Girl sits looking at washington monument - history adventures for kids

Self-guided · County in Maryland

History Adventures for Kids in Montgomery County, MD

Short, active outings built for children, where each stop is a place to find, a story to hear and a badge to earn.

Visitors to Montgomery County, MD tend to see the same three attractions. Montgomery County is one of 24 counties in Maryland. The sites that tell you the most about the place are usually the ones with no gift shop.

Children looking at an exhibit in a museum - history adventures for kids — Photo: Fenghua on Unsplash

A child in a purple vest looking over a stone wall at a valley - history adventures for kids — Photo: Michele Biase on Unsplash

Young girl hikes on a rocky forest path - history adventures for kids — Photo: Aurel Tyson on Unsplash

On the record near Montgomery County, MD

The 12 nearest

910 listed historic sites on the record within 30 miles of Montgomery County, MD. 43 listed sites carry Montgomery County as their county.

Rockville Railroad Station1.2 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Rockville · listed 1974National Register of Historic Places
Third Addition to Rockville and Old St. Mary's Church and Cemetery1.2 miles from the center of Montgomery County · District · Rockville · listed 1978National Register of Historic Places
Beall-Dawson House1.7 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Rockville · listed 1973National Register of Historic Places
Bingham-Brewer House2.1 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Rockville · listed 1980National Register of Historic Places
Montrose Schoolhouse2.3 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Rockville · listed 1983National Register of Historic Places
Riley--Bolten House2.9 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · North Bethesda · listed 2011National Register of Historic Places
Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory5.4 miles from the center of Montgomery County · District · Gaithersburg · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Belt, J. A., Building5.4 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Gaithersburg · listed 1984National Register of Historic Places
Bethesda Meetinghouse5.4 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Bethesda · listed 1977National Register of Historic Places
Gaithersburg B & O Railroad Station and Freight Shed5.6 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Gaithersburg · listed 1978National Register of Historic Places
Ridge, The5.6 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Derwood · listed 1988National Register of Historic Places
Thomas and Company Cannery5.7 miles from the center of Montgomery County · Building · Gaithersburg · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Montgomery County, MD. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

Kids History Adventures in Montgomery County, step by step

1
Set the area and the list of markers to find
2
Split into teams or go solo, with the map open
3
Find each marker and answer one question from its story
4
Photograph the marker to prove the find
5
Count the badges and pick a harder hunt for next time

What people in Montgomery County, MD ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Montgomery County, MD?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

How close does a site have to be to show up here?

The list is sorted by straight-line distance from the center of Montgomery County, MD and covers sites out to about sixty miles. Most people find several within a short drive, and in older towns a few within walking distance.

Can I visit the sites that are private homes?

You can see them from the street, which is how most listed houses are meant to be enjoyed. Please do not walk onto the property or knock unless the site is open to visitors.

How a visit works in Montgomery County

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Montgomery County, MD the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Montgomery County, MD are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.