Frederick County Maryland was the site of pivotal events during the founding of the country from its formation in 1748 but it is the Civil War, and allied events, that would indelibly inscribe its place in history. The county is situated on the Mason-Dixon Line, abuts Pennsylvania, and was both an early gateway to the West and later for southern incursions into the North. The Historic National Road, the C&O Canal and the B&O Railroad all passed through and it was the location of Union and Confederate troop movements and Antietam, the Battle of South Mountain, Gettysburg and the Battle of Monocacy. Civil War walking and driving trails interlace throughout the county. Five thousand free blacks resided in the county in 1860, with over 1,150 in the city of Frederick. #VisitMaryland
The town of Frederick, named after Frederick Calvert, 6th Lord of Baltimore, was settled in 1745 and hosted numerous notables and witnessed many historical events prior to a major role in the Civil War. Modern Frederick is rife with trendy restaurants, breweries, wineries and eclectic shopping opportunities artfully woven into its historic fabric. The nationally designated Frederick Historic District features structures dating from the late 1700s and descriptive by plaques and panels.
Frederick’s Visitor Center is an attraction in itself. Situated inside a former 19th-century canning warehouse this center is your mandatory first stop for complete county information. A compass design is used to showcase attractions following their directional location. A film, galleries and seven mini-themed tours are featured as well as information on the five state and federal scenic byways and the city’s Public Art Trail. @visitfred
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney (1836-64) altered history with the Dred Scott decision. He made his home in Frederick. Taney freed his slaves in 1819 and pensioned those too old to work but nonetheless rendered a landmark decision in 1856 Scott vs Sandford declaring slaves private property. He wrote that therefore the 1820 Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because “…. they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect….”.
Taney and his wife, Anne Key, sister of Francis Scott, purchased a house as rental property in 1815. The Roger B. Taney House site, including detached kitchen and slave’s quarters, is open for tours by appointment. Taney is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery where a bust of Taney is near a bronze plaque detailing the story of Dred Scott. A large monument to Francis Scott Key is also in Mt. Olivet. The US flag flies there perpetually.
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area encompasses 180-miles from Monticello to Gettysburg and highlights Civil War locations. Thirty-eight miles of the trail cross Frederick County. Because the county borders the North and South and the Blue Ridge Mountains would mask their movements, Lee chose this route for the Gettysburg Campaign. The town was the first the Confederates entered after crossing the Potomac.
Poet John Greenleaf Whittier immortalized Barbara Fritchie after she defied Stonewall Jackson and refused to remove her Union flag. Jackson commanded she be left untouched. A replica of her home is now a B&B. She died in 1862 at the age of 96 three months later and is interred in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Lt. General Jubal Early, on the last Confederate push toward DC, demanded ransom to refrain from burning three Maryland towns. Frederick was forced to pay $200,000. It was paid at Brewer’s Alley, once the site of City Hall and the marketplace, now the site of a trendy brewpub with a traditional menu and welcoming ambiance. Popular Historic District Ghost Tours depart from here.
The Battle of Monocacy, the battle that saved Washington, took place on July 9, 1864. This battle slowed the Confederates and provided time to halt their progress toward Washington. The Best Farm Slave Village is part of the battlefield tour. Once part of the 1794 French plantation, L'Hermitage had a force of 90 slaves. Records indicate that they were legally charged for treating the slaves extremely cruelly and several escaped. In 2010 archeologists unearthed the largest identified slave quarters in the Mid-Atlantic. The site is on the National UGRR Network to freedom.
Frederick’s largest role in the Civil War was as one large hospital. Because of the proximity of so many pivotal battles more than 8,000 wounded were brought to Frederick and many buildings were used as a hospitals. The National Civil War Medical Museum interprets this turning point in medical history and its impact on the future.
All Saints Street was the hub of African American life in Frederick. Quinn Chapel AME Church was founded in the 1700s, the building in 1815. Frederick was the home of artist Henry O. Tanner during his father’s tenure, 1867-8, as bishop here. There is a walking tour of this area.
Maryland has more than its share of religious sites and two of the most unique are in the county, the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the National Grotto of Lourdes.Mother Seton was the first American-born saint; she served here and established a sisterhood. Self-guided tours are offered and include the Basilica and four sites. The National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, a replica of the original grotto, was constructed in 1875.
The Hilton Garden Inn Frederick has taken precautions to ensure the safety of the guests. It offers complimentary wireless, premium bedding, indoor pool, whirlpool, free parking and workout facilities. It is ideally situated for easy access to all sites and attractions. #visitFred
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