America 250 with Glenn Meredith and HCHS
Join Glenn Meredith, HCHS treasurer, as he presents his personal collection of commemorative currency, as well as a discussion on the John Trumbull painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the U.S. Capitol. Explore the history of centennial and semi-centennial celebrations in America and revisit Howard County's own Bicentennial celebrations, 50 years later. This event is a partnership between Howard County Library System and the Howard County Historical Society. FREE. REGISTER HERE.
Patio Party
Join the Howard County Historical Society at the beautiful stone patio between our Children’s Museum and History Museum for an early evening of history, drinks, and community! (8328 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043)
Tickets to this fundraiser event are $25 (plus small credit card fee) and include one historic cocktail and souvenir, while also supporting new programming for our county. Additional wine will be available for purchase.
In the event of rain, the event will be moved inside the Museum of Howard County History. Free parking is at the Courthouse Lot.
No tickets will be mailed - we will have your name on the registration list.
Lunch Date with History: Elkridge Heritage Society
Museum of Howard County History
A celebration of the small historical & cultural organizations in the Patapsco Valley, with monthly exhibit display! Registration is NOT required but seating is limited.
Your Voting Rights in Today's World
Hear about the History of Voting Rights, Updated Voter Registration Training, Election Protection Programs and Encouraging Reluctant Voters. This event is co-hosted by The League of Women Voters of Howard County and The Columbia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Co-sponsored by HoCo250 and the Howard County Historical Society. FREE. REGISTER HERE.
Held at the Capitoline Center in historic Ellicott City, across the streets from the Historical Society Museums!
Lunch Date with History: B&O Station Museum
Museum of Howard County History
A celebration of the small historical & cultural organizations in the Patapsco Valley, with monthly exhibit display! Registration is NOT required but seating is limited.
Freedom Seekers Panel Reprise
Historical research on the Underground Railroad is notoriously difficult for multiple reasons. While there is little evidence of an organized Underground Railroad in Howard County, there were local efforts to assist freedom seekers wishing to escape enslavement. If these efforts were made known to local law enforcement, those assisting, enticing, persuading, or inciting these escapes were charged with crimes. The Howard County Historical Society research team focused on these documented cases from our own collections to tell the stories of the brave men and women who attempted to help enslaved people escape to freedom.
Join the research team who led the efforts to complete this exhibit at the
Miller Branch Library on Wednesday, September 9th from 6:30-7:30pm. In a panel discussion format, the team will describe the research processes and tell the stories of some of the individuals involved in these attempted escapes.
Here is more information about the Network to Freedom and HCHS is listed as a site:
The Howard County Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting and providing access to the county's rich history and heritage. Our archives and manuscript collection includes court cases dealing with Fugitive slaves and those who aided, abetted and enticed runaways, in addition to ledgers and records of slaveholders. We have identified connections between the County's slaveholders and court cases presented in the District Court dealing with fugitive cases. We are seeking acknowledgement as an archival repository crucial to recounting the history of those who attempted to flee slavery via the Underground Railroad and the fates of those tried in the court system.
Grandparents Day
Grandparents Day: September 13, 2026 from 1pm-5pm
Spend time with your loved ones at the Ellicott Mills Children’s Museum!
Free admission
Walk-ins & Donations are welcome!
3725 Park Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Lunch Date with History: Granite Historical Society
Museum of Howard County History
A celebration of the small historical & cultural organizations in the Patapsco Valley, with monthly exhibit display! Registration is NOT required but seating is limited.
Lunch Date with History: Columbia Archives
Museum of Howard County History
A celebration of the small historical & cultural organizations in the Patapsco Valley, with monthly exhibit display! Registration is NOT required but seating is limited.
Recent Archaeological Discoveries at George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Join the Howard County Historical Society at the Museum of Howard County History as we welcome Dr. Jason Boroughs, Principal Archaeologist at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Hear about recent archaeological discoveries and the celebration of America’s 250.
This event is free but registration is required as seating is limited. Please register at this link.
For more information about parking and access, click here.
Mill Town Tea: The History of Showhouses
Enjoy unlimited tea, service of sandwiches, scones, sweets, and a short history lecture.
At the Museum of Howard County History, 8328 Court Avenue. Free parking at the old Courthouse lot.
NEW for June 2026: Limited VIP tables to ensure your party of 4 or 6 can sit together and with priority placement. Only 2 tables of each type are available!
Please note prices include a small processing fee to help cover additional costs.
IAN MAKSIN: Songs of Love & Peace. New Album Concert Tour
SONGS of LOVE & PEACE: an amazing multilingual journey in search of peace, healing and empowerment through music - Comes to the Museum of Howard County History on June 17th, 2026 7:30pm-9:00pm
Get immersed in the deep sounds of Ian Maksin's soulful one-man-cello orchestra, paired and blended with his vibrant voice, as he explores a collection of traditional songs from different corners of the world, woven together with original instrumental works.
His latest release reflects the path of a true musical globetrotter: a sonic offering shaped by countless journeys across continents as a touring artist, along with mountaineering, flying airplanes, practicing meditation, and collaborating with local musicians in search of the mystical thread that connects all cultures. This album invites listeners into a space of presence, clarity, and emotional restoration.
In addition to music from the new album, Ian will perform works from his earlier opuses—The Alchemist, Amor Renatus—as well as selections from his vast repertoire of over 300 songs in 43 languages.
With loop pedal and other electronics, he transforms the cello into an entire orchestra, merging timeless global traditions into an unforgettable, immersive, and deeply personal experience.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
BREAKING BOUNDARIES both musical and geographical, cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist IAN MAKSIN has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force.
ONE-MAN ORCHESTRA:In addition to cello, he used an electronic device called the loop pedal, which allows him to create "loops" or layers by recording and replaying his own playing in real time.
SINGING IN 43 LANGUAGES: What began as a hobby and a passion for linguistics and travel has become part of a unique concert experience. At this time Ian Maksin sings in 43 languages including Ukrainian, Russian, English, Farsi, Armenian, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mongolian, Bambara (one of the tongues spoken in West Africa) and many other exotic languages. Most of this repertoire was amassed by Maksin during his world travels, jam sessions and collaborations with local musicians. Many of his original songs and instrumental compositions are also infused with flavors of ethnic music from countries and regions where he drew inspiration from: Mongolia, West Africa, Middle East, the Balkans, Andalusian flamenco.
THE GLOBAL MUSICIAN: Ian Maksin was born in the former USSR into a multinational family and grew up absorbing many cultures and traditions from an early age. He began playing guitar and piano at age 3 and cello at age 6 at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad and then came to the USA at 16 to continue studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. After working for many years in the classical genre including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami Ian has decided to look for his own musical path. His diverse musical experience, including playing rock and blues guitar and passion for jazz and world music has allowed him to take the cello to a new dimension and develop his own distinct style as a musician and composer. In Ian's own words: "At some point I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Music is one of most powerful and unifying forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together and bringing peace among them. I believe that cello will save the world”
Lunch Date with History: Tubman Center
Museum of Howard County History
A celebration of the small historical & cultural organizations in the Patapsco Valley, with monthly exhibit display! Registration is NOT required but seating is limited.
Special Event: Mother’s Day and Girl Scout Junior Flowers (Saturday Session)
MAY 16-Mother’s Day and Girl Scout Junior Flowers
Flowers are so beautiful, we bring them from outside into our homes to add cheer to a room. We also send them to people we care about. But there’s more to flowers than good looks and nice smells. Learn about the symbolism of flowers and make a small bouquet for Mother’s Day.
Register here: https://ticketscandy.com/e/special-event-mothers-day-and-girl-scout-junior-flowers-saturday-session-14745
Registration fee is $5.00
A year full of special events is planned at the Historical Society’s Ellicott Mills Children’s Museum. On the second Saturday of eight months in spring and fall the doors will open at 1:30 p.m. for registered children to participate in 90 minute, hands-on activities which are both meaningful and fun. All children, ages 7 and up, are welcome. Girl Scouts who attend will receive a certificate of participation, which will qualify them for a badge.
Due to capacity constraints at the little Museum, these are drop-off activities. Adults are invited next door to enjoy the Museum of Howard County History, then pick the children up at 3:00.
Lunch Date with History - Banneker Historical Park
Howard County Historical Society’s popular lunch lecture returns in 2026 with a new theme focusing on the small cultural and historical organizations of Howard County and the Patapsco Valley. This “Small Museum Showcase” will highlight the programs, activities, and missions of our partners and neighbors while introducing new audiences to different institutions across the county and beyond.
The lecture will take place at the Museum of Howard County History, 8328 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Free parking is available at the Old Courthouse lot. Light refreshments served; feel free to bring your own lunch. Please follow us on Facebook for event updates in the event of cancellation or postponement.
Historic Marker Weekend - Waverly (Copy)
Learn more about these Howard County markers during our open house events!
Historic Marker Weekend - Waverly
Learn more about these Howard County markers during our open house events!
Fundraiser Trivia Night
Show off your local history knowledge and play for a chance to win a HCHS membership or a Manor Hill Tavern gift card! Your $25 donation serves as your ticket to the event. The proceeds will directly benefit HCHS initiatives, making it a fun and impactful way to contribute.
Historic Church Concert
Register here: https://ticketscandy.com/e/historic-church-concert-14735
Redd & the Paper Flowers
An Appalachian Folk band from Knoxville, Tennessee brings music that would have been familiar to the residents of the once thriving mill town of Daniels. The granite Gary Memorial church building that sits on Standfast Hill overlooking the Patapsco River valley is one of the last intact vestiges of that town’s working-class community. Having survived the town’s demise in 1968 and the devastating 1972 flood unscathed, the church’s future is fragile.
Proceeds of this event will be used to preserve the memories and artifacts of Gary Memorial and create a special collection for the Howard County Historical Society so that future generations can understand and learn about the special history of this church in the Patapsco valley.
Special Event: Tea Party Etiquette in the 1800’s and Girl Scout Junior Social Butterfly Badge (Saturday Session)
APRIL 18-Tea Party Etiquette in the 1800’s and Girl Scout Junior Social Butterfly Badge
Learn the art of conversation and etiquette while engaging in a tea party. Activities will include flower arranging, place setting, and general socializing.
Registration fee is $5.00
A year full of special events is planned at the Historical Society’s Ellicott Mills Children’s Museum. On the second Saturday of eight months in spring and fall the doors will open at 1:30 p.m. for registered children to participate in 90 minute, hands-on activities which are both meaningful and fun. All children, ages 7 and up, are welcome. Girl Scouts who attend will receive a certificate of participation, which will qualify them for a badge.
Due to capacity constraints at the little Museum, these are drop-off activities. Adults are invited next door to enjoy the Museum of Howard County History, then pick the children up at 3:00.
Lunch Date with History - Blandair
Howard County Historical Society’s popular lunch lecture returns in 2026 with a new theme focusing on the small cultural and historical organizations of Howard County and the Patapsco Valley. This “Small Museum Showcase” will highlight the programs, activities, and missions of our partners and neighbors while introducing new audiences to different institutions across the county and beyond.
Due to anticipated demand, please register here: https://forms.gle/bPgGRP3vUehXTd5p9
The lecture will take place at the Museum of Howard County History, 8328 Court Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Free parking is available at the Old Courthouse lot. Light refreshments served; feel free to bring your own lunch. Please follow us on Facebook for event updates in the event of cancellation or postponement.
Special Event: Democracy for Elementary School Students and Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies and Juniors (Saturday session)
Register here: https://ticketscandy.com/e/special-event-democracy-for-elementary-school-students-and-girl-scout-daisies-brownies-and-juniors-s-14737
Registration fee is $5.00
FEBRUARY 21-Democracy for Elementary school students and Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies and Juniors
Participate in a historical discussion on how our Government works, including our local, state and federal Government. Learn about our representatives and what their job is, as well as the three branches of government – legislative, executive, and judicial. (This event is for Elementary age students)
A year full of special events is planned at the Historical Society’s Ellicott Mills Children’s Museum. On the second Saturday of eight months in spring and fall the doors will open at 1:30 p.m. for registered children to participate in 90 minute, hands-on activities which are both meaningful and fun. All children, ages 7 and up, are welcome. Girl Scouts who attend will receive a certificate of participation, which will qualify them for a badge.
Due to capacity constraints at the little Museum, these are drop-off activities. Adults are invited next door to enjoy the Museum of Howard County History, then pick the children up at 3:00.