HoCo 250

In 2022 Ellicott City celebrated the 250 of its founding in 1772, and now with the country, Howard County is celebrating 250 of 1776 in 2026. HoCo 250. Open houses, talks and other activities. Below are some links to calendars of events.

14 buildings! - Museums, Stores, Homes and even the Odd Fellows - are participating in an Open House Day on Sat. May 16.

Waverly Mansion of Col/Gov John Eager Howard, then his son Gov. George Howard.


May 16 An Open House Day in Old Town Ellicott City. Organized by Maryland History Tours. Free. HERE

Main St.
Centre Lodge #40 IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) - 8134 Main St. - Open 9 to 1
B & O Railroad Museum Ellicott City Station – 3711 Maryland Ave./Main St. - Open 10am to 5pm
Howard County Welcome Center – 8267 Main St. - Open 10am to 5pm
Artists’ Gallery – 8197 Main St. - Open 11am to 6pm
Jackie’s Dollhouses & Miniatures – 8098 Main St. Patapsco National Bank Building 3 1905. Open Noon to 5pm
Ellicott City Firehouse Museum – 3829 Church Rd./Main St - Open 1pm to 4pm
Merryman Street Log Home – 8394 Main St. - Open 1pm to 4pm
Ellicott City Colored School Restored – 8683 Frederick Rd. (W Main St) - Open 1pm to 4pm
The Bridge Market – 8000 Main Street – Open 1pm to 5pm

On Hill above Main St
Capitoline Center [Old Courthouse] – 8360 Court Ave. - Open 10am to 4pm
Mt. Ida - 3691 Sarah’s Lane – Open Noon to 4pm
Museum of Howard County History - 8328 Court Ave. [next to courthouse]- Open 1pm to 5pm
Ellicott Mills Children’s Museum - 3725 Park Ave. [next to HCHS] - Open 1pm to 5pm
Patapsco Female Institute - 3655 Church Rd. - Open 1pm to 4pm

Mt. Ida on east side of large parking lot above the old courthouse

HoCo250 Events Calendar HERE for location and info
May 14 Howard County Veterans Monument Unveiling 11:00
May 14 Waverly Open House 11-5
May 28 Open House at The Inn at Mt. Ida 11-5
June 6 Columbia, Maryland: Building Hope For the Next American City 2:00
Jun 13 Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in the America Revolution 2:00
Jun 19 Celebrate Black Culture and Community this Juneteenth in Howard County 2-8
Jun 28 Reflections on Independence: Then and Now 2-4
Jul 4 4th of July Celebration at the Lakefront 5-10
Jul 22 Voices of the Maryland 400: Maryland's Revolutionary War Soldiers at the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776, 6-8
Se 12 25 Artifacts for 250 years of Howard County History 1-2
Nov 8 Howard County Veterans Day Parade 9:30-12

Ellicott City Partnership HERE. June 6 OEC Pride; Sep 19 Main St Music Festival; Oct 3 Wizarding Weekend; Oct 31 Trick or Treat on Main St; Nov 28 Small Business Saturday; Dec 4 Midnight Madness 6pm

Harriett Tubman Center activities HERE. May 16 1:30-2:30 The Patapsco Valley: A Microcosm of Colonial America.

Patch. Events and Things to Do in Ellicott City, MD HERE

Ho Co Recreation & Parks HERE

Howard County Libraries HERE

Nike Missile Site BA-79 (just north of HoCo near Granite, MD) this Cold War base was operational 1956-1974, restored and is now open for tours on the last Sunday afternoon (Apr-Se) by the Civil Air Patrol Maryland Wing (which is headquartered on the base). Set of stairs. HERE


Blog posts
Link to the 'online tour' of the north side of Main St. with info and picture of each building HERE
Link to the 'online tour' of the south side of Main St. with info and picture of each building HERE
Floods blog posts HERE
Firehouses (4) blog post HERE.
Art on Main Street blog post HERE.

©2026 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD