Howard County Historical Society

10/12/2026

🎃🍿 COME FOR THE TRIVIA, STAY FOR THE PRIZES! 👻🏆

Think you know your horror movies, Halloween classics, and local history? Put your knowledge to the test at Pop Culture & Popcorn Trivia at the Museum of Howard County History!

🏆 Play for prizes! You could win EC Pops gift cards and tour vouchers for Ellicott City Ghost Tours from Maryland History Tours!

🍿 Enjoy EC Pops’ special “Museum Munch” popcorn blend while you battle it out with friends over Halloween, Howard County history, horror films, and gothic literature trivia.

📅 Thursday, October 29, 2026 from 6:00-7:30pm
📍 Museum of Howard County History
8328 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043
🎟️ $10 admission

Grab your tickets now: https://square.link/u/jVEp7DHR

Tag your trivia team and make it a Halloween night to remember!
📷HCHS Archives
ECPops Maryland History Tours

10/11/2026

On October 11, 1824, French General Marquis de Lafayette visited Elkridge, the site of his river crossing in April, 1781 as a volunteer officer for the Continental Army. His troops had camped on the Howard County side in Elkridge prior to traveling to Virginia to engage British General Cornwallis at Yorktown. He later visited as a part of a national tour of the United States to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary, a grand tour that took him across the nation. He was cheered and given great adulation by an appreciative American audience.

While in Elkridge, he stopped with his staff to eat at a tavern on the Washington Pike (Rt. 1). Although identified previously as “Spurriers Tavern,” the Belgian immigrant owner had changed the name to “Waterloo Tavern” in tribute to the battle in her homeland. Lafayette did not allow his staff to eat there as several officers were enraged, as the name was associated with Napoleon’s greatest military defeat. He continued on his journey to an inn a few miles down the road. Later in the tour, he purportedly stopped at Roberts Tavern. There is a commemorative sign in Elkridge for Spurrier’s Tavern and one on Frederick Rd. near the intersection with Rt. 97 to honor his stop at Roberts Inn.

10/10/2026

Thank you for joining us for our Lunch Date with History event on the Granite Historical Society! 🪨

A special thank you to John Brantley and everyone who came out to make the event a success.

🎥 Watch the video below for a look back at the event!
https://youtu.be/CAljK3jbXKA

Join us for our next Lunch Date with History on the Columbia Archives on November 6th at 12 PM. We hope to see you there! 📚
📷Woodstock Bridge (Source: Granite Historical Society)

10/09/2026

🐝 Come Hear the Buzz! 🍯

Join us for the **Mill Town Tea** on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 11:30am-1pm at the Museum of Howard County History.

Enjoy unlimited tea, sandwiches, scones, sweets, and a short history lecture featuring the Howard County Beekeepers Association celebrating 50 Years of Supporting Honeybees & Beekeeping in Howard County!

🎟️ $45 members | $55 non-members
📍 8328 Court Ave., Ellicott City, MD
🚗 Free parking at the old Courthouse lot

Purchase tickets at the link here: https://ticketscandy.com/e/mill-town-tea-november-2026-21429
Questions? Call 410 480 3250 or email [email protected].

10/08/2026

📜✨ Celebrate American Archives Month with HCHS! ✨📜

We’re excited to launch our new glass case display at the HCHS Archives in celebration of American Archives Month!

Throughout the month, we’ll be featuring highlights from our archival work and showcasing special collections that help bring history to life. Our displays offer a glimpse into the unique materials, stories, and treasures preserved in the HCHS Archives.

📍 Come visit the HCHS Archives on the second floor of the Miller Library to explore the display, discover unique archival materials, and learn more about the collections we preserve.

🕙 Archives Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm

🔎 Interested in taking a closer look? Members of the public can request to review archival materials by scheduling a research appointment via email at [email protected].

There’s always something new to discover in the archives!

10/07/2026

🎃 Could you survive a night of horror trivia? Can you tell your Buffy from your Frankenstein?

Join HCHS for Pop Culture & Popcorn Trivia with Halloween trivia, prizes, and EC Pop’s special “Museum Munch” popcorn blend!

📅 Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 6:00 to 7:30 PM
📍 Museum of Howard County History, 8328 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043
💵 $10 admission

🎟️ Purchase tickets: https://square.link/u/jVEp7DHR

Bring your best Halloween, history, and pop culture knowledge and put it to the test!

10/06/2026

🎃 How many Halloween goodies can you collect before Trick or Treat on Main Street? 🍬

Stop by the museums for some Halloween fun before heading to Main Street!

Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 1-5pm
📍 Ellicott Mills Children's Museum 3725 Park Avenue & Museum of Howard County History 8328 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Come see us and start your Halloween adventure!

10/05/2026

🍰 TOMORROW! Desserts with the Director! 🍰

Join HCHS for an informal, drop in listening session and share your thoughts, ideas, and needs with us while enjoying delicious local desserts! 🍪

📅 Tomorrow, October 6 at 6:30 PM
📍 New Weave Building at New Weave Commons
8600 Foundry St., Savage, MD 20763

Come for as little or as long as you like! 💙

📝 Registration is encouraged:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSconIGCWT3hroHFY_6AeGwlfLN0chTmsx-US5u9r3pm7-eoRg/viewform?fbzx=-7902190447545107144

Can’t attend in person? Share your thoughts through our online survey:
https://forms.gle/boXHzwtPy5tiP7Nv6

We hope to see you tomorrow! 🍰💙
📷HCHS Archives

As the Howard County Historical Society heads toward our 70th anniversary in 2028 we are launching a series of informal community listening sessions called Desserts with the Director — where the Executive Director travels around the County, brings desserts, and listens. What do people know about u...

10/04/2026

🎃 Could you survive a night of horror trivia? Can you tell your Buffy from your Frankenstein?
Join HCHS for Pop Culture & Popcorn Trivia with Halloween trivia, prizes, and EC Pop’s special “Museum Munch” popcorn blend!

📅 Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 6:00 to 7:30 PM
📍 Museum of Howard County History, 8328 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043
💵 $10 admission

🎟️ Purchase tickets: https://square.link/u/jVEp7DHR

Bring your best Halloween, history, and pop culture knowledge and put it to the test!
ECPops

10/02/2026

🍂October Theme: Bring in the Harvest!🍂

Visit the Ellicott Mills Children’s Museum and step back 200 years!

🌿 Harvest your own herbs
🌾 Grind grain into flour
🏛️ Enjoy hands on history

📍 3725 Park Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043

🗓️ Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm-5pm
🎟️ Free admission

Parking available on the street or in the Circuit Courthouse parking lot.