Hagerstown, Maryland

Hagerstown is located in Washington County in northeastern Maryland, a few miles from the borders of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Hagerstown is located 77 miles (124 kilometers) southwest of Harrisburg, 75 miles (121 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore, and 72 miles (116 kilometers) northwest of Washington, DC.

Hagerstown was founded in 1762, and was long known as the "Hub City" for the roads and railroads passing through it. Its strategic location between North and South meant that the community was occupied for four of the five years of the Civil War. Hagerstown is only 14 miles (23 kilometers) north of the Antietam National Battlefield, the site of General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North, and where, on September 17, 1862 alone, the fighting claimed more than 23,000 men killed, wounded, and missing. The city has several historic homes, including city founder Jonathan Hager's Hager House, built between 1739-1749 and the Mansion House, built in 1846, both of which are located in the 50-acre (20-hectare) City Park. Another is the Miller House and Gardens, built in the early 1800s, and which is now home to the Washington County Historical Society.

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, also located in the City Park, focuses primarily on 19th century and early 20th century American art, but whose 6,000+ item collection ranges from Old Masters to 20th century paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts. For more arts, take in performances of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra or see what's on the schedule at The Maryland Theatre.

Baseball fans can spend days cheering for the Hagerstown Suns, who are a Class A affiliate of the New York Mets. Golfers can spend the day at the nine-hole Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run, or any of the region's 10 golf courses. Another great way to get out is to enjoy some of the county's parks. Only 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of town, you'll find Greenbrier State Park and South Mountain State Park, both of which have the Appalachian Trail passing through them. Eighteen miles (29 kilometers) west, you'll find Fort Frederick State Park, which is only a half-mile (.8-kilometers) from the 23-mile-long (37-kilometer-long) Western Maryland Rail Trail. Also about 18 miles (29 kilometers) west you'll find the 3,000-acre (1,214-hectare) Sideling Hill Wildlife Management Area.

Enjoy community events and festivals such as the National Pike Festival, which is not a celebration of the freshwater game fish, but of the 300-mile (483-kilometer) wagon train route through Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Or party at Augustoberfest, which as you guessed, is essentially Oktoberfest in August.

So if you're looking for history, outdoors, and arts, look at Hagerstown.

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