Frederick

Welcome to Downtown Frederick, a commercially and culturally vibrant historic district of national reputation.

In 2002, Frederick was designated as one of America’s "Dozen Distinct Destinations" by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2005, Frederick was one of 5 communities in the USA to win the coveted Main Street America Destination award. Each week, thousands of visitors flock to Frederick’s 50-block historic district to take in its breathtaking 18th and 19th century architecture (including its famous clustered spires), its historic sites, specialty shops, restaurants, and cultural arts offerings.

Founded in 1745, Frederick has played a role in every major chapter of American history. Here, you’ll navigate brick sidewalks once traveled by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and many other American Presidents. Frederick’s prominence is partially due to its location on the Historic National Road, the first federally-funded road construction in the nation linking Maryland with Illinois (1811 - 1830s). Downtown Frederick was also the site of numerous Civil War occurrences and is prominently featured on the Maryland Civil War Trails.

But history is just a part of the district’s huge appeal. Frederick is home to more than 100 exciting and diverse specialty shops and art galleries, some 200 antique dealers all within walking distance, and 30 restaurants with menus that span the globe. The historic district bustles with activity seven days a week and offers evening entertainment at three performance venues, as well as live music in numerous restaurants. Time your visit to coincide with one of the many special events produced here on more than 30 weekends throughout the year. Once a month, merchants host evening, art-related events during the evening as part of First Saturday Gallery Walk.