In 1774, brothers John, Andrew and Joseph Ellicott built a mill on the banks of the Patapsco River in what we today call Ellicott City. It was the first merchant flour mill in Maryland and the town that grew up around it became one of the most important mill towns in early America. 150 years later, people were still building mills here, including the Ellicott Mill in 1926, the enormous structure that greets you along Frederick Road as you head into Ellicott City. Today, Terra Nova Ventures has nearly completed a top-to-bottom renovation of the mill, converting it into apartments. Join us as we walk through the historic mill to learn about its past and what it is becoming today.

Join us for a tour inside Clifton Mansion, the unique Italianate country house that has overlooked Baltimore City for over 200 years! At one time the summer home of War of 1812 captain Henry Thompson and then philanthropist Johns Hopkins, the story of Clifton Estate is one about two prominent businessmen, enslaved & free Black people, and more. You’ll see the latest restorations made possible by the Friends of Clifton Mansion and Civic Works. You will also be invited into unrestored spaces that are brimming with stories to tell! And the tour wouldn’t be complete without climbing the tower and taking in one-of-a-kind views of Clifton Park and our surrounding city. We hope to see you there.

Join us to celebrate the Maryland Zoo’s 150th birthday with a new walking tour around its historic grounds led by Zoo staff. Discover the history of the zoo and several of its important landmarks, including iron-barred cages and other structures built when the Rogers Mansion was still a private residence. As we walk, we’ll hear about the zoo’s first elephant, Mary Ann, and we might even glimpse some penguins. We hope you’ll join us to experience a walk through the past, which will showcase how far zoological organizations have come from menageries of exotic creatures to expert conservation centers for endangered species!