Frederick Historic District
18th and 19th century architecture and historic sites

The District is significant for its role as the seat of Frederick County and as a regional market and industrial center in Maryland's Piedmont area from the 18th century to the mid 20th century.  Architecturally, the area represents a wealth of commercial and residential, public and civic, and religious architecture in a variety of styles and forms.  Here you can find examples of most of the major architectural styles that characterize the middle Atlantic region from the late 18th century to 1941.  You’ll see styles ranging from Federal and Greek Revival, through Italianate, Romanesque, and Queen Anne, to the Colonial and Spanish Revivals of the first half of the 20th century.

The commercial corridor lining Patrick and Market Streets reflects similar diversity in its streetscape. Though early-19th century buildings exist on the commercial corridor, the bulk of the buildings date from 1875-1941 and are characterized by heights of three to four stories, brick or frame storefronts, flat or shed roofs, and vernacular brick forms. Many ecclesiastical buildings display high style architecture ranging from Gothic and Greek Revival to Richardsonian Romanesque to Colonial Revival. Construction of these buildings primarily occurred in two phases: prior to the Civil War and after 1900. In contrast, the industrial buildings are vernacular in style, date from the 1880s to 1941, and are located on the East Side of the district.

During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate armies passed through this city on their way to Antietam in 1862; and parts of the Union army went north through here on the way to Gettysburg in 1863. Confederate Gen. Jubal Early extorted a $200,000 ransom from the city before fighting near the Monocacy River just south. Large numbers of wounded soldiers were brought to the city following the large battles fought nearby.