Old Main Streets

Emmitsburg to Westminster

Including MD 140, MD 832

Take time to relax and unwind in the beautiful countryside of Central Maryland and experience true Maryland hospitality at every turn. The Catoctin Mountains make a scenic backdrop for the town of Emmitsburg where this byway begins. Its Main Street is lined with buildings dating to the late 1700’s, providing an attractive streetscape where art and antiques shops beckon you to explore. Ample fine dining and casual restaurants are ready when you need to refuel.

In Emmitsburg, the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint, welcomes visitors for a self-guided tour. A monument honors the enslaved people who worked on the grounds from 1809 to 1865, reflecting on the institution’s history and calling for justice and reconciliation. On the nearby campus of Mount St. Mary’s University you’ll find the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a lovely place for meditation within a mountain setting.

While you’re in Emmitsburg, stop at the Mason Dixon Welcome Center on U.S. Route 15 for an orientation to the region’s history and culture and its numerous attractions. Exhibits display Civil War events, the surveying of the Mason Dixon Line and natural gems that are close by.

Continue east on MD 140 to Taneytown, which witnessed Civil War troop movements prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. Experience world class fine dining with exquisite farm-to-table seasonal cuisine at the Smokehouse Restaurant, winner of the DiRoNA Gold Award of Excellence. Settle here for the night at the Antrim, a romantic historic country inn, or stay in a nearby comfy bed and breakfast.

The next stop is Westminster, where the charming Main Street has a variety of restaurants, shops and galleries. The Carroll Arts Center is housed in a refurbished art-deco movie theater and offers events and festivals. Spend time in the country at Baugher’s Orchard & Farm to pick-your-own fresh produce and stop by Baugher’s Restaurant for homemade pies and country cooking. Looking for more homemade treats? Take a quick side trip to Hoffman’s Ice Cream.

Continue your celebration of agricultural heritage at the 140-acre Carroll County Farm Museum, featuring historic trades and living history demonstrations. Be transported to a simpler era while exploring timeless traditions. The museum hosts annual events, such as the Maryland Wine Festival.

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The National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg draws spiritual seekers for contemplation and prayer amid the beautiful Catoctin Mountains.

Emmitsburg is home to two Catholic pilgrimage sites: The National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University.

The Antrim in Taneytown is a romantic country inn with an award-winning restaurant.

Downtown Westminster is a perfect location for strolling shops and galleries on Main Street.

Living History events at the Carroll County Farm Museum feature traditional arts and historic trades.

Take a Side Trip

Seven miles north of Westminster on MD 97, scenic Union Mills Homestead portrays Maryland rural life in the 19th century. Tours of the main house, blacksmith shop and functioning grist mill demonstrate how the Shriver family lived here for six generations and experienced the Civil War on their doorstep. Beautiful gardens provide a serene setting for gatherings.

Westminster to Mount Airy

Including MD 140, MD 84, MD 31, MD 27

Travel through Uniontown where Victorian residences line the streets and antiquing is a popular pastime. Head south to New Windsor where a walking tour reveals Civil War heritage amid 19th-century homes, churches and commercial structures. Plan a stay at Sunday at Savannah's, a charming bed and breakfast for a cozy getaway and wake up to Savannah’s Sunday Morning Coffee while relaxing on the front porch. After exploring the New Windsor Heritage Museum, spend the afternoon sampling Maryland wine at the Old Westminster Winery, where sustainably produced wines and farm-to-table dining come together.

Continue south to Mount Airy and soak in the small-town ambiance while shopping and strolling its charming streets. Stop at The W. R. Rudy Country Store to see a 19th-century country store and pharmacy that once served this rural farming and railroading community. Visit the Mount Airy Museum, set in a historic train station for another dose of nostalgia. The Mount Airy B&O Old Main Line Trail passes nearby and a bike shop is ready to tend to your bike repair needs.

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Uniontown's tree-lined streets and historic buildings exhibit a diversity of eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century architecture typical of rural towns.

Old Westminster Winery is a delightful setting to sample sustainable wines and farm-to-table cuisine.

The Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary wildlife reserve in Mount Airy offers 129 acres of open and wooded walking trails, streams and a pond.

The W.R. Rudy Country Store Museum is a step back in time in this former small town railroad community.

The Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum, located inside Union Bridge Station, displays artifacts from the Western Maryland Railway.

Big Hunting Creek, a refreshing Catoctin Mountain stream, courses through the ravine adjacent to Maryland Route 77. Roadside pull-offs allow access for fly-fisherman in Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park.

Mount Airy to Thurmont

Including MD 26, MD 75, MD 77

Continue northwest toward Unionville, which is nestled among three vineyards that offer tours and wine tastings: Loew Vineyards, Elk Run Vineyards and the popular Black Ankle Vineyards. You’ll drive through Johnsville, Libertytown and Union Bridge, where you can experience more of Main Street America. At Union Bridge, railroad buffs will love a stop at the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum to gaze at artifacts and watch model railroad layouts that depict scenes along the former Western Maryland Railway.

Travel west through Detour and visit Loy’s Station Covered Bridge on your way to the town of Thurmont. The area features two other covered bridges: Roddy Road and Utica Mills. In the gorgeous mountain range just west of Thurmont you’ll find Catoctin Mountain Park and Cunningham Falls State Park with plenty of hiking, fly fishing and more outdoor recreation fun in wide open spaces.

Just south of Thurmont is the Catoctin Iron Furnace Village with its African American Cemetery Trail and The Museum of the Ironworker. Check their calendar for special events and cap off your journey with a historic stay in the Forgeman’s House.

ECHOES OF THE PAST

Sites on this byway are along routes that Union and Confederate soldiers used to march north to the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. Families and churches in this area served wounded warriors. Several sites acknowledge the painful past enslaved people experienced during this time and tell of freedom seekers who fled north. Tours and exhibits reveal these stories.