Our Mission
To preserve the past, educate and stimulate public awareness of the rural heritage in Washington County Maryland prior to 1940.
Who We Are
The Washington County Rural Heritage Museum is managed by the Friends of the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum. "Friends" a tax-exempt non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Maryland. It is administered by a volunteer board of directors who keep the museum open for tours and special events designed to educate and raise public awareness. All funds raised by the "Friends" are dedicated to the Museum.
What to See
When you step through the doors of our Transportation museum, Early Farm Equipment museum and Early Life museum you are transported back into the pre-1940 lifestyle that existed in Washington County Maryland. The Transportation museum's stellar collection of bicycles and automobiles, many of which were manufactured in Hagerstown, reflects the rich history of Transportation in Washington County. Hagerstown became known as The Hub City because it served as a major crossroad for many railroad lines , including Western Maryland, Baltimore & Ohio, Norfolk & Western. The Transportation museum has the only remaining Dahlgren horse drawn carriages and the Crawford Bicycle collection. Together, the three museum's three buildings tell the real life story of how people lived, farmed, worked and travelled.
The Rural Heritage Village is a short walk behind the Rural Transportation building. Here you will be able to explore several log homes, a Doctor's office, Cobbler's shop, Broom Maker's shop, Country Store and Blacksmith shop. These buildings were moved from their original locations and are preserved in their native condition.
Walking up the hill behind the Rural Village is the Rural Heritage Homestead. On this site is a windmill, two log homes, an outdoor drying shed, brick fired wood oven, a pavilion to house a sawmill, and a German 4-Square Garden with heirloom plants with a "three sisters" patch of corn, beans and squash.
When you first arrive, please check in by signing the visitor guest log in the Early Life Museum/Welcome Center. You will be greeted by a volunteer and will be able to choose a self-guided tour or guided tour. There is ample parking in front of all the museums. All the collections in the museums are on one level and wheelchair accessible, although pathways between the buildings in the Village and Homestead are unpaved. Please email or call in advance to discuss your special needs. For more things to do in Washington County, visit www.visithagerstown.com
The Rural Heritage Village is a short walk behind the Rural Transportation building. Here you will be able to explore several log homes, a Doctor's office, Cobbler's shop, Broom Maker's shop, Country Store and Blacksmith shop. These buildings were moved from their original locations and are preserved in their native condition.
Walking up the hill behind the Rural Village is the Rural Heritage Homestead. On this site is a windmill, two log homes, an outdoor drying shed, brick fired wood oven, a pavilion to house a sawmill, and a German 4-Square Garden with heirloom plants with a "three sisters" patch of corn, beans and squash.
When you first arrive, please check in by signing the visitor guest log in the Early Life Museum/Welcome Center. You will be greeted by a volunteer and will be able to choose a self-guided tour or guided tour. There is ample parking in front of all the museums. All the collections in the museums are on one level and wheelchair accessible, although pathways between the buildings in the Village and Homestead are unpaved. Please email or call in advance to discuss your special needs. For more things to do in Washington County, visit www.visithagerstown.com
Field Trips, Scout Groups & Group Tours
The Friends of the Rural Heritage Museum offers guided educational tours of some of the finest collections of our local heritage for students of all grade levels during the week and weekends by appointment. Students will learn about our region's beginnings and history and how our rural and agricultural heritage continues to play a role in Washington County today.
To schedule an Field Trip for your students or learn about the programming we offer to help meet your scout groups badge requirements, please submit the Tour Request Form under the Contact Us tab on this website.
While there is no admission fee, donations are always appreciated as we rely upon them to help offset our programming costs for public school tours, maintain our exhibits and keep our museum open to the public.
To schedule an Field Trip for your students or learn about the programming we offer to help meet your scout groups badge requirements, please submit the Tour Request Form under the Contact Us tab on this website.
While there is no admission fee, donations are always appreciated as we rely upon them to help offset our programming costs for public school tours, maintain our exhibits and keep our museum open to the public.