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Native Americans The first inhabitants of Maryland were Paleo-Indians who came more than 10,000 years ago from other parts of North America to hunt mammoth, great bison and caribou. By 1,000 B.C., Maryland had more than 8,000 Native Americans in about 40 different tribes. Most of them spoke Algonquian languages. They grew corn, peas, squash and tobacco. They also hunted, fished and traded with tribes as far away as New York and Ohio. We do[...]

Western Maryland Western Maryland is a great place for outdoor adventures. You can climb Maryland's highest mountain, swim in numerous lakes, hike the Appalachian Trail, brave white-water rapids or enjoy all kinds of winter sports from skiing to ice fishing. The three counties of Western Maryland, where fall foliage arrives first and winter usually stays the longest, were Maryland's last frontier. One of the most important events in Western Maryland in the early 1800s was[...]

Maryland’s vibrant Arts & Entertainment Districts provide endless opportunities for dining, shopping, creating and exploring. From west to east, there are many A&E Districts filled with things to do. Western Maryland Tucked in the Appalachian Mountains, the towns of Western Maryland benefit from a rural setting and strong cultural arts scene, so there are a number of places arts fans can experience great art. In Cumberland, catch a production at the Cumberland Theatre or attend[...]

When it comes to ice cream, Maryland is full of firsts. First ice cream on the continent? Check. Governor Thomas Bladen served up the sweet, creamy treat way back in 1744 (it was strawberry, if you’re wondering). First commercial sales of ice cream? Check again. A Baltimore milkman by the name of Jacob Fussell began the commercial selling of ice cream in Baltimore in 1851, and we’re still leading the way with the Maryland’s Best[...]

Home to a large population of free and enslaved Blacks, and sympathetic whites, Underground Railroad support grew in Maryland in the years leading to emancipation. Many of the nation’s best-known Underground Railroad leaders emerged in this environment. These agents and untold more guided Underground Railroad passengers to safety and fought for their freedom. Explore their stories at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture and the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum and at the[...]

1. Great Falls of the Potomac Overlook These raging rapids of the Potomac are a massive stretch of whitewater and several waterfalls that drop a total of 76 feet and challenge the best paddlers in the world. Just off the towpath, the Great Falls of the Potomac Overlook offers a truly inspiring vista, and a great place to begin your C&O Canal adventure from the east. 2. Antietam National Battlefield Located in the Canal Town[...]

The National Park Service created the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom to commemorate the places and people who shaped the journey to freedom. Network to Freedom sites are documented places where the enslaved escaped from bondage, the routes they took, places where they stayed or found assistance, and sometimes places where their freedom was tried and tested. Network to Freedom programs provide authentic information about the Underground Railroad and people who escaped. Network to[...]

Frederick Douglass's Life in Maryland Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born into slavery in February of 1818. Never knowing his actual birthday, he chose for himself February 14, and gave himself the name Frederick Douglass. Douglass was born on Holme Hill Farm, near Hillsboro, on the banks of Tuckahoe Creek. For a bold and brilliant child, the lush fields and clear Maryland waters might have been a little patch of heaven. All it lacked was[...]

Railroads transformed American life in the 1800s and 1900s, and Maryland played an integral part in the creation of the railroad industry—the Baltimore & Ohio, the first intercity railroad in the Western Hemisphere, was begun in Baltimore in 1827. Visit these museums, attractions and sites of interest to learn more about the history of railroading in America. Baltimore: Where Railroading Started The first 12 miles of track laid in the U.S.—part of the first intercity[...]