The Howard County Historical Society Museum is home to hundreds of artifacts that convey the story of Howard County’s rich history from before European settlement to modern events. The Museum of Howard County History has so many topics to explore, including the following: Local Mills, Businesses, Homes, Native American activity, today’s diverse population, the railroad age and the industrial revolution.
Major collections include:
- Ellicott Family
- Patapsco Female Institute
- Militaria
- Textiles
- Local agricultural implements
- Objects of everyday life
- Native American tools
- Prohibition era bottles
Their permanent collection along with their themed exhibitions of artifacts and information give museum goers a deep understanding of Howard County History. Visitors can enjoy learning about life in a 19th century mill town, or take a closer look at the lives of the county’s founding fathers.
EXHIBIT: ELLICOTT CITY: A VISUAL HISTORY
A brand new permanent exhibit at the Museum of Howard County History illustrates Ellicott City Main Street’s history from the late 1800’s to modern times!
EXHIBIT: A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: THE FLOODS OF ELLICOTT CITY
The Exhibit was under development even before the news-making flood of May 27th, 2018, The Historical Society was curating a new exhibit documenting the Floods that have plagued Ellicott City for so many years. The exhibit focuses primarily on the Floods of 1868, 1952, 1975 and 2016. This exhibit includes artifacts donated by the Howard County Historical Society’s collection, as well as artifacts donated from the 2016 flood.
RESEARCH PROVISIONS
The Charles E. Miller Branch and Historical Center is home to Howard County Historical Society’s Archive and Research Library. The non-lending Library houses over 4,000 volumes on various aspects of the area now known as Howard County and its surrounding communities.
ARCHIVE
The Archive contains over 20,000 individual items and numerous collections. Highlights include:
- The Ellicott City (Howard County) Times newspaper collection (1898-2000)
- Family collections including the Dorsey, Warfield, and Ellicott families
- Oral History Collection (including a sub-collection of oral histories from African-American residents)
- Howard County Government Collection
- Over 4,000 photographs and slides
- Hundreds of maps and plats dating from the 1800s to the present
- Howard County Marriage License Collection, 1860-1939
- Plus thousands of obituaries and other documents in our surname and research files.
The Howard County Historical Society’s library and archive contains thousands of documents, photographs, slides, maps, books, and other materials that can help your search for genealogical and historical information. When we know where we come from, we know where we are going.
As of 2014, The Howard County Historical Society is nationally registered as a historic “stop” on the Underground Railroad. Researchers can obtain copies of original manumission documents, slave ledgers, court records, marriage certificates, historic plantation information and photographs.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Howard County Historical Society is dedicated to expanding their programs and providing opportunities for elementary, secondary and higher education students to learn about the county’s history.
EVENTS AT THE MUSEUM
The Museum hosts regular events, such as the Howard County Genealogical Society Help Desk and the Annual Membership Meeting – Eat, Think and Engage Meeting. Along with this they hold regular events for educating and engaging the children of the community. Every Second Saturday June-May, the Museum hosts “Movies at the Museum”!
CONCERTS
There are no events planned for 2019 since this was written in January, but stay tuned since they plan regular concerts and comedy shows as well, they even allow byow… bring your own wine to the concerts!
HOURS OF OPERATION
The Museum of Howard County History is free to the public and open Friday to Sunday, 1:00-5:00.
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