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Tours & Programs
Maryland History Tours offers a variety of story-telling presentations.
Check the calendar for public tours or call to book a private event for your group.
Haunted Main Street
Old Ellicott City today is a resilient town 250 years old with great shops and a vibrant night life…so is it any wonder that the many ghosts who still call this town home remain to see if they can still raise the hairs on the back of your neck?
Haunts and Hounds
Everything is more fun with your dog! Friendly dogs can join the fun on our pooch-friendly ghost tours!
Spirits Pub Crawl
Spirited guide, Spirits to drink, and who knows – Spirits to see. You won’t see them if you aren’t there! Enjoy a special drink or special pricing on selected drinks as we take you inside for a taste at some of Ellicott City's favorite haunts.
Ellicott’s Mills During the Civil War
John Brown’s Raid, Camp Johnson, the Patapsco Guards, the Steam Gun, a tomb of unknown soldiers, Griscom’s Duck, Decatur Dorsey, even some Romance and Poetry
Innovators of the Patapsco River Valley
Charles Carroll, Benjamin Banneker, The Ellicott’s, Peter Cooper, Samuel F. B. Morse, Ross Winans, the Latrobes, Victor Bloede, movers and shakers all and still affecting our lives today!
Private Groups
All of our tours and programs are available for private groups of six or more guests. Families, clubs, school groups, seniors and more - host a private event! Book today: (410) 303-2959
Witchy History Pub Crawl
Twelve women in Maryland were accused of witchcraft. Two died. Healers or heretics? Join us and decide for yourself!
Spirits of the Patapsco River Valley
Hear the stories of ghostly happenings from Ellicott City though the river valley to Catonsville: Dinner with the Devil, a Headless Horseman. Hell House, Hilton Mansion, Aunt Maddie and the porch rocking chair that rocks on its own!
Mt. Misery Ghost Tour
The hills north of town harbor some very eerie legends of spirits and unexplained happenings from decades ago and even days ago!
Full Moon Lore
Explore Old Ellicott City by the light of the Full Moon. A change from the usual haunted tours, we will reveal moon lore and superstition, blending facts and magic into a supernatural evening!
An Ellicott City Christmas
NEW - Rejoice in the season with us as you spend an evening learning about the wonders of Christmas past in America and especially in Ellicott City! Sip hot cocoa or mulled wine and discover the charms of the holidays in our beloved town. Hosted by the Howard County Historical Society Museum on Court Ave.
Creepy Little Christmas
Krampus is just the beginning. What about murderous frogs? Hoards of swarming insects? Maybe Mary Lwyd, a skeleton horse who challenges people in a battle of rhymes? How do you celebrate the season? Join us for this darker look at Christmas legends and lore, and discover the shady backend of the most wonderful time of the year ~ or as we like to think of it, a creepy little Christmas.
Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps
A remarkable woman who transformed the Patapsco Female Institute into a renowned educational facility. She didn’t believe women should vote but encouraged her students, all females, to “think, reflect, compare and examine using your own judgement.” There are many sides to Almira!
Haunted Tea & Tarot
Our popular afternoon tea events with divination, including tarot, runes and tasseography, as well as spooky history and ghost stories.
P. S. I Love You
Historic figures connected to Ellicott City including a U. S. President, a Civil War General, America’s most famous literary icon, and the” Sage of
Baltimore” and others - all reveal their romantic sides.
Baltimore” and others - all reveal their romantic sides.
Colorful Characters and Little Known Facts of Ellicott City
Strange as it seems these are all connected to our town: Mishikinakwa & Marpau, The Great Compromiser, Old Hickory, Marble Man, The Wheelbarrow Lunatic, The King of the Wild Frontier, The Bambino, Mr. Entertainment, and more!
Ladies About Town
Quaker Elder, Cookbook Author, Educational Innovator, Staunch Prohibitionist, an Electrical Engineer, Innkeeper, Funeral Director and just maybe a Saint – All women associated with Ellicott City!
Literary Pub Crawl
Banneker’s Biographer, J. P. Kennedy, the creator of Ichabod Crane, The Tomahawk Man, Headmistress at the Institute, General Lew Wallace, Mr. Clemens, The Sage of Baltimore and some liquid libations at stops in town.
Ellicott City History Walking Tour
Step back in time with your guide Mike and discover the stories related to our noted landmarks in this amazing 250 year old town! A town older than America!
Black Cats & White Rabbits: A History of Superstitions
Fear of the unknown drives us to avoid ladders, carry good luck charms, and knock on random pieces of wood. But why and how did the common beliefs take root? Join us for a dive into the lore of this ancient and esoteric topic. Rewind to a time when thunder was unexplained, and black cats were feared to reveal why people around the world, and probably you, still engage in the rituals of superstitions.
Haunted Savage Mill
Discover the Mill’s haunted history where restless spirits continue to roam these halls to this very day.
Magical Beasts: Meet Maryland's Cryptids
What mysterious creatures lurk in the dark forests or swim in the deep waters of Maryland?
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