Mary Titcomb was the first librarian to lead the Washington County Free Library, the first county library chartered in the United States. She was dedicated to seeing that the library was accessible beyond the county seat, so she developed the first Book Wagon. This horse-drawn carriage traveled to rural destinations of Washington County, reaching readers who otherwise would not have the capability to visit the library. See how Mary Titcomb’s work in Washington County went far beyond the circulation of books.
As a transportation hub, Hagerstown was full of trains, planes, and automobiles – not just passing through, but actually being manufactured in the city. From Fairchild Aircraft and Crawford Automobiles to organs and children’s chemistry sets, take a look back at the patents and products of Hagerstown, and see how innovation shaped the community.
Before it was transformed into the Mural of Unusual Size, this industrial building operated one of the largest milling institutions in Western Maryland. The operations were so extensive, the mill consumed more grain than the community could produce. Learn why mills were vital to the Hagerstown economy, and discover the ties of the industry to today’s strong work ethic.
The crossroads of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O), Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O), and the Western Maryland Railway all converged in Hagerstown, feeding local commerce. By the turn of the 19th century, railroading was the major driver of the “hub city” economy. Discover the heydays of the railroads in Hagerstown and learn how it’s changed today.