FREE EVENT! Step back in time and explore our museum collections, featuring our newly updated Toy Shop, Music Room, Candle Shop, Paranormal Room and Ballestone exhibits! It’s the perfect weekend outing for history buffs and families alike. While you’re here, visit our gift shop to pick up unique local treasures, from our newly-designed Essex/Middle River … Read more
From local legends and ghost hunts to historic milestones and family open houses, there is always something happening at the Heritage Society. We invite you to explore our upcoming year of events, discover our rich local roots, and join us in celebrating the history that binds our community together. Our mission: To investigate, collect and preserve … Read more
Located right behind Eastpoint Shopping Center, Safety Town utilized the classic, nationwide “Safety Town” concept—a miniature village layout complete with pint-sized streets, sidewalks, and traffic signs—to give young local children hands-on education about traffic laws, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety.
As Eastpoint Mall prepares to close its doors, we take a look back to a time when you could find everything for spring and summer at the shopping center—even a Stegosaurus. In April 1967, life-sized dinosaur reproductions took over the parking lot as part of Sinclair Oil’s famous “Dinoland” exhibit, traveling the country fresh off … Read more
The history of Middle River Station, and its evolution from a quiet railroad junction into a localized community hub, is grounded in the lifelong research of Baltimore County historian John McGrain. His work preserved the personal stories of the families who lived and worked near the rail lines. This is the story of how a … Read more
During the 1970s, Cox’s Point on the Back River served as the thrilling backdrop for the annual Governor’s Cup Regatta, a highly anticipated Labor Day weekend event where dozens of high-powered cigarette boats competed at full throttle for the coveted silver cup. This exciting era of local maritime history is preserved in a dedicated binder … Read more
Before it was a quiet suburb, Middle River, Maryland, was the beating heart of America’s industrial war machine. During World War II, a quiet stretch of land was transformed overnight into a bustling, 24-hour boomtown dominated by the iconic Glenn L. Martin Company. In this fascinating historical retrospective, “A History of Wartime Middle River” by … Read more
The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River’s America 250 Celebration welcomed our community for a memorable, patriotic program honoring local history. The event, which featured a new flagpole installation and a living history presentation, was made possible through a generous grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation. Our program featured an inspiring Honor Guard ceremony … Read more
These historic snapshots showcase the generations of families, marching bands, and parade floats that made the July 4th Parade along Eastern Blvd. a summer tradition in the 60s and 70s. Families lined up to watch a classic lineup of local fire trucks, youth sports teams, and kids who clearly spent all morning decorating their bikes. … Read more
Long before it became the shoreline showplace of the 21st century, the Essex-Middle River area was a legendary destination for waterfront recreation. Often called “the rising suburb of the east,” Essex stood proud with Middle River as its absolute shining star. Local historian Jackie Nickel offers an affectionate, nostalgic journey through the town’s vibrant history, … Read more
