What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Washington County, MD, Historical Society

Name: Washington County, MD, Historical Society
Address: 135 W Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD, 21740, US
Telephone: (301) 797-8782
Price range: $

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Washington County, MD, Historical Society

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The WCHS is an organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of Washington County’s history.

The Washington County Historical Society, founded in 1911, is an organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of the history and culture of Washington County, Maryland. The Washington County Historical Society operates the Miller House Museum, an 1825 townhouse located in downtown Hagerstown. The museum gives visitors a look at life for one of Hagerstown's elite families during the 19th century. It also maintains exhibits that highlight important events in Washington County history. The Miller House is also home to the kinship Family Heritage Research Center, a library and archives devoted to regional genealogical research. kinship's collections include books, documents, photographs, audio and film, as well as a number of online databases. In addition, kinship offers consultations with our staff genealogist every Wednesday afternoon.

10/15/2026

The WCHS will be closed to the public on Thursday, October 15, and Friday, October 16, to prepare for our upcoming Spirits & Spirits fundraiser this Sunday, October 18.

If you need to reach WCHS staff during this time, you can call the WCHS at (301) 797-8782 or email [email protected] and leave a message, and we will respond as soon as we are able.

For tickets to our upcoming fundraiser, visit Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirits-spirits-2026-at-springfield-manor-tickets-1997594584175.

10/13/2026

Did you know that Washington County had an asylum named Bellevue Asylum, located along Pennsylvania Avenue in Hagerstown? This historic building is no longer standing, but you can learn about its history on Tuesday, October 27, at the Williamsport Memorial Library! WCHS Curator Abigail Koontz will present on the topic from 6:00-6:45 PM.

This event is free to the public. To register and for event information, visit https://wcfl.librarymarket.com/event/local-history-talk-bellevue-asylum-79645.

10/12/2026

Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day. The WCHS Offices and Miller House Museum will be closed today for the federal holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, October 13, at 9:00 AM.

Have a question about the WCHS or need to contact us? Check out the WCHS website at https://washcomdhistory.org/. Email us at [email protected].

10/09/2026

Drinks, refreshments, and desserts, oh my! 👻 Take a look at the wonderful businesses that will be a part of our Spirits & Spirits fundraiser at Springfield Farm on Sunday, October 18!

Thank you to these businesses for being a part of our fundraiser by catering refreshments, designing and serving drinks, and baking delicious sweets! We are excited to serve you their products at our fundraiser and to have them be a part of this special event.

👻 Ruth's Market
👻 Tara's Table
👻 Sweet Notes Bakery
👻 Pathfinder Farm Distillery
👻 Cushwa Brewing Company
👻 Ed's Third Base

Spirits & Spirits is almost a week away! Get your tickets now by calling the WCHS at (301) 797-8782 or visiting Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirits-spirits-2026-at-springfield-manor-tickets-1997594584175.

10/07/2026

We mailed our Fall Legacy newsletter out to WCHS members this past Monday! WCHS members should receive their newsletters in the mail soon. One of our members is already enjoying his copy!

If you do not receive your newsletter, please let us know! We will make sure that you are on our mailing list and send you a newsletter right away, or you can pick up a newsletter at our next program or event.

The Legacy newsletter is one of the benefits of being a WCHS member! The Legacy releases quarterly through the year. For more information about being a WCHS member, please visit our website at https://washcomdhistory.org/become-a-member/.

10/06/2026

Spirits & Spirits is less than two weeks away! Get your tickets now by visiting Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirits-spirits-2026-at-springfield-manor-tickets-1997594584175 or calling the WCHS Offices at (301) 797-8782.

The WCHS would like to thank our three main event sponsors: Brian D. Yurek, CFP®, with Edward Jones; the James & Mary Schurz Foundation of Williamsport; and the Visit Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Their generous sponsorships support Spirits & Spirits and the work of the Washington County Historical Society.

The second annual Spirits & Spirits will take place on Sunday, October 18, from 3:00-6:00 PM, at Springfield Farm in Williamsport, MD. We hope you join us for an afternoon of history, mystery, refreshments, and drinks, all in support of the WCHS.

10/05/2026

🍎 Happy World Teacher's Day to all of our teachers! 🍎

Here is a photograph from the WCHS Archives showing Clyde B. Stouffer's 5th Grade Class at Antietam Street School, taken June 1, 1900.

Two slates propped up in front of the first row of students have the writing, "Clyde B. Stouffer, Teacher," and "5th Grade, Antietam Building, June 1, 1900," on them.

Dr. Clyde B. Stouffer, born in Hagerstown in 1878, was the 5th grade teacher at Antietam Street School and then Principal of Antietam Street School for many years. He later moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and studied at the University of Michigan Medical School, earning his medical degree, teaching at the university, and practicing medicine there until his death in 1953. He married Ora Dawson Stouffer of Beaver, PA, and had one son, Ned Dawson Stouffer.

We are thankful for the teachers in our lives and are wishing all teachers a special day!

Photo 2025.30.001 in the WCHS Collection, donated by Jim Clement

10/02/2026

👻 It’s officially spooky season. Find tickets and event details for Spirits & Spirits through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirits-spirits-2026-at-springfield-manor-tickets-1997594584175?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile.

We hope you join us October 18 from 3:00-6:00 PM for our second annual Spirits & Spirits fundraiser! 👻

10/01/2026

Happy October 1st! Take a look at the month of October in the 1876 Hagers-Town Town and Country Almanack, printed by John Gruber. What do you notice about the October page from 1876? We love the "Good Advice on Sundry Subjects" section.

Did you know that the Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack is the second oldest almanac in the United States? It was first published in 1797 from a print shop on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown by printer John Gruber and his partner and son-in-law Daniel May. The almanack has continued publication since 1797 and is the only almanac in the United States that is still published by direct descendants of its founder. Learn more about the almanack's history and current publication at https://www.almanack.com/.

We wish you a great start to October!

09/30/2026

🚌 Take a look at some photographs from our Historic Architecture of Washington County Bus Tour on Saturday, September 19! 🚌 What a lovely day exploring three beautiful and historic properties in Washington County, MD: Montpelier (ca. 1790) owned by the Downs Family; Plumb Grove Mansion (ca. 1832) owned by the Clear Spring Historical Association; and Raymondhurst (ca. 1906) owned by the Salvagno Family. This was our most well attended bus tour in recent years.

We are deeply appreciative for the opportunity to explore these three beautiful properties and learn about their histories! We also had a delicious lunch provided by the Clear Spring Historical Association while at Plumb Grove (and some excellent pie).

Many thanks to the generous sponsors who made this bus tour possible: Gruber-Latimer Restoration and the CVB. If you would like your historic home or property to be a part of a future WCHS Bus Tour, we would love to hear from you! Email [email protected] for more information. Our Bus Tour program will return in 2027!

Address

135 W Washington Street
Hagerstown, MD
21740

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(301) 797-8782

Website

http://www.washcohistory.org/

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