Carroll Co Visitors Guide

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AT T R A C T I O N S
Scenic Byways
Driving Tours
Carroll County participates in a state-wide
visitor friendly program: Scenic Byways. The
program was created to help our visitors get
off the super highway and travel some back
roads to discover Maryland’s hidden gems: rural
roads, scenic beauty and Main Streets…
Old Main Street
The romantic image of Small Town USA is one of
a quaint Main Street that draws together people
seeking goods and gossip. Nowadays, the historic
hardware store building might house a bistro while
the feed store showcases garden sculptures, but they
still work their charm on visitors. This byway serves
up a heaping helping of small-town hospitality.
The National Road
Mason-Dixon
Civi War H tor
The rich farmland of Carroll County
skirts the Mason-Dixon Line, denoting
North from South. Picturesque and
serene, this pivotal county remained
relatively unscathed during the two
years the Civil War raged here.
Union commanders were aware of the
strategic value of this rolling farmland.
The recently completed Western
Maryland Railroad’s depot in Westminster
meant much needed supplies could come
in from Washington and Baltimore. The
Union Army of the Potomac set up its
rail head and supply base in Westminster
where it remained during the course of
the war. Supply lines were established and
guarded; residents became accustomed
to Union troops and supply wagons in
and around their once peaceful town.
With Confederate troops converging
from the north and west, Major General
George G. Meade, Commander of the
Army of the Potomac, developed a plan
to protect Baltimore and Washington.
If the Confederate Army moved south,
the “Pipe Creek Plan” would create a
defensive shield behind Pipe Creek,
which flows west across Carroll County.
Meade’s army began moving northeast
from Frederick to position troops in the
hills outside Manchester, as described
in the “Pipe Creek Plan.” Though they
didn’t know yet, these soldiers were
marching on the roads to Gettysburg.
Downtown Westminster, the Farm
Museum and Union Mills Homestead
and Grist Mill present reenactments
of these events throughout the year.
H tor &Heritag
16 Carroll County Tourism • 800-272-1933