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The City of Gaithersburg's Community Museum is located in the restored 1884 B&O Railroad Station complex. The Museum features educational exhibits and programs designed to spark visitors' interest and imagination in our City's history. The Community Museum occupies the historic Freight House, the History Park and the B&O Caboose. Designed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Head Architect, Ephraim Francis Baldwin, the Gaithersburg Railroad Station was built in 1884. This enabled Gaithersburg, previously known as both Forest Oak and Logtown, new and expedited shipping opportunities south, to Washington, DC. The commercial opportunities this access afforded helped develop the burgeoning Gaithersburg economy. In 1978, its buildings were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Additional hours are available by appointment. Handicap accessible.
Thursday night you can join The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum for a YouTube concert event celebrating spaceflight, creativity and community.
Join The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum for a YouTube concert event celebrating spaceflight, creativity and community.
Are you going batty stuck in quarantine with bored kids? Let them summon a colony of bats into your home from the darkest corners of their imaginations!
Create your own bat colony: a downloadable art activity designed by curator and museum educator Alice Fennessy
Happy Morse Code Day!
The heyday for Morse code is primarily over, but this communication method using dots and dashes still has its place in our digital world.
The USA Science & Engineering Festival is is an engaging, entertaining, educational, and interactive online STEM experience for middle and high school students.
X-STEM All Access – presented by AstraZeneca – is an engaging, entertaining, educational, and interactive online STEM experience for kids. Through a series of daily livestream events, students will hear from an exclusive group of visionaries who aim to empower and inspire kids about careers in s...
April is National Poetry Month! For this week's challenge write a haiku or other poem about your COVID-19 experience. Please share them in the comments.
Haikus are 3-line poems with either 3-5-3 or 5-7-5 syllables per line. Check the comments for some links to helpful haiku sites. #CovidPoetry #StayHomeGaithersburg
Have fun with a new jigsaw puzzle - a Gaithersburg peony.
Free online jigsaw puzzle game
Some more local virtual tourism opportunities.
Here are three ways to explore Maryland’s maritime culture, virtually: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum maintains historic vessels, like floating artifacts, at their dock in St. Michael’s. Their collection represents many of the types of watercraft that were deve...
The #Hubble30 unveiling its happening soon.
COMING SOON: the Hubble Space Telescope 30th anniversary image! Join us on Friday, April 24, at 1 p.m. for a journey through space! Dr. Frank Summers and Dr....
There is more Hubble fun to be had. Learn more about the science, have fun with online games, be inspired by the images. #Hubble30
NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind.
We may not be able to have skywatching tonight, but we can still have some hands-on fun. Thanks to NISE Network for this great project and #SpaceTelescopeScienceInstitue for helping create this celebration of the Hubble. Also, thanks to Rockville Science Center, which would have been co-sponsoring the skywayching program. #Hubble30 #StayHomeGaithersburg
Hubble images can inspire and awe. Find out what the Hubble Space Telescope was looking at on your birthday. #Hubble30
NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind.
Since its launch in April 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has excited and enthralled the world with awe-inspiring, enticing, and colorfully dramatic views of the universe. #Hubble30
This blog post is one in a series marking the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope. For more information and resources regarding Hubble’s 30th anniversary, please …
This colorful image resembling a cosmic version of an undersea world teeming with stars commemorates the Hubble Space Telescope's 30 years of viewing the wonders of space. For more on this image and Hubble go to https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2020/news-2020-16.
This stunning new image from Hubble showing two nebula commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope.Since Hubble’s launch in April 1990, the telescope has inspired and enthralled the world with awe-inspiring, enticing, and dramatic views of the universe. We are delighted to be part of the celebration. Tonight would have been our first skywatching program of 2020 where we would have been celebrating this milestone. We hope to see you when it is rescheduled. Meanwhile, check back today for more exciting activities and images from Hubble. #Hubble30
Behold! A colorful, dramatic landscape of two nebulas highlights a stunning new image, which commemorates the Hubble Space Telescope’s 30 years of unlocking the beauty and mystery of space.
The Hubble portrait reveals a diverse landscape of colorful, iridescent gases, streamers of dust, and a plethora of brilliant newborn stars in the giant red nebula NGC 2014. The blue ring of glowing oxygen at left is the neighboring nebula NGC 2020, formed by a torrential gaseous outflow from a lone, massive, super-hot star at its center. The region is nicknamed the “Cosmic Reef,” because of its resemblance to an undersea world.
Since Hubble’s launch in April 1990, the telescope has inspired and enthralled the world with awe-inspiring, enticing, and dramatic views of the universe. Hubble’s images and discoveries make it the most prolific space observatory in history:
http://ow.ly/6AEM50zmKtj. #Hubble30
Have you ever seen a group of children more pleased with themselves? Reginald and Clifford Shirley and their neighbor Martha Kephart showing off their garden produce taken in 1950. From the donor we learn the Shirley children were neighbors of T.W. Troxell. The 1950 census is not yet public, but from 1940 we know that Mr. Troxell lived at 30 Walker Avenue and it appears the Shirley family had not yet moved to Gaithersburg. As all the children were born after 1940, we won't be able to learn more until 2022 when the 1950 census becomes public. In the meantime, we can enjoy this great image. #WeAreGaithersburg #TBT
Happy Earth Day! NASA has created this colorful picture book about Earth's atmosphere and its importance to life on Earth. #EarthDay
Have fun making the model of the water cycle at home. All you need is a ziplock bag, a sharpie, water, and some tape.
Happy Earth Day! The Earth Day observance is 50 years old today! Here is a great activity to do. If you don't have any flower bulbs, you can buy them at the store or see if anyone you know has some extra. Flower bulbs grow in bunches and they need to be thinned from time to time making extra. #StayHomeGaithersburg #EarthDay #MuseumFromHome
#MuseumSunshine - This photo of the Sun was taken at the Gaithersburg International Latitude Observatory. Did you know it takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds for the light from the Sun to reach Earth?
Someone has been decorating Observatory Park with these wonderful painted rocks they left by the trees and chalk art. #paintedrocksmd
Doing citizen science can mean learning science at home or school, but it can also mean participating in crowdsource science projects. Here are 3 ways you can help scientists fight COVID-19. #CitizenScience
SciStarter connects people to citizen science projects, citizen scientists, and resources. Real science we can do together.
April is Citizen Science Month! We may be quarantined, but we can still explore the world around us. Throughout the week we'll be sharing opportunities to participate in citizen science projects. Look in the comments for activities as well. #CitizenScience #StayHomeGaithersburg
For parents and teachers of early learners, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) has some great activity ideas.
Learning Resources and Activities for Caregivers and Educators Written and Compiled by SEEC faculty
2020 is the 100th anniversary of women first being able to vote nationally yet how many of us have visited the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument on Capitol Hill to commemorate this momentous anniversary? If you've never been, then enjoy this virtual tour.
Explore the Hall of Portraits in the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument and learn about the women pictured here.
What story was Alice Paul telling about what a suffragist looked like?
Do you see yourself here?
What story is the statue of Sojourner Truth telling in the Hall of Portraits?
#NPS19th #19thAmendment #AfricanAmericanHistory #WomensEquality #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque
Looking for a better background for all those Zoom conferences? The Hubble Space Telescope has your back! #Hubble30
Log in to your next Zoom meeting while orbiting Earth with the Hubble Space Telescope! Download these images to your computer or phone for your next video conference call: https://bit.ly/2RqDKAX, https://bit.ly/2JU0pBy, https://bit.ly/2XpNS0r and https://bit.ly/2UWWOZS
It's spring, a time that we might travel to see some of the amazing historic gardens. The National Trust is offering virtual tours of the gardens at some of their historic sites including local Oatlands in Leesburg, VA. #MuseumFromHome
Our 27 historic sites are currently closed to the public, but we invite you to tour them on your phone, tablet, or computer. In this segment, take a journey to four sites known for their spectacular landscapes.
A huge asteroid – (52768) 1998 OR2 – will pass closest to Earth on April 29. Astronomers at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico begin detailed observations today. Charts, tips – plus how to watch online.
A huge asteroid - (52768) 1998 OR2 - will pass closest to Earth on April 29. Astronomers at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico begin detailed observations today. Charts, tips - plus how to watch online - here.
On this day in 1970 Apollo 13, one of the most dramatic and eventful space missions, safely landed.
"Houston, we've had a problem." Apollo 13 has become known as “a successful failure” that saw a safe return of the crew in spite of a catastrophic explosion ...
April 24th is the Hubble Space Telescope's 30th Anniversary. In the lead up to this amazing birthday, NASA is sharing a different amazing Hubble image a day. On the 24th, we will be unveiling a previously unreleased image from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). #Hubble30
We're sharing one captivating image per day from each of Hubble’s years in orbit to count down to Hubble’s 30th anniversary on April 24, 2020.
We are sharing some of the craft activities that have been created over the years for Storytime Station. These Funky Chicks are fun and colorful. The instructions call for tissue paper and feathers, but you can use any craft material you think will work. If you feel you need to reinforce the eggs, paint them with watered down white glue or modge-podge. As always, we'd love to see your creations so please post images in the comments. #StayHomeGaithersburg #MuseumFromHome
Amazing news from NASA.
While the star it orbits is much smaller than our Sun, it gets about 75% of the sunlight Earth does. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory managed Kepler mission development.
April 19-26 is International Dark-Sky Week and the Dark-Sky Association has a line-up of great programs for you to enjoy. Here's the schedule:
Click here for links to activities for International Dark Sky Week, April 19 to 26, 2020.
Last week we saw the 155th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. African American soldiers were on the front line at Appomattox and witnessed the historic event.
On April 9, 1865, the long and bloody fighting in Virginia came to its dramatic conclusion at Appomattox Court House. The story has been told many times — but often overlooked is the story of Maryland’s African American soldiers present for the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virgi...
Take your own satellite image of Earth for Citizen Science Month! #CitSciMo
More on Farm Animals! Here is Frank Wilmot of Summit Hall Farm (now Bohrer Park) in 1940 with his horse. 1940 was a census year and we learn that although the Wilmot's purchased Summit Hall in 1936, their primary residence was still in Bethesda on Wisconsin Avenue. #WeAreGaithersburg
Have fun putting together this puzzle of Engine No. 14 when it was still a working engine.
Free online jigsaw puzzle game
The explosion on board Apollo 13 happened 50 years ago today.
How do you "read" an historic photograph? This video shows how museums use photos to connect the past with the present.
Travel back in time with Kira, age 12, and discover how two photos of the Brooklyn Bridge connect the past to the present.
We're looking at farm animals all week. Let us know your favorite and tell us something about it. Draw a picture or write a poem about your animal. #StayHomeGburg #MuseumFromHome #nationalpoetrymonth
From the museum's collection is this photo of Ralph Walker and his cow Miss Rue Homestead taken in 1922 when he was 16. From the 1920 census we know he was born in 1906 and lived with his parents McKindree and Corine Walker, his brother and sister Grover and Pearle, and a boarder Sally Halland. #WeAreGaithersburg.
Apollo 13 launched on this day in 1970. You can follow the mission in real time.
A real-time interactive journey through the Apollo 13 mission. Relive every moment as it occurred in 1970.
Ready for our floors to be refinished!
Taking advantage of the shutdown to get the #museum floors redone. You'll be floored when you come back. 😀
Do you have a favorite painting? See if you can try and replicate it. Don't forget to share the results. #MuseumFrom Home #StayHomeGburg
Quarantined people from as far as afield Iran and Norway are sending images in to a viral new Instagram account.
Robert Murphy's house and tin shop (was located where McCormick's Paints is on Diamond Avenue. Robert Murphy was a tin smith. From the 1900 Census, we know Robert Murphy is the only person listed as a tin smith in Gaithersburg. #TBT #GburgHistory #WeAreGaithersburg
This 1920 silent feature on moon travel starts with a little more science.
9 S Summit Ave
Gaithersburg, MD
20877
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 15:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 15:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 15:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 15:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 15:00 |
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We may not be able to have skywatching tonight, but we can still have some hands-on fun. Thanks to NISE Network for this great project and #SpaceTelescopeScienceInstitue for helping create this celebration of the Hubble. Also, thanks to Rockville Science Center, which would have been co-sponsoring the skywayching program. #Hubble30 #StayHomeGaithersburg
Have fun making the model of the water cycle at home. All you need is a ziplock bag, a sharpie, water, and some tape.
It’s that time of year! We're unboxing science kits from our friends at NISE Network! Join us as we check out this year’s goodies!
We see #trackwork in our future. #CSX #trainspotting
Live Locos g-scale steam engines are chugging away.
#ggauge #steamengines at #trainday
Please join us this week for some hands-on activities.
We had a great time at Wednesday's Inquiring Minds making harmonicas and castanets.
We'll be partying until 3. #endofschoolyear #1stdayofsummer
sorry. No #fountain today... unless the temperature gets to 70°
#TrainDay
Busy, busy #TrainDay. Stop by anytime until 2:30. #free #GburgFun
Moving the Color Position Light Tower to a safe location while it awaits reinstallation as an outdoor exhibit.
Unboxing part 2 of our NISE Network Earth/Space science kits!
We're unboxing science kits from our friends at NISE Network!
A review of the museum from one of our fans.
45 years ago today...
Bell Ringing for Veterans Day #RingTheBells — Thank you to our bell ringer John Clay! John is a US Army veteran who served two tours in Vietnam with the 44th Medical Brigade from 1968-1970. The nation and the City thank you for your service, John. Today, and every day, we thank you for your service. #veteransday #gaithersburgmd #gaithersburgcommunitymuseum
Lots of fun happening today at FrankenSTEM.
You too can make a scribblebot! We're open from 1-4 today.
Having fun getting ready for tomorrow's International Observe the Moon Night - https://business.facebook.com/events/1798440210282161/
This is the last week the fountain will be on until 8:00. In September it goes to a weekend schedule. Stop by tonight and you can see the lights. Loaner water toys will be available in the Plaza from 5-7:00.
Can there be a more perfect day to play in the fountain? #GburgFun
The fountain is open until 8 today and so is the museum. Remember to bring a towel if you plan to do both.
Doing a dye test on the Olde Towne Plaza fountain for the inspectors. Getting closer to opening day.
The new fountain in Olde Towne Plaza should be open any day. Check for updates here or on the City's website for hours.
Yesterday's coal train on its way to the coal yards in Baltimore. Many of our visitors ask where the coal trains go. The ones that pass through Gaithersburg go either to Baltimore or Norfolk. They carry steam coal or metallurgical coal which is bituminous, rather than anthracite. Much of that coal is then shipped overseas.
Thanks to volunteer Archana, we have this great slow motion video of our giant dominos in action from last weekend's Heritage Days.
Make this awesome climbing train at #TrainDay
#RayOwen preforms Wabash Cannonball at #TrainDay #familyfun #free
This week's challenge is to make a thaumatrope, a 19th century optical illusion toy. We have templates in the museum or you can design your own. Here is a thaumatrope in action.
Join us tomorrow for Discovery Thursday to make this awesome Magic Wallet magic trick! The activity is from 11:30-12:30 and is for ages 5-10; $2 per child. Materials are limited so call to reserve your spot, 301-258-6160
Tomorrow's Discovery Thursday is this climbing Itsy Bitsy Spider. All crafts are $2 per child, recommended for ages 5-10 (Skills: scissor, taping, threading). Materials are limited so call to reserve your spot, 301-258-6160. Drop-in program hours are 11:30-12:30.
If you were here on Saturday, you enjoyed Train Day in person, but if not, thought you like to see the trains in operation.
Local history full steam ahead at the Gaithersburg Community Museum! Located in the restored 1884 B&O Railroad complex in Olde Towne, the museum bridges Gaithersburg’s past and present for visitors of all ages. Exhibits in the Freight House and rail cars explore our rich history and hands-on learning centers for children spark the imagination. The Station, an active commuter stop, houses dining and restroom facilities, and the outdoor interpretive spaces, with the ever-popular rolling stock, offer the possibility of experiencing the sights and sounds of the trains that frequently rumble past the Museum.
The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Additional hours are available by appointment.
Nearby Observatory Park is home to the Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory. Operating from 1899-1982, the Observatory was one of six worldwide that measured the wobble of the earth on its polar axis leading to improved navigation and significant scientific discoveries. This outdoor interpretive space highlights the importance of the scientific work conducted here for nearly a century.
Observatory Park is open from dawn to dusk with informational signs for visitors to take a self guided tour. The Latitude Observatory building is open during special events.
Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory
100 De Sellum AveThe Main Street Music Festival
325 Main StThe Drum Corps Heritage Society
1676 Sperrys Forge Trl, RockvilleJewish American Society for Historic Preserva
16405 Equestrian Ln, DerwoodThe Society for Historical Archaeology
13017 Wisteria Drive #395, Germantown
The Main Street Music Festival
325 Main St
Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory
100 De Sellum Ave