Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Hagerstown, MD

Situated in the Great Appalachian Valley with mountains visible on the horizon, Hagerstown is a city profoundly influenced by its geographical surroundings.

The moniker “Hub City” originates from the 19th century when no fewer than five railroads intersected in Hagerstown.

Historically, the city was a pivotal location during the Civil War, marking the boundary between the North and the South and witnessing numerous battles. The most notable was the tragic Battle of Antietam in 1862, which transpired merely ten miles to the south.

Contemporary Hagerstown boasts a vibrant cultural landscape, highlighted by the Maryland Theatre in the downtown area and the distinguished Washington County Museum of Fine Arts located within the picturesque City Park.

1. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA)

Overlooking City Park’s Lower Lake, this nationally recognized art museum hosts an impressive collection of 18th, 19th, and early 20th-century American paintings.

The majority of this collection was generously gifted to the city by William Henry Singer, Jr. (1868-1943) and his spouse Anna Brugh Singer (1873-1962).

Notable artists featured in the collection include Thomas Sully, Benjamin West, Rembrandt Peale, Childe Hassam, and several distinguished landscape painters from the Hudson River School, such as George Inness.

Exhibitions from this collection are further enriched by works from Old Masters, 19th-century European artists (including Courbet and Rodin), as well as a diverse array of American decorative and folk art.

The WCMFA hosts world-class traveling exhibitions, complemented by a dynamic schedule of classes, lectures, music recitals, film screenings, and children’s events.

2. Hagerstown City Park

The park surrounding the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is inscribed on the National Register of Historic Places and is renowned as one of the most beautiful urban parks in the United States.

A central feature of the park is Lower Lake, flanked by the museum and created by draining a swamp during the early 1920s.

The lake attracts a variety of local wildlife, including ducks, geese, and swans, and serves as the backdrop for Hagerstown’s enchanting Christmas light display.

Visitors can also explore several smaller attractions, such as the Hager House and the City Park Train Hub, both paying homage to the city’s significant railroad heritage.

Many exhibits at the train museum, including the 1875 Velocipede and 1885 pump car, derive from the Western Maryland Railroad Company.

A highlight is the impressive 77-foot Steam Engine 202, constructed in 1912 and operational until 1953. The Mansion House, a Georgian-style home constructed in 1846, now houses the Valley Art Association (VAA), showcasing the work of its members in the gallery.

3. Maryland Theatre

This esteemed performing arts venue stands as a cornerstone of Hagerstown’s Arts and Entertainment District.

Constructed in 1915, one of the architects involved was Thomas W. Lamb (1871-1942), who also contributed to the design of the third Madison Square Garden.

Following significant fire damage in 1974, the historic 1,293-seat auditorium, along with its Wurlitzer organ, was preserved and the theatre reopened in 1978 after extensive reconstruction.

The venue features approximately 250 performances annually, encompassing musicals, plays, dance, live music, comedy, and concerts by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, which is based at this theatre.

4. Antietam National Battlefield

September 17, 1862, marks the bloodiest day in American history with the Battle of Antietam occurring approximately ten miles south of Hagerstown.

This battle resulted in 22,717 casualties, with the Union suffering 12,410. Despite the heavy losses, this pivotal victory helped shift the momentum of the Civil War in favor of the Union Army and provided President Abraham Lincoln the foundation to announce his Emancipation Proclamation.

Occupying more than 3,200 acres, the Antietam National Battlefield allows visitors to explore key sites where these 12 hours of intense combat unfolded.

The 800-yard sunken road, known as Bloody Lane, experienced horrific losses in the morning, with around 5,600 casualties, and visitors can walk along this route connecting the two opposing positions.

Subsequent to this event, a gruesome struggle ensued for Burnside’s Bridge (1836) over Antietam Creek, captured by Ambrose Burnside after prolonged conflict, while under fire from Confederate troops positioned on the opposite bank.

5. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Regional Park

Located just a short ten-minute drive from downtown Hagerstown is the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, which traces the banks of the Potomac River for more than 180 miles.

Constructed between 1828 and 1850 to replace the earlier Potomac Canal, this monumental project incorporated 74 locks, 11 aqueducts, 240 culverts, and the remarkable Paw Paw Tunnel, which extends over 3,000 feet.

The canal and its towpath have been preserved as a national regional park, showcasing these 74 locks, the expansive waters of the Potomac, and the rich history tied to this significant route for transporting coal, lumber, grains, and livestock.

Noteworthy nearby attractions are Williamsport’s Conococheague Aqueduct (1835) and the Cushwa Basin, which features a visitor center housed in a restored 19th-century warehouse.

6. Discovery Station at Hagerstown

Housed within a historic bank building downtown, the Discovery Station has been transformed into an interactive museum focused on principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM).

Spanning two floors, the Discovery Station continuously introduces new experiences that aim to cultivate curiosity and encourage exploration and experimentation.

Some of the engaging exhibits currently available include Little Sprouts Grocery, Exploration Rainforest, Dinosaurs, Space and Beyond, Discovery Town, Robotics & Coding, Sustainability, and the cozy reading area called Imagination Station.

Discovery Station offers a schedule of programs that includes hands-on animal encounters, science experiments, and storytelling sessions.

7. Jonathan Hager House Museum

Located at the northern edge of City Park, visitors can explore Hagerstown’s mid-18th century roots at the preserved residence constructed by the city’s founder.

This Colonial-style house, built around 1740 by German immigrant Jonathan Hager (1714-1775), stands on the site of two natural springs.

The two-story structure, made of flagstone, is open to the public from April to December and serves as a focal point for a variety of events throughout the year, including the City Park Fall Fest.

During a visit, guests can learn intriguing facts, such as how the two springs provided cooling in summer and how the distinctive central chimney enhanced insulation during winter months.

The house also served a defensive role, as evidenced by its 17-inch thick basement walls featuring an embrasure similar to a Medieval arrow loop.

8. Pennsylvania Dutch Market of Hagerstown

Western Maryland hosts one of three significant Amish and Mennonite populations in the state.

These communities are celebrated for their craftsmanship in furniture making, baking, traditional cooking, and handicrafts.

The Pennsylvania Dutch Market, established in 2007, provides a convenient destination for exploring handmade products from primarily Amish-owned businesses.

Visitors can enjoy high-quality handcrafted goods, an in-house bakery, a full-service restaurant, delicious deli offerings, as well as a vast selection of produce, meats, and poultry.

9. Price-Miller House

Adjacent to the Discovery Station on Washington St, this preserved Federal-style townhouse, built in the mid-1820s, has historical significance.

William Price, a prominent attorney and the building’s first owner, used it as his law office and residence before becoming the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

The Price-Miller House is maintained as a museum by the Washington County Historical Society, offering numerous exhibits that are worth exploring.

Visitors can tour several elegantly furnished rooms with authentic mid-19th century decor, and view documents and artifacts related to significant events such as the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the development of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in the 1820s.

The house is also home to a remarkable collection of historic clocks manufactured in the Hagerstown area.

10. Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum

To gain deeper insights into Hagerstown’s historical significance as “Hub City,” visitors can explore the site of a massive roundhouse built in 1939. This facility boasted 25 stalls and functioned as the largest railroad maintenance hub in Western Maryland.

Although the roundhouse was demolished in 1999, a museum has since been established within one of the preserved buildings near the CSX Railroad.

This museum is a treasure trove for railroad enthusiasts, featuring historic rolling stock, numerous artifacts, and extensive model train displays, including a detailed representation of the former roundhouse.

Operated by knowledgeable volunteers with expertise in Hagerstown’s railroad history, the museum also offers visitors the opportunity to view the operational CSX facility from the outside.

11. Fairgrounds Park

Hagerstown’s largest recreational space stems from the historical site of the Great Hagerstown Fair.

This fair, which operated from 1856 to 1980, relocated to Fairgrounds Park in 1880. The remaining grandstand is still preserved, and there is a marker and interpretive board detailing the event’s rich history.

Today, Fairgrounds Park is vibrant, hosting numerous community events such as the July 4th Fireworks Celebration, the Harvest Hoedown in October, and routine yard sales at the stables by the grandstand.

For active pursuits, visitors can find facilities for soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball/inline hockey, BMX, and ice skating, in addition to a dog park, walking trails, and outdoor fitness equipment.

12. Hagerstown Premium Outlets

A significant attraction for visitors to Hagerstown is the outlet mall, located just off I-70 in the southern part of the city.

Operated by Simon Property Group, this mall opened in 1998 and serves a broad geographical area, including portions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even Washington, D.C.

Some of the prominent brands offered at the mall include Adidas, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Gap, Guess, Levi’s, LOFT, Nautica, Polo Ralph Lauren, The North Face, and Under Armour.

In addition to retail offerings, this outlet mall features a food court, which includes Hibachi Xpress, Dairy Queen, and China Max, along with a branch of LongHorn Steakhouse located near the parking area.

13. Hagerstown Cultural Trail

A specially designed trail connects two of Hagerstown’s key attractions—the downtown Arts & Entertainment District and Hagerstown City Park—transforming it into an inviting journey in its own right.

Recently expanded, this half-mile pathway merges small attractions, intriguing sculptures, murals, landscaped spaces, whimsical children’s play areas, and captivating historical moments, all encouraging exploration of the city on foot.

Families will appreciate The Fantastical Garden play area, designed by artist Alsion Sigethy. A downloadable map is available for the trail, providing background on each stop along the way.

14. Pangborn Park

The Hamilton Run trail connects Fairgrounds Park to another public park situated a few hundred feet northeast.

A worthy diversion, Pangborn Park is distinguished by its pond, fed by Hamilton Run, which attracts a variety of geese and ducks.

The park features a range of recreational facilities, including tennis courts, a baseball/softball field, a sand volleyball court, a playground by the pond, and a lawn bowling facility.

Shady rows of mature trees line the trails, and visitors can enjoy a charming formal garden area centered around a decorative fountain located in the northeast corner.

15. Black Rock Golf Course

Situated on the southeastern periphery of the city, Black Rock Golf Course has gained considerable acclaim since its inception in 1989, even being recognized as Maryland’s best municipal course by Golf Digest in 2010.

Even seasoned golfers will need to remain on top of their game at this 18-hole course, which features long playing holes bordered by mature forests and challenging rough terrain.

Black Rock offers consistent bentgrass greens, and the back nine provides unforgettable views of the Appalachian Mountains.

Additional amenities include a pro shop, an expansive putting green, and a driving range that is equipped with sand traps and a chipping area.