ABOUT US
The Garrett County Historical Society Museum opened its doors on November 9, 1969, and is operated by the Garrett County Historical Society. The purpose of the Society is to discover, secure and preserve whatever relates to the history of the area, and to disseminate information about local history throughout the larger community. To this purpose, the museum has acquired many significant artifacts while displaying noteworthy items which generous individuals have loaned the Society.
While visiting the museum you will find:

  • Early mining tools
  • Civil War items
  • Period furniture displays
  • Artifacts from the USS Garrett County
  • Photographs and items from the resort hotels that dotted the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
  • A surrey used in Oakland around 1900
  • Early firearms
  • Native American artifacts collected in the area
  • Period clothing and military uniforms
  • Old National Highway marker
  • Antique toys and dolls
  • Early 20th century photographs by Grantsville's Leo Beachy
  • Many other historical items, books, photographs and maps of the area

We have a selection of publications and merchandise for sale including:

  • Glimpse of the Past
  • Deer Park, MD, Then and Now
  • Once Upon a Mountaintop
  • Deep Creek Lake, Past and Present
  • Garrett County Photo Album
  • And many more
Stop in and browse for gift ideas!

If you are interested in Garrett County and area history, you are invited to join the Garrett County Historical Society. As a member, you will receive the Glades Star, the quarterly publication of the Society. This publication contains articles on area history along with relevant photographs. The Society holds its Annual Dinner meeting for members in June of each year, with guest speakers knowledgeable about some aspect of local history. The annual fee for membership and subscription to The Glades Star is just $15. A lifetime membership is available for $250.

Museum operations generate many expenses. The Society recently purchased its current facility to house a growing collection of artifacts and genealogical records, thus incurring a substantial mortgage. If you can make a donation to help the Society, please send to:

Garrett County Historical Society
c/o Kevin Callis, Treasurer
93 Ollie North Road
Deer Park, MD 21550

The Society sincerely thanks you for your kind consideration.