederick’s Black heritage from the early-19th century to the present day. This tour features sites associated with enslavement and segregation and highlights the achievements of a diverse and vibrant Black community in the pursuit of equality and freedom.

*Tour starts at the Museum of Frederick County History, 24 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Length: 90 minutes

https://www.cognitoforms.com/HeritageFrederick1/WalkingTourTicketReservation

Foundations of Frederick Walking Tour
2026-07-04 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-06-20 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-05-30 10:30 - 12:00
Experience the history and beauty of downtown as knowledgeable guides share the fascinating stories that make up historic Frederick, Maryland.

*Tour starts at the Museum of Frederick County History, 24 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Length: 90 minutes

https://www.cognitoforms.com/HeritageFrederick1/WalkingTourTicketReservation

Guided Tour: All Saints Street
2026-06-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-22 13:00 - 14:00
Experience the Museum of Frederick County History through a guided tour. Heritage Frederick Curator Amy Hunt will lead visitors to discover the unique architectural character and history of the historic Dr. Baltzell House and highlight our recently-opened exhibit All Saints Street: An Avenue to the History of Frederick and its African American Community.

Included in museum admission.

Patio Music: The Long Way Home
2026-06-24 17:30 - 19:00

Father's Day Walking Tour
2026-06-21 10:30 - 12:00
Looking for something new to do on Father’s Day?How about a unique walking tour of Frederick! There are so many Frederick stories to tell that we need a whole special tour to do it! Explore the lesser known stories of Frederick’s past on the 90 minute tour that ends at Carroll Creek- the perfect place to treat dad to a beer and a bite to eat.

Meets at Courthouse Plaza, 100 W. Patrick Street

Ends near the Community Bridge on Carroll Creek

Tickets here!

Guided Tour: Witnessing Revolution
2026-06-12 13:00 - 14:00
Experience the Museum of Frederick County History through a guided tour. Heritage Frederick Archivist Jody Brumage will lead visitors to discover the unique architectural character and history of the historic Dr. Baltzell House and explore how the diaries of Jacob Engelbrecht help reveal Frederick County’s role in shaping America’s story throughout its first century.

Included in museum admission.

Guided Tour: House History and New Exhibits
2026-06-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-29 13:00 - 14:00
Experience the Museum of Frederick County History through a guided tour. Heritage Frederick Director Doug Propheter will lead visitors to discover the unique architectural character and history of the historic Dr. Baltzell House and highlight newly opened exhibitions throughout the museum.

Included in museum admission. Please note, this tour may involve ascending stairs, no elevator available.

Parsons Newman Lecture: Presidential Sites Within Two Hours of Frederick That You Have Probably Never Heard Of with Tom Slater
2026-05-28 18:00 - 19:00
This program will discuss sites related to our Presidents’ lives, from birthplaces to burial sites. Tom Slater will share his best itineraries for your own travels. A part of our 250th Anniversary celebration, what a great time to connect to US history in and near our own home of Frederick County!

Tom Slater is a retired attorney and educator. He taught U.S. History at high schools in Frederick County and at Frederick Community College. He obtained an M.A. in History from The George Washington University and wrote a thesis entitled “Frederick County Politics 1950-1970: A Study in Rural Conservatism.” He has served as the Historian for the Frederick County Bar Association and the Frederick County Democratic Party. He writes a monthly column for the local Democratic Party where he focuses on history. Since his retirement a few years ago, he has been researching local and state history and hopes to write books about the history of the Maryland Democratic Party and Frederick County politics from 1970 to 2000. He has an extensive collection of obituaries of local and state leaders as well as newspaper clippings collected over the past sixty years. As a student of United States History, he has a special interest in U.S. Presidents and is on a quest to visit the birthplace, death site, and burial site of every U.S. President. He has seven more sites to visit in order to complete his quest (Trump’s birth site, Obama’s birth site, Ford’s birth site, Nixon’s burial site, Harding’s death site, and Reagan’s death and burial sites.

These lectures are FREE, but RSVPs are appreciated!
