Getting to Know Hagerstown

Located in Western Maryland where Interstates 81 and 70 intersect, Hagerstown was once a pit stop on my road trips through the area. But when I was gassing up the car and grabbing food to go I had no clue what this charming little city had to offer. Situated against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains in an area rich with both colonial and Civil War history, it’s a gateway of sorts to seeing many of the historical landmarks here and about. There is also a thriving arts and entertainment district and plenty of great drinking and dining options.

Explore History

Relive the past at the home of Johnathan Hager, the city’s founder, who arrived on the shores of the colonies in 1736 and chose Maryland as his home. There Charles Calvert, proprietor of the county, was offering cheap land to anyone willing to settle in the western frontier. Hager liked the sound of it and decided to build a home here with carefully fitted fieldstones in the German style and with a large central chimney. Four years later he presented the finished structure to his bride, Elizabeth Kershner, and it served for years as both a fort and trading post. Today Hager House, completely restored and decorated with authentic period furnishings, can be toured by reservation. Don’t miss it, if only to channel the spirit of the surroundings.

From the Antietam Battlefield to an old slave block located in a local gas station parking lot, Civil War history is everywhere in Hagerstown. With over 23,000 casualties, the Battle of Antietam has the tragic distinction of being the bloodiest one-day battle in American history and ultimately led directly to President Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. Today the battlefield shows no signs of the bloody conflict amid rolling hills and picturesque stone bridges, one of which is the iconic Burnside Bridge spanning the Antietam Creek. More than 500 Union troops were killed or wounded here attempting to secure a key crossing. Guided tours are available or you can choose to experience on your own or even do a hiking tour.

Once dubbed “Hub City”, Hagerstown also has a rich railroad history. The Hagerstown Railroad Museum in City Park features hundreds of signs, signals, bells, telephones and tools that were used by railroad workers throughout history. Most of the items in this significant collection came from the Western Maryland Railroad Company, notable of which is an 1885 Pump Car and an 1875 Velocipede. The main attraction is Steam Engine 202, built in 1912 and the only Western Maryland road-type steam locomotive in existence. It’s 77 feet long and weighs 415,000 pounds!

Arts and Entertainment

Located in historic City Park, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is regarded as one of the finest small museums in the country. It was founded by Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Singer, Jr. and houses a permanent collection encompassing over 7,000 objects, including paintings, prints, sculptures and the decorative arts. Housed among the collection is a bust of Abraham Lincoln sculpted by Gutzon Borglum who also sculpted Mount Rushmore. The museum’s collection of American art is remarkable and includes works by Thomas Moran, Wayland Bartlett, Benjamin West and Norman Rockwell.   The international and world culture collections reflect the founders’ cosmopolitan worldview.

Downtown Hagerstown’s arts and entertainment district is home to the Maryland Theatre symphony house which hosts the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the annual Miss Maryland USA pageant. Nearby, the Washington County Playhouse offers dinner theatre performances. Many galleries in the district display works from local artists.

Eat and Drink

Leave the interstate exit fast food places behind and head to the downtown arts and entertainment district for local restaurants serving really good local cuisine.

Gourmet Goat is a deli by day but when the sun goes down dinner is served and the martinis start to flow. Don’t miss the crab cakes – this is Maryland after all. At 28 South the bread pudding is irresistible – even for non-bread pudding fans. There are also more than 20 local brews on tap. Located in a converted warehouse with beautiful masonry walls, Bulls & Bears serves up perfect American cuisine served with local on tap brews. With a nod to the city’s German roots, Schmankerl Stube serves authentic Bavarian cuisine and brews. In the warmer months, sample them in the outdoor beer garden. Benny’s Pub and Antietam Brewery each brew several different beers on site including a local favorite called “Bases Loaded”, brewed especially for the 35^th anniversary of the local minor league baseball team, the Hagerstown Suns.

With all Hagerstown has to offer, it’s graduated from a pit stop to a destination for my future road trips.