Frederick City Hall

History: Maryland Governor Thomas Hicks called a special session of the Maryland Legislature in 1861 to address the question of secession. The legislature met at the Frederick County Courthouse, formerly on this site, but pro-secession legislators were prevented from attending the special session. This historic building is just one of many landmarks in the vibrant 50-block downtown portion of Frederick.

More to Explore: Places to visit near City Hall include the Roger Brooke Taney House, which dates to 1790 and includes slave quarters, and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Family entertainment is provided by a minor-league baseball team, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants, inns and bed and breakfasts in the heart of the action. Nearby, Gambrill State Park offers 16 miles of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails, as well as spectacular overlooks.

Photo Credit: “Francis Scott Key, 1780-1843” Courtesy of: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Francis Scott Key was born in what was then known as Frederick County, Maryland.