Conococheague Institute relives life on the frontier in western Maryland
HAGERSTOWN, Md. () — For those who indulge in the rich history of western Maryland, the Conococheague Institute is a special resource to relive the Colonial era and roots of nationhood.
The Institute's Pennsylvania homestead just over the Maryland state line takes visitors back with exhibits about 18th-century pioneers.
'We are an open-air living history museum,' Matthew Wedd, executive director of the institute, said. 'We serve about 6,000 students per year as they learn about colonial life on the frontier.'
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Visitors of all ages, including students, K through 12, tour the Rock Hill Farm, drawing from inner-city neighborhoods and suburban communities.
'We service a lot of students who maybe never have seen a goat or a sheep up close,' Kori Taber with the Institute said. 'For them, it's really something new and they are super excited to go home and tell their family and friends about their experience here.'
Family life from the time is a focus of the frontier homestead.
'We explore the woman's role on the farmstead,' Taber said. 'They were an integral part of taking care of family and helping with the animals was one of their main roles.'
With the nation about to reach a historic milestone, the Conococheague Institute captures those post-colonial years.
'The Revolutionary Homestead is a five-year commitment to focus on the 18th century, specifically on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution,' Wedd said.
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The Conocoheague Institute offers free programs every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the year.
More information can be found .
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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