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

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Washington County, MD, Historical Society

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.

09/16/2026

👻 Tonight's the night to hear author Mark P. Brugh present on his newly released book, Ghosts of Antietam! Join us at the Miller House from 6:00-7:00 PM for a book presentation, followed by time for questions and book signings. Copies of Ghosts of Antietam will be available for purchase.

We hope you join us tonight, on the day before the anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, for this presentation. This event is free for WCHS Members and $5.00 for General Admission. To register, call (301) 797-8782 or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ghosts-of-antietam-presentation-book-signing-tickets-1998916514103. 👻

09/15/2026

🍂 A Cookout Along the C&O Canal, ca. 1940s 🍂

Fall is swiftly approaching, bringing with it cooler evenings! This photograph from the WCHS Collection of a family cooking along the C&O Canal, taken ca. 1940s, reminded us of the changing season. What fall activities are you looking forward to?

Photograph PH2129 (WCHS Collection)

09/14/2026

Looking for details about our upcoming events? Check out our Eventbrite website page for a full list of our upcoming events, event details, and to purchase tickets! Follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/43548811623?aff=ebdsshcopyurl.

We hope to see you at our upcoming events! And if you'd like to speak with us or have any questions regarding a particular event, don't hesitate to call the WCHS Offices at (301) 797-8782. We're happy to help you with any questions!

09/11/2026

💙 Miller House Parlor & Dining Room, ca. 1900s 💙

Take a look at these photographs of the Miller House parlor and dining room, taken circa the early 1900s. During this period, Alexander Neill IV, a Hagerstown attorney, lived in the Miller House, the last of the Neill family line to do so. Following Alexander Neill IV's death in 1911, the Miller family acquired the home, living here through 1965.

Today the WCHS uses our parlor for our programs and events, and it is a treasured space used for WCHS meetings, sharing historical knowledge, and listening to local history lectures...like our Culture & Cocktails program tonight!

What do you notice about these photos from the past?

09/08/2026

What details can you spot in this photograph of Antietam National Battlefield, taken ca. early 1900s? Let us know in the comments!

And be sure to join us at the Miller House on Wednesday, September 16, at 6:00 PM for Mark Brugh's presentation on Ghosts of Antietam, his recently released book from Haunted America/The History Press! To register and for more details, visit Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ghosts-of-antietam-presentation-book-signing-tickets-1998916514103.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! The WCHS and Miller House Museum will be closed today in observance of Labor Day.

Did you know that Labor Day was first officially celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City? The holiday was planned by the Central Labor Union. Soon after, various other states began adopting the holiday until President Grover Cleveland signed the law making the first Monday in September each year a national holiday. Today we continue to celebrate Labor Day to remember the labor movement's history, its activists, and the contributions and achievements of workers and laborers in the United States across many industries.

We wish you a safe and relaxing Labor Day! Our normal hours will resume on Tuesday, September 8.

Photograph PH5137 from the WCHS Collection, showing Samuel McClannahan and other railroad workers at the Williamsport Station of the Western Maryland Railroad ca. late 1870s.

09/05/2026

Happy World Beard Day! To celebrate, we're sharing a photograph from the WCHS Collection that shows the longest beard we have found (to date) among our many photographs!

Say hello to George Thompson Leiter Sr., photographed on his birthday at age 69 on September 18, 1905, sporting quite a beard (and an excellent hat). George T. Leiter Sr., born in 1836 in Williamsport, worked for 34 years as a Deputy Clerk of the Washington County court. According to his obituary, he was quiet, courteous, and one of the best liked public officials. He also kept a personal scrapbook of local records that was often consulted by his peers. George died in 1913 and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.

From the WCHS Archives, we wish all with facial hair a happy World Beard Day.

09/04/2026

Check out all upcoming WCHS events and programs online through our Eventbrite page! Get event details, purchase tickets, and share with others! Don't miss our upcoming bus tour, book signing, and annual fundraiser. Visit our Eventbrite now at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/43548811623?aff=ebdsshcopyurl.

You are always welcome to call our offices with any questions and to register for events over the phone! Call (301) 797-8782 if you'd like to speak with WCHS Staff directly. We hope to see you at our upcoming events!

09/03/2026

👻 Can you spot our Spirits & Spirits ghost in these four photographs of Williamsport's historic Springfield Manor, distillery, and spring house? 👻

You will have a chance to spot more spirits yourself at our Spirits & Spirits annual fundraiser this October 18, 2026, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at Springfield Manor. This is a great opportunity to support the WCHS while enjoying an afternoon of live historical theatre, Washington County history, and a chance to solve a murder mystery set in 1776! We hope you join us.

For tickets, call the WCHS Offices at (301) 797-8782 or visit our Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirits-spirits-2026-at-springfield-manor-tickets-1997594584175.

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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