Hood College students are able to take advantage of the many
opportunities offered in Frederick, Md.,
considered one of America's great small cities for its quality of life
and historical
ambience. The city of 50,000 is the seat of government of Frederick
County,
the largest of Maryland's counties, and is nestled among spectacular
mountains,
rolling farmlands and rivers.
Established as a frontier town by English and German settlers in
1745, Fredericktowne,
as it was first known, served wagon train parties crossing the as-yet
unexplored
Allegheny Mountains. The city's location along the National Pike (U.S.
Route
40 / Patrick Street), was an important factor in its immediate
financial success.
This is evidenced throughout Frederick's outstanding 33-block historic
district,
which is nationally renowned for its wonderful examples of 18th-,
19th- and
early-20th century architecture. During the Civil War, local officials
saved
Frederick's downtown from being put to the torch by responding to the
demand
of Confederate officers that a $200,000 ransom be paid. Modern-day
city officials
and civic leaders have continued the preservation of the 250-year old
city center
through judicious regulation.
Today, the historic district serves as a spectacular setting for
thriving commerce
and culture. You'll quickly discover that hundreds of our 19th- and
early-20th-century
commercial buildings house specialty stores, antique shops and fine
restaurants.
Throughout the year, the historic district is the site of regionally
renowned
special events hosted by the City of Frederick. It is also the home to
such
facilities as the Weinberg Center for the Arts and the Delaplaine
Visual Arts
Center, where performance arts and fine arts exhibits are featured
throughout
the year.
Frederick's historical sites, shopping outlets and dining
establishments have
made it a popular destination for residents in the Baltimore and
Washington,
D.C., metropolitan areas. Frederick County's many state and municipal
parks offer
places to camp, hike, boat, swim, bicycle, picnic and play tennis. For
information
on these and other Frederick County attractions, stop by the Visitor
Center
at 19 East Church St., or call (800) 999-3613. The Visitor Center
is located
across the street from Winchester Hall, Hood's former home prior to
construction
of the Rosemont Avenue campus. Click here
to visit the Frederick Tourism website.
Residency in Frederick will also offer you the opportunity to take in
the thousands of cultural and educational opportunities available in
nearby Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis, complementing the many
academic and social experiences you'll enjoy at Hood College.