Gaithersburg Community Museum Hosts Heritage Days

From The Gaithersburg Community Museum: The Gaithersburg Community Museum, Observatory Park and Casey Community Center are among numerous historical sites participating in Montgomery County Heritage Days, June 24 and 25, 2017. This 20th annual event celebrates and showcases the County’s rich history, culture and natural beauty with activities, exhibits and performance for all ages. Explore all countywide events here. All Heritage Days events are free.

Gaithersburg Community Museum, 9 South Summit Avenue
Saturday and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m.
Housed in the 1884 Freight House, the Community Museum is part of the rail complex in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. Explore a caboose and RDC rail car, take a photo with the 1918 steam locomotive, shop for train-related items in the gift shop, and discover the hands-on learning centers in the Museum. You might even catch the sights and sounds of the actual CSX and Amtrak trains that rumble by frequently. Note that the Museum is open during adjacent construction of Olde Towne Park Plaza. Free parking is available in the nearby public garage on Olde Towne Avenue.

• Explore Olde Towne with the first Gaithersburg Scavenger Hunt. Pick up an instruction card at the Museum, then search for clues.
• Enjoy art in the making as local plein air artists capture the historic landscape in and around the rail complex.
• Participate in old-fashioned games and play with Imagination Playground blocks.
• Learn about optical illusion toys with artist Leila Cabib. Create thaumatropes, flipbooks, and zoetropes. (Saturday only)
• Train Songs with John Henry England (Sunday only)

Observatory Park, 100 DeSellum Avenue

Saturday and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m.

Built by Edwin Smith for the International Geodetic Association in 1899 as one of six around the globe, the Observatory played an important role in the efforts of scientists to determine the wobble of the Earth on its polar axis to aid in navigation. Ground markers are still used for GPS purposes today. Self-guided tours of this interpretive park and national historic landmark are available year round. Please note that the park has no restroom facilities.

• Bryan Blundell, Architectural Preservation Specialist, will lead a discussion about the Observatory building and its restoration.
• Take a self-guided tour of the park, monuments and geodetic markers.
• Enjoy STEM activities created by NASA and the NISE Network. Learn about space and the upcoming solar eclipse and make your own solar viewer and model solar system.
• Find the Gaithersburg #1 geodetic marker and make a rubbing to take home.

For more information on activities taking place at the Community Museum and Observatory Park please contact the Gaithersburg Community Museum at 301-258-6160.

Casey Community Center, 810 South Frederick Avenue
“40 Years of Celebration” Open House, Sunday, 10 a.m. – noon
Built in 1938 by Eugene B. Casey, the facility initially functioned as a dairy farm. In 1949 it was rented to the National Institutes of Health for animal trials of the Salk Polio vaccine. It was known as “NIH Farm” from 1949 to 1960. The property was donated to the City of Gaithersburg in 1971, and it opened as Casey Community Center in 1977.

• Enjoy refreshments and entertainment as you tour the facility.
• Explore historical displays and photos.
• Prize drawings and photo opportunities will be available.

For more information contact Katie Gleeson at 301-258-6366.

Image Courtesy of Gaithersburg Community Museum