Whether you live in the county or are just visiting, you won’t regret taking some time to stop at one – or a few – of our intriguing museums! Selected for different age levels and interest groups, we’ve drawn up a list to help you complete the perfect museum road trip in Montgomery County, Maryland.
For art enthusiasts…
Montgomery County is home to tons of local artists and artisans, and you have the chance to explore some of their work at the following locations:
12100 Glen Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
Encompassing art, architecture and nature, Glenstone offers visitors a chance to interpret their outdoor sculptures, pavilions and gallery in their own way. This museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and admission is completely free!
155 Gibbs St, Rockville, MD 20850
VisArts provides individuals of any age with the opportunity to express themselves and connect with others through the visual arts! Their galleries, which showcase various artists throughout the year, are free and open to the public year-round.
For history fanatics…
The following museums are few of the many possible sites where you can delve into the rich history and culture that Montgomery County has to offer:
1313 Bonifant Rd, Colesville, MD 20905
With hourly docent guided tours, streetcar rides, visits to streetcar hall and movies from the 1920s, you could easily spend an entire afternoon in the Trolley Museum. It is on Saturdays from noon to 5pm, and it is recommended that you make a reservation and purchase a ticket ($5) online before visiting.
9 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Located in the B&O Rail complex in Olde Town, this museum’s exhibits explore Gaithersburg’s rich history, and the imaginative weekly activities and monthly programs offered here make it the perfect outing for individuals of any age!
16820 Black Rock Rd, Germantown, MD 20874
This site is the only living history center in Maryland depicting 19th century plantation life. Inside of Seneca Creek State Park, Button Farm preserves the legacy of the underground railroad and incorporates the tastes, smells, sights, sounds and feelings of the 1850s into their day-to-day operations. Instead of just watching, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the history by cultivating crops, learning a trade or lending a hand on other workings of the farm.
For science aficionados…
Montgomery County offers unique insight into both modern and past medicinal practices at these two locations:
National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM)
2500 Linden Ln, Silver Spring, MD 20910
By displaying remains, models, images and related artifacts, this museum gives guests insight into the intriguing history, research and advancement of both military and civilian medicine. Visitors are invited to engage in a self-guided tour that includes a forensics workshop, in addition to the exploration of the museum’s other exhibits and galleries.
Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine
103 W Montgomery Ave, Rockville, MD 10850
Open by appointment, office hours with Dr. Edward Elisha Stonestreet will teach you everything about 19th century medical inventions in the one-room doctor’s office built in 1850. This museum offers visitors an extensive look at books, instruments, pharmaceutical items and other tools related to historical medicine.
For young kids…
Montgomery County makes it easy to combine entertainment and education, as the following locations offer hands-on learning and fun activities:
6400 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817
With a focus on engaging underrepresented populations, the programs offered at this museum ignite curiosity and creativity in children while teaching them collaboration skills and problem-solving tactics. KID Museum works to foster the “Mind of a Maker” and empower youth through a wide variety of activities!
18028 Central Park Cir, Boyds, MD 20841
While parents and guardians learn the rich history of the farm farms, children are invited to see live farm animals and “milk” cow models. An interactive map of MoCo’s dairy farm locations and a walking tour of the farm are available as well, making this the perfect day trip for a family with kids of any age!
Check each museum’s official website for hours of operation and other information, and go to visitmontgomery.com/museums/ for an extensive list of the incredible museums and historic sites located right here in Montgomery County!
