Organizations You Should Know

In addition to our partners, there are a few other organizations you should be aware of as a volunteer of the National Road Heritage Foundation.

Boonsborough Museum of History

Founded by the late Doug Bast, the Boonsborough Museum of History houses a fantastic collection of artifacts related to the local area as well as national and international history.  Visitors are immersed in one of the largest collections of civil war ammunition and weaponry, artifacts from both world wars, relics from local families, and much more.  All objects in the museum were collected by Mr. Bast as a lifelong passion, and the main house exhibits are arranged as he displayed them.

The organization is currently working to renovate the former Bast furniture store beside the house, which will become a museum telling the history of southern Washington County as well as providing space for speaking programs and research archives.

Bowman House Museum –
The Boonsboro Historical Society

Once the home of local redware potter John Bowman, this log cabin home has been restored and is opened once a month by the Boonsboro Historical Society.  When open on the 4th Sunday of each month between April and October, Historical Society volunteers provide spinning and sewing demonstrations, hearth cooking demonstrations, and tours of the early 19th century home and grounds.  A reproduction potting shed, wagon barn, and period garden are maintained behind the house.

The Boonsboro Historical Society also operates the annual Boonesborough Days event in Shafer Park every September, as a fundraiser for their organization.

Washington County
Rural Heritage Museum

Located about 15-minutes outside of town, the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum is a multiple-building museum within the Boonsboro zip-code.

The first building of the museum houses exhibits pertaining to life in Washington County over the past centuries, from a preserved post office interior, general store, and recreations of common household and school rooms, and life on a farmstead.

A second building houses a wide array of farm implements and exhibits related to farm life.

The third building offers a collection of older automobiles and other transportation exhibits.  Among this display can be found a preserved auto garage bay and several rare 100-120-year-old Hagerstown-built automobiles.

Behind the three primary buildings can be found a farmstead house and a village of preserved original historic buildings relocated from all across the county.

Boonsboro Town Alliance (“BTA”)

This membership-based nonprofit was formed by the efforts of the Town of Boonsboro Economic Development Commission to promote economic growth, provide marketing opportunities and organize community events in ways which the EDC as a town entity is sometimes limited.

As the town works toward someday becoming a Main Street Maryland community, the BTA will play an important role in fostering that program.

Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area

The State of Maryland has 13 certified “Heritage Areas.”  These organizations work under the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) to improve preservation and historical education opportunities related to historic sites, buildings, and events across the state.  The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (HCWHA) is the organization covering Carroll, Frederick, and Washington Counties.

The HCWHA provides organizations with resources and grants, and in the past have provided grants allowing for the installation of exhibits in both of our museums, as well as other projects the National Road Heritage Foundation has undertaken.

The main visitor center and museum of the HCWHA is the Newcomer House, one of the only homes on the Antietam Battlefield which is open to the public for tours.

Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau
aka “The CVB” or Visit Hagerstown!

You might see the Visit Hagerstown logo on many brochures in the Visitor Center rack – including ours!  The CVB is our local “DMO,” or Destination Marketing Organization.  They are responsible for marking our area to tourists, attracting bus tours to the area, and helping businesses and organizations bring more visitor resources and revenue to the area.

Thanks to DMOs like the CVB, and the efforts of all of the organizations they work with, the State of Maryland brings in millions of tourists each year, whose spending results in stronger businesses, community improvements, and more opportunities for residents and future tourists alike.

For the National Road Heritage Foundation, the CVB has provided funding toward our marketing and advertising, funds our brochure printing, promotes our museum to tour operators looking for places to stop with bus loads of visitors, and offers guidance on other tourism-related matters.