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Slide ELLICOTT
CITY’s anniversary with us! 250th
Celebrate Slide One River.
Three Brothers.
Seven Hills. 250 Years.
 Slide CELEBRATION – then and now!
Be a part of the
 Slide Thank you to
our sponsors who share our
pride and love of
Ellicott City.
 KAREN SACHS BESSON
FOUNDATION
2022 marked Ellicott City, Maryland's Sestercentennial. It was 250 years ago when the Ellicott brothers arrived in the Patapsco River Valley, and decided to settle in the wild place some folks called ‘the Hollow’. Nestled between what is now Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC, the settlement would grow to become the preeminent town within the Patapsco Valley – birthplace of the Nation's industrial revolution!

We hope you had a chance to join us as we celebrated and rediscovered the history and charm of Historic Ellicott City, Maryland – the town older than the United States of America!

WATCH "ON NATIONAL ROAD – The EC250 Musical"

READ HOW THE MUSICAL CAME TO BE...
VIEW THE PLAYBILL
READ THE LYRICS

WHAT A YEAR

PARTNER FEATURE

Patapsco Heritage Greenway‘s contribution in support of EC250 has played a major role in Ellicott City’s 250th celebration. Watch their video Pioneering Along the Patapsco and learn about Ellicott City’s history and how the story of the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area continues to unfold today.

PFI GARDEN CELEBRATION

The new Mary Jerdone Coleman interpretive garden at Patapsco Female Institute Historical Park inspired a program of music, poetry and special appearances following its ribbon cutting. Watch the ceremony here and then   LEARN MORE about the garden project.

ELLICOTT ENCOUNTER

Diane Hunter, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and a citizen of the Tribe discusses their renown leader Mihšihkinaahkwa’s  relationship with the Ellicotts and the tribe’s connection to the town and local Quaker groups.

“RESILIENT… 250 years of Ellicott City”

On view through March 2023

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WHAT IS EC250?

EC250 aimed to inspire celebrations throughout Howard County, Maryland that honored and celebrated the 250th anniversary of the founding of historic Ellicott City, Maryland.  By partnering with community groups around Howard County, we successfully shared the unique history and national significance of historic Ellicott City, Maryland through innovative educational, entertaining, and cultural events.

WHEN IS IT?

The fun began January 2022 and ran through December 2022!  Check out our events page for more specifics.

ABOUT THE CELEBRATION

Events highlighted different aspects of historic Ellicott City’s incredible history. We hope you signed up for our mailing list and that we kept you well informed of all the fun happenings throughout the year.

YEARS

since Ellicott City was founded

MILES

of railroad track from Baltimore to Ellicott City

PEOPLE

who rode the train in 1830 from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills

HILLS

of Ellicott City

BROTHERS

founded Ellicott’s Mills (Joseph, Andrew and John Ellicott)

But the most stupendous thing in the history of this tiny town, the thing that overshadows everything else which has happened there, is the beginning of railroading in the United States. For Ellicott City, small as it is, marks the terminus of the first railroad ever built in America.
Grace H. Sherwood
Baltimore Sun, 1926
Ellicott City might best be described as a miniature model of an early eighteenth century mill town. Built on seven hills surrounding the Patapsco River valley, the town perches on the granite outcropping surrounding the area. Streets wind their way down Main Street and thus the river – a resource that gave the town life and on more than one occasion all but destroyed it.
Jean Hammond
Application for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places
Lush vegetation and the swiftly flowing Patapsco River must have captivated the three Ellicott brothers (Joseph, Andrew and John) when they searched for land in the late 1760’s. The brothers had searched throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania for a site where they could grow wheat and harness water power for a mill. They purchased many acres east of the river in the valley known as the ‘Hollow’.
Joetta Cramm
Historic Ellicott City Walking Tour