Historic Sites You Can Visit In And Around Berwyn Heights, Maryland
There are a lot of historic cities in the United States, and Berwyn Heights is, no doubt, one of them. It is a town out of Washington, DC, and near the town of Baltimore. Therefore, if you live there, you have the option to experience all the best things from those two major cities without ever living in them.
Most of the old and famous establishments in the town and its neighboring cities owe their existence to the rich history that Maryland was built on. Therefore, you can find museums and attractions for everyone, be it a child or grandpa, in and around the town. So, without further ado, let’s see some of the interesting things that you can do while you are on wheels.
1. College Park Aviation Museum
Just a short drive away from Berwyn Heights, there is the historical museum that records many first flights of the Americans. Opened in 1988, it is an affiliated institution with the Smithsonian. The museum offers state-of-the-art technologies despite being on the land that is considered to be the oldest continuously running airport. The museum marks the inauguration in 1909 when Wilbur Wright himself came to the airport and gave the flight instruction for the first military flights. If you have the chance, it is a must-visit for everyone that wants to visit Berwyn Heights.
2. The Laurel Historical Society
Built on the premise of the main floor of the former home of Mill workers in 1840, the Laurel museum is enriched with an exotic collection of old artifacts, books, textiles, and photographs of the people that lived and worked there. This 2590 square feet architecture was used to house mill workers of the period in a segment of four living units. Aside from storing the story of Maryland, the museum also accompanies gift shops and exhibitions downstairs for the incoming tourists.
3. Old Town Bowie Welcome Center
Just a short distance away, you will be greeted by the welcoming center of Old Bowie which aims to preserve the history of the town. You will also find visitors’ information on the logbook. The town was built around a railroad community that lived and worked there. Visiting the place will take you back to a time when drinking and gambling on a hot summer day was a norm in the town. Even though most of the gambling in this age has gone online, with sites like https://topcasinoer.net/gratis-spins/, you will have a short glimpse of how people used to have fun back in those days.
4. African Art Museum of Maryland
This is a must-visit for anyone who wants to indulge in the rich culture of African heritage. The museum was established to collect, preserve, and exhibit the arts and artifacts of the African continent that many are not aware of. This is done so to encourage the understanding of the diversity of other customs aside from the native ones. The funding of the museum comes from in-house exhibitions and presentations. They also offer academic courses on African studies, along with dance and museums, for the incoming scholars and students. If you are enthusiastic enough, you might even score a chance to get on one of their tours to Africa.
5. Billingsley House
If you visit Prince George’s county, this early historic brick plantation house should be on your To-Go list. It is one of those rare structures that give you glimpses of the past. It is a Tidewater plantation house built with the Patuxent river in its view as it confluences with the Western branch. Therefore, the building was founded on the marshes of the river, giving its distinct root. Currently, the site is a popular rental facility for all kinds of functions, picnics, and meetings for all visiting tourists. It is a must-visit if you are in that area.
6. National Capital Trolley Museum
Away from the city and into the outskirts of Maryland, you will find a lot of museums of good value and this Trolley Museum is one of them. It not only preserves the electric and interurban railways of Washington, DC but also interprets the heritage that it comes with. Old and young are all welcome to take a visit to their interpretive program, which has a large collection of both national and international objects. Both present and future generations can learn from the rich history of transportation from the Trolley museum.
7. Airmen Memorial
The main objective of the establishment is to collect and preserve the archival documents and stories of those enlisted airmen who had served the country for future generations. The AAM has surveyed the friends and families of the enlisted troops that have fought bravely with skill and dedication for the country. This information can also be accessed through their published books and journals such as: Unsung Heroes: A History of Enlisted Airmen from the Dawn of Flight to Desert Storm. They also publish stories through Sergeants magazine which is published monthly by AFSA.
8. Riversdale House Museum
Built around 1801 to 1807, this stucco covered plantation manor is a national historic landmark that was home to many notable figures of history. This federal architecture of the mansion has five parts in decorative details which were restored on numerous occasions. Currently, the portion of the house is turned into a museum and other portions are up for rental for wedding ceremonies, meetings, festivals, or celebrations of up to 75 people. The Riversdale Historic Society is a volunteer group that works with the Planning Commission to preserve the cultural heritage of Maryland and its neighboring landmarks.
In Conclusion
There is a lot of rich history in and around Berwyn Heights in Maryland. If you happen to come to the town, it should be your top priority to visit, if not all, some of the notable sites that give the town its characteristic. And you can learn a lot too about the land and the people there that will open you up to new cultures and heritage.
