We collect, preserve, interpret, and share the history of all of Montgomery County's residents.
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Join Montgomery History on November 4, 2023 for the 18th edition of the ever-popular Montgomery County History Conference. We’re again partnering with Montgomery College and will be holding it in-person on their Rockville campus. The conference will offer myriad opportunities to engage with local history,
visit https://montgomeryhistory.org/montgomery-county-history-conference/ to learn more and purchase tickets!
We hope to see you there!
Join Montgomery History at Bethesda Big Train Baseball on Thursday, September 7 for an Ice Cream Social with Bruce Adams. Please RSVP to make sure we have enough ice cream!
https://forms.gle/MHknmkrEAyjHRJew9
Check out this great program at the Agricultural History Farm Park this Saturday!
Montgomery History is seeking a skilled, experienced, and enthusiastic professional for the position of Development Director. The successful candidate will be an integral part of our team and will advance the organization’s mission by helping to build our base of support and increase awareness of and engagement in our activities. To apply, please review the position description on our website, and email a resume and cover letter to [email protected].
Due to a personal emergency, today's talk titled “Not in My Neighborhood”: Legal Housing Discrimination against the Jewish Community in Montgomery County has been rescheduled to June 15 at 7 PM. A recording of the talk will be available afterwards. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Montgomery History has more than 75 oral histories that need to be preserved for posterity, and we need your help!
Make a donation today by visiting
https://montgomeryhistory.org/save-our-voices/
These recordings, dating mostly from the 1970s, are currently on reel-to-reel tapes, cassette tapes, VHS video recordings, and other outdated media formats. Unfortunately, most of the tellers have passed away. If we don't act now, their stories are in danger of being lost forever.
Help us convert these interviews into digital media that can be easily accessed and shared by making a donation today.
Interested in joining us to help clean-up the historic Martinsburg African-American Cemetery? Post your email in the comments or send us a DM with your email to be added to the volunteer list. The event will take place on 18 February and we will be sending more details in the coming week to those who express interest in volunteering!
Join us for a special Thursday evening History Conversation this week on "When Abortion Was a Crime: Women, Medicine, and Law in the United States, 1867-1973."
Abortion was legal and widely practiced in the U.S. through the first century of the country’s existence. Dr. Leslie Reagan, Professor of History, Gender and Women’s Studies, Media Studies, and Law at the University of Illinois, will discuss the practice of abortion and the consequences of its criminalization in the 1860s and ’70s. She will talk about how abortion laws were drafted and enforced, as well as the economic, racial, and religious considerations surrounding abortion law, to provide the historical context that will help us better understand where we are today.
Register for free: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i6CALb85RfWPWFLCCzdhDg
This program is cosponsored by the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County Maryland.
In honor of National Coming Out Day earlier this week, we are very excited to announce our brand new online exhibit, LGBTQ+ Heritage in Montgomery County! The exhibit covers the late 20th century (1970s-1990s) and tells the story of Montgomery County's LGBTQ+ community, which is one of both struggle and celebration.
https://sites.google.com/view/lgbtq-in-montgomery-county/home
Get ready for the Preservation Awards from our friends at Montgomery Preservation Inc.! This annual awards program showcases the great work being done to save and enhance our county’s architectural heritage and historic landscapes for future generations.
: Yesterday we launched digital access to 77,000+ pages from 1,575 issues of the Gazette and other historical local newspapers. Learn more about how you can view them and read our press release here: https://montgomeryhistory.org/montgomery-county-newspapers/.
This digitization effort, made possible thanks to the success of our New Life for Old News campaign, ensures that these treasured newspapers are preserved for generations to come. They are some of the best sources of local news during the mid- to late 20th century.
Topics include politics, education, entertainment, high school sports, community events, wedding and engagement announcements, obituaries, ads from now defunct popular businesses, and the rapid pace of suburbanization, the legacy of which continues to define the county today.
“'He was definitely a well-known character, as they say,' said Sarah Hedlund, archivist/librarian at Montgomery History. 'Everyone has a story about Herman Rabbitt and something eccentric he used to do.'
"...After Rabbitt’s death, those who knew him were surprised to find out that his estate was valued at more than $2 million. Much of his savings was in banks — he hadn’t eschewed them totally — but his lawyers found something while going through his papers.
"'It was basically a treasure map with directions to where to dig,' Hedlund said."
Read more via the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/08/29/herman-rabbitt-buried-treasure
Watch our History Conversation all about the legendary Herman Rabbitt on our website through Sunday: https://www.montgomeryhistory.org/mhconnected/watch
“This Rabbitt’s hole lined with money” was one inevitable headline.
Do you recognize the house or building in this painting 🕵️♀️? We have the image in our collection, but no information about it. Leave a comment below to help us identify it!
Join us on August 30 for a free virtual History Conversation on the building of Washington National Cathedral! We'll take you on a photographic journey through the cathedral's construction and introduce you to some key figures in that amazing story. Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VO0_ItMoQjSEACXPPh_lDQ
Join us on August 23 for a free virtual History Conversation on the legendary Herman Rabbitt! Our Archivist and Librarian, Sarah Hedlund, will talk about the battle for Rabbitt's money and share other anecdotes from his unusual life. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pLsfaa9GQSqK64wsiS9etw
Thank you to everyone who has stopped by for a visit with Dr. Stonestreet at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair so far today! The doctor loves showing you all how he would have treated farm injuries experienced by the county’s 19th century agricultural workers. He’ll be in until 3:30, so be sure to swing by the Old Timers’ Building before his office hours are over!
This photograph in our collection shows Stoneyhurst Quarry. Stoneyhurst dates back to 1832, when Captain John Moore quarried stone on his land at River and Seven Locks Roads. The Moores were farmers who used their stone resources only occasionally—until Captain Moore's granddaughter, Lilly Moore Stone, turned quarrying into a full-time business in the early 1920s. She named the quarry Stoneyhurst and was involved in the day-to-day operations. Her son, J. Dunbar Stone, inherited the quarry upon her death in 1961, and his son, John P. Stone, took over the management from the 60s through the 80s, when he sold the business. Can you guess what was built or reconstructed with the stone quarried from Stoneyhurst in 1832?
This photograph in our collection documents the last delivery of mail by stagecoach to the United States Post Office in Sandy Spring. In addition to being a post office, the building also served as a general store for the Sandy Spring community. Behind the mail stagecoach, you can also see a horse-drawn National Biscuit Company wagon delivering Oneeda Biscuits to the store.
Can you guess what year this last mail delivery by stagecoach took place?
TOMORROW! Join us on August 9 for a virtual conversation on the Pictorial History of Rockville! Our speaker, Ralph Buglass, will go over the 250-year history of the city. Register for free here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8accXj9CRD6PytAnLLnpbA
Can you guess how many stone arch spans in the U.S. are now longer than Cabin John Bridge?
See more photos of the bridge here: https://montgomeryhistory.pastperfectonline.com/Search?search_criteria=%22cabin+john+bridge%22&onlyimages=true&onlyimages=false
This week's artifact spotlight is a black-and-white television in our collection. Can you guess when it was produced?
Learn more about its history in our 75 Objects + 75 Stories online exhibit: https://sites.google.com/view/mchs75objects-com.
Thank you to everyone who braved the heat to join us at our Ice Cream Social on Wednesday! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces, and meet new ones, at our first in-person gathering since 2020.
Thank you also to Bill Hickman from Bethesda Big Train for giving a great talk on the history of local baseball!
The garden on our property has received a gorgeous makeover, thanks to our wonderful garden volunteers: Ruth Heltzer, Barbara Rosenblatt, Esther Simon, Adriana Wiseman, Karen Donato, Betty Cichy, Ginger Macomber, Sue Kreibs-Smith, Lynn Tauber, Julie Mangin, and Keri Barrett. We appreciate all your hard work, which has paid off beautifully!
The garden replicates a late-1800s medicinal herb garden. It is complete with plants that country doctors, like Dr. Stonestreet, would have given to their patients as remedies for a variety of ailments.
While you are here taking in the garden, be sure to also book a visit with Dr. Stonestreet! The Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine is open by appointment. Hear all about 19th century medical inventions and get a hands-on look at medical instruments of the past by contacting [email protected].
Join us on July 19 for a History Conversation that will unravel the history mystery of Rowser's Ford. ❗This History Conversation has been updated with 🆕 information and exciting updates regarding the mysterious location of Rowser's Ford and its importance in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Register for free here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f-a0DaS4QZm-20zBrZsOww
Join us for an ice cream social at Shirley Povich Field on July 20! Meet the Montgomery History team and learn the history of local baseball from an expert—Bruce Adams, President of Bethesda Big Train. All ice cream and sundae supplies will be provided. If you want to bring your own ice cream maker for an extra fun experience, please feel free to do so (electricity will be available). We look forward to seeing you! 🍦⚾
RSVP here: https://forms.gle/TT7g28vdyTCv242H8
The Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine is open for self-guided tours today! Celebrate Heritage Days by exploring and getting to know medicines, medical instruments, and medical inventions of the past.
Please note: Dr. Stonestreet will not be in today.
On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we’re sending a big congratulations to Montgomery County native Katie Ledecky on becoming the most decorated woman in world swimming championships history! Thanks to the groundbreaking legislation, women and girl athletes like Katie have the opportunity to show the world what they're capable of.
Katie Ledecky’s blistering third leg in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay helped lead her team to a gold medal at the FINA world championship in Budapest, Hungary. It was Ledecky’s… Read More
We’re celebrating Juneteenth at BlackRock Center for the Arts’ annual event in recognition of the holiday. Stop by the second floor before 4:00 to say hello and type a message to the past on one of the typewriters in our pop-up exhibit. What would you write?
The Pride flag was raised outside the Executive Office Building (EOB) in Rockville yesterday to recognize June as Pride Month. During our 2020 History Conference, Councilmember Evan Glass, the first openly LGBTQIA+ member of the County Council, donated to Montgomery History the first Pride flag to fly outside the EOB in 2019, ensuring that this piece of local history will be conserved along with 10,000+ other historical artifacts in our permanent collection. http://www.mymcmedia.org/pride-flag-raised-outside-executive-office-building-in-rockville/
Thank you to everyone who attended our walking tour of the C&O Canal at Seneca yesterday! Our guide Ralph, a popular local historian, took us to see Riley’s Lock, Violettes Lock, the Seneca stone cutting mill ruins, and more. that the C&O Canal National Historical Park has more historic structures than any other national park? Where would you like to go on our next history walking tour?
April 17-23, 2022 is National Volunteer Week. This past year, Montgomery History’s volunteers have spent over 8250 hours of their time sharing their love of history with us. Thank you!
National Library Week is April 3-9. Join us in celebrating Montgomery History's own Jane C. Sween Research Library. Named in honor of its first librarian, Jane C. Sween, the Library supports Montgomery History’s mission to collect, preserve, interpret and share the history of all Montgomery County’s residents by providing resources and research support related to local history and genealogy.
Montgomery History seeks a skilled, experienced, and enthusiastic professional for the position of Development and Communications Manager. The successful candidate will be an integral part of our team and will advance the organization’s mission by helping to build our base of support and increase awareness of and engagement in our activities.
Find out more, including how to apply: www.montgomeryhistory.org/jobs
Our very own Archivist and Librarian, Sarah Hedlund, has been named one of the recipients of the 2022 Women Making History Award! Congratulations on truly making history Sarah!
Make sure to check out our History Conversations Special Edition! We are celebrating Black History Month with programs that represent a diverse mix of topics on the unique history of African American people and communities throughout the county.
Visit us at https://bit.ly/MHBlackHistoryMonth to view programs covering such topics as Harriet Tubman, Rosenwald schools, and Emancipation in Montgomery County. This is a limited-time opportunity, so check them out today!
DON'T FORGET!
Our keynote session takes place THIS FRIDAY, January 28 at 7:00 p.m. and you won't want to miss as renowned journalist Steve Roberts shares excerpts from his new book "Cokie: A Life Well Lived." Steve will reflect on his life with Cokie, her passion for Montgomery County, history, and her journalistic legacy. Cry, cheer, and laugh along with Steve as he encourages us all to live like Cokie!
More info here: https://bit.ly/montgomeryhistory-2022hc | Haven't registered yet? Don't worry, you can still get your tickets here! https://bit.ly/2022hc
We want to thank everyone who participated in our 2022 Montgomery County History Conference Trivia Night kick-off event on Friday! It was a great time and the competition was fierce!
We need to give a shout out to our winners this year as well as the generous donors who awarded prizes!
But before we continue, Trivia would not have been possible without our sponsor! A giant thank you to Chevy Chase Historical Society for partnering with us to make this event possible!
Round One Winners-
Jean Montgomery
Mike Bucci
Karen Lottes
Round Two Winners-
Anthony Cohen
Jack Marshall
Emily Correll
Round Three Winners-
Susan Cooke Soderberg
Vivian Eicke
Eileen McGuckian
And a HUGE thank you to our generous local businesses who donated prizes!
Glen Echo, Fresh Baguette, 7 Locks Brewery, Mayorga Organics, Dawson's Market, Kaldi's Social House, and keynote speaker Steve Roberts!
It is COLD! We know that there is not better cure for the burrs than to cozy up with a blanket, your favorite drink, and win some AMAZING prizes at the 2022 Montgomery County History Conference TRIVIA NIGHT!
Trivia starts at 7:00 p.m. tonight, so make sure you grab your tickets for the conference!
Register here: https://bit.ly/2022hc | More info here: https://bit.ly/montgomeryhistory-2022hc
111 W Montgomery Avenue
Rockville, MD
20850
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
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It's #CyberMonday and we all know what that means...family is gone and you are looking forward to getting a jumpstart on your holiday shopping! We all have that person in our life where you scratch your head wondering what to get them this year. We can help! What better gift for your favorite history buff this year than the gift of preserving and sharing local history?! Just in time for #GivingTuesday, you can make a gift to Montgomery History in honor of a loved one. Visit us to learn more OR spread the joy of local history now! | https://bit.ly/3cBxDnt #CyberMonday #historybuff #2021giftideas #giftsfordad #giftsforgrandma #donate #GivingTuesday #historymatterseveryday #historymatters #localhistory #smallbusiness #smallbusinessshopping
This story-telling lecture explores haunted places of Montgomery County and its surrounding area through ghostly tales. Learn about the many ghosts, apparitions, and supernatural occurrences that can’t be explained logically, including: The Headless Horseman that continues to terrorize visitors to the old railroad bridge; the poltergeist that haunts the Madison House; the Tommyknocker at the Maryland Mine; and the farmer who keeps searching for his buried treasure. Take this haunted journey back in time!
Fort Frederick was built during the French and Indian War to protect Maryland from attack, but would play an active part of American history over the course of three centuries. The fort would see service in the 1750's, again during the American War of Independence and Civil War. It would be owned by a former enslaved man, and redeveloped into a part by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression of the 1930's.
Benjamin Banneker is still a mystery to many Maryland residents despite his multiple accomplishments while living as a self-educated, free African American in colonial America. Learn about his life and why he can be called an astronomer, surveyor, mathematician, abolitionist, author, farmer, beekeeper, and naturalist.
Rosa Patton has been restoring carousels for 43 years, including the 20-year restoration of Glen Echo's carousel. She will discuss the painting style differences between carousel manufacturers, the types of paints used, and the tools and brushes used for achieving the signature look of each company. She will also give a painting technique demonstration to show how the company's artists worked and how these techniques were used during the carousel's restoration.
America’s 19th-century canals supported the Industrial Revolution and Westward Expansion. Today their legacy creates the opportunity for education, recreation, tourism and community engagement. At 184.5 miles, the C&O Canal is the longest intact canal from that era in the United States. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this treasured park, the C&O Canal Association and communities along the canal, including Montgomery County, are getting ready to welcome visitors to the 2021 World Canals Conference. Join Tiffany Ahalt to learn more about the rich history and role of the C&O Canal Association and get details about the multi-day conference.
Just six weeks after opening, the new exhibit at the Laurel Museum closed last March for 15 months. Join us for a special History Conversation to see the exhibit, designed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Laurel, and which now includes objects documenting the community's response to COVID-19.
Enjoy a virtual tour of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, presented by Park Ranger Cierra Maszkiewicz. The park, which sits on the trailhead for the 125‐mile Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, provides an in-depth understanding of Tubman’s early years spent in Maryland's Choptank River region and her legacy as a leader, liberator and humanitarian in the resistance movement of the Underground Railroad. Learn about the design concept of The View North, the life and legacy of this great American heroine, and how to get the most from your visit to Tubman Country.
America experienced a wave of European migrants during the early 20th century, some of whom were escaping war and oppression, while others sought opportunities in a growing democracy. These immigrants included giants of architecture and design: Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Laszlo Moholy Nagy, Eliel and Loja Saarinen, and Joseph and Anni Albers. They arrived in the US by securing teaching positions at universities throughout the country where they inspired the next generation of designers and architects such as Charles and Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, Jack Lenore Larson and I.M.Pei. Lay examines how the contributions of their work and teachings changed the face of American design.
Two men. An assassination plot. Escape attempts. With all the makings of a Hollywood plotline, hear the true stories—with local connections—of George Atzerodt and John Surrat. Join us as Coby Treadway, Education Coordinator at the Surratt House Museum, discusses these two men, their connections to the murder of President Abraham Lincoln, their ties to Montgomery County, and their eventual fates. Recordings of each week’s History Conversations are posted on Montgomery History’s website on the Monday after the talk at https://montgomeryhistory.org/mhconnected/watch/ and are available for one week.
Join Archivist/Librarian Sarah as she discusses Montgomery History's collection of the county Gazette (which spans from 1960-2002) and the microfilm collection of the Montgomery County Sentinel (1964-1969) and details some of the exciting history that can be found amongst these pages. These two papers were some of the most important sources of local county journalism and were critical in telling the story of Montgomery County in the 20th century. Then listen as Executive Director Matt Logan discusses Montgomery History's plans for preserving these papers, why preservation and digitization of these vital resources is so important, and how you can help.
Before Glen Echo’s wonderful W. H. Dentzel carousel was delivered from Philadelphia in 1921, the park featured a large carousel created in Coney Island by W. F. Mangels with horses and chariots by M. C. Illions. This presentation will consider why each of the carousels was purchased, compare the regional styles of the two manufacturers, introduce the men who carved and built the two carousels, and show how W. H. Dentzel recycled elements from the Glen Echo Mangels carousel into a “new” carousel in 1922.
The Potomac River, the dominant geological feature of Montgomery County, has also played a dominant role in American history. It was the first interstate waterway in North America, the spawning ground for the Constitution, and a protective barrier in the Civil War. To travelers today, it is a time tunnel to 250 million years of history. Learn this history from Jim Johnston and then walk along the river yourself to see the Potomac in a new way.
Learn the hidden history behind a feminist commune that ran Commonwealth Farm Inn in Colesville from 1903-1947. These savvy business women ran an inn and restaurant that was a popular country retreat for Washingtonians. How did they end up in Montgomery County, and why was their presence forgotten? It’s a fascinating story of women determined to control their own spiritual and economic destinies.
Civil War Trails aren’t just for history buffs! Join Drew Gruber, Executive Director of Civil War Trails, to hear about this multi-state program that connects visitors to often-unheard stories about the Civil War. As a community-driven resource this program reaches audiences of all ages, putting them into the shoes of the generals, soldiers, civilians, and enslaved people that experienced the deadliest war in U.S. history. With over 1,350 sites across six states and signage that is constantly being updated to tell new and diverse stories, thought-provoking experiences abound when you explore this open air museum.
Stephanie Deutsch and Dorothy Canter will discuss the life of Julius Rosenwald, an innovative and visionary philanthropist, and plans to conserve his legacy with the creation of the Julius Rosenwald & Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park. They will highlight the schools for African American children that he helped fund throughout the South with particular emphasis on the schools that were built in Maryland.
Each of the 74 lift locks along the C&O Canal was accompanied by a lockhouse, where the locktender and his family lived. Today those lockhouses are in varying states of repair, with seven revitalized and managed by the C&O Canal Trust as venues for overnight interpretive experiences for guests wishing to spend a night or two in an earlier decade. Join the C&O Canal Trust for a closer look at what time period each lockhouse represents, the lives of the people who lived in them, and what treasures they hold now.
Join us as Will Schwarz, filmmaker, producer, and founder of the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project, provides a brief history of known racial terror lynchings in Maryland and the United States. Schwarz will screen a short film on the last known lynching in Maryland, the 1933 murder of George Armwood in Princess Anne in October 1933. He will discuss how truth and reconciliation efforts have evolved in the state including a survey of the entities currently involved in those efforts. Schwarz will also delve into the concept and importance of “changing the narrative” when considering the history and consequences of racial terror in America.
Genealogy has exploded in interest during this past year. Join us as writer, family historian, and former librarian Julianne Mangin discusses her experiences researching a family mystery, interweaving it with a discussion of the genealogical methods that may help you uncover the secrets in your family tree.
On November 1, 1864, Maryland became the first state below the Mason-Dixon Line to free slaves within its boundaries by popular vote. On the 156th anniversary of Emancipation in the Old Line State, two chroniclers of Montgomery County history will describe local experiences with slavery, war, emancipation, and its aftermath.
Learn about a 200+ year-old tale of Supreme Court history this week, as Jim Johnston details the pivotal 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison and the man behind it–William Marbury. Born to an impoverished tobacco farmer in Prince George’s County, young Marbury had bigger dreams of fame and fortune. By 1800, he had acquired wealth and a large house in Georgetown. Following a dispute in which incoming president Thomas Jefferson told Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver Marbury his commission as justice of the peace, Marbury resolved to use his wealth to teach Jefferson a lesson. Learn about the resulting Supreme Court case, Marbury v. Madison, and how it established the proposition that the Supreme Court reigns supreme on matters of constitutional interpretation.
Many museums remain closed, but learning doesn't stop! Join us Thursday, August 6 at 2 pm as Clarence Hickey gives a VIRTUAL TOUR of the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine in Rockville. Perfect for kids and adults alike, learn about the origins of modern medicine and scientific and medical advancements made in the 19th century, as told through the lens of a country and Civil War doctor. Register for the Zoom session at https://montgomeryhistory.org/mhconnected/watch/, or watch live on our page, http://www.facebook.com/MoCoHistory/. See you there! #localhistory #montgomerycountymd #rockvillemd #19thcenturymedicine #medicalhistory #science City of Rockville Maryland Historical Society National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Montgomery History has been serving the local community through its exhibitions, programs, educational activities, library, and conferences since its founding in 1944. Our mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and share the histories of all of Montgomery County’s residents. We operate two museums on our Rockville campus (the c.1815 Beall-Dawson Museum and the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine), manage a 9,500 piece collection of historic artifacts, operate the Jane C. Sween Research Library and Montgomery County’s official government Archives, provide a home for the county’s Genealogical Society, bring scholarly and public attention to 20th century history through the Harper Center for Suburban Studies, host an annual History Conference, and provide numerous educational and community exhibitions and events every year.
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