LEARN
Historic Frederick is just 45 minutes from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, and it is just 30 minutes from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. With more than 20 nationally branded hotels, Frederick is the perfect basecamp to explore the area. Maryland was at the crossroads at the Civil War, and your groups can walk where history happened.
The National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Downtown Frederick brings to life the medical realities faced by soldiers, along with life-saving methods doctors and nurses used on the battlefield—many of which paved the way for today’s medical treatments. The museum offers “white glove” experiences and can bring out special items from their archives for unique experiences.
On July 9, 1864, U.S. and Confederate forces clashed near the City of Frederick in one of the most strategically important, if often overlooked, battles of the Civil War. The Battle of Monocacy played a crucial role in the defense of the Union capital in the summer of 1864. Monocacy National Battlefield interprets this vital clash of arms while also detailing the area’s history of agricultural slavery and the recruitment of United States Colored Troops during the Civil War.
Catoctin Furnace was once busy with enslaved workers toiling in hot, dirty conditions to power the Industrial Revolution. Today, in the shadow of the forge, tucked into one of the old workers’ cottages is the Museum of the Iron Worker, where visitors come face-to-face with two African American enslaved workers discovered in the furnaces’ cemetery during an archeological dig. Forensic research performed by the Smithsonian Institution resulted in the lifelike facial reconstructions now on display.
For a faith-based experience, tourgoers can immerse themselves in the life and legacy America’s first native-born saint at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Shrine includes Mother Seton’s original Emmitsburg home, an awe-inspiring Basilica, and a new museum with artifacts and stories that detail her journey to sainthood.
Photo courtesy Visit Frederick
SHOP
With a skyline of stunning, historic church spires set against the distant mountain range, Downtown Frederick is home to a medley of shops full of handcrafted specialties, baked goods, and local treasures. You’ll find locally owned restaurants tucked into buildings reimagined from old factories and historic homes offering everything from classic pub fare to international cuisine.
GATHER
In Downtown Frederick, Brewer’s Alley, Frederick’s original brewpub, offers group dining in private spaces. In Emmitsburg, minutes south of Gettysburg, the Carriage House Inn has been offering delectable group dining for decades. Mountain Gate Family Restaurant in Thurmont is a buffet-style restaurant serving groups “home-cooked goodness, from our family to yours.”
LEARN MORE
Visit Frederick
visitfrederick.org
Lead image:
Museum of the Iron Worker
Photo courtesy Visit Frederick
