Participants will discover unique links to local, state and national Black (African American) history through visiting the grave sites of a collection of men and women buried in Frederick's historic Mount Olivet Cemetery--at one time a segregated cemetery before 1954. You will be pleasantly surprised with what you will learn.

Scheduled for 2 hours, the route will be about 1.3 miles in length, mostly on macadam roadways with occasional walking on grass to access gravesites. People of all ages are welcomed to attend.

Restrooms will be available at the tour's intermission period midway through the walk. Dress appropriately including footwear, and feel free to bring a beverage. (NOTE: If weather is inclement, this walking class will afford the opportunity to attend a make-up date.) Even if you didn't take the "Up From the Meadows" Frederick History Class offering, there is plenty to be gleaned here that was not featured in the four-part classroom session.

(We will meet at the WWI Gazebo in the middle of Areas T, U & S. Park on the lanes radiating out from the gazebo.)

This 1.3 mile walking tour of historic Mount Olivet Cemetery features stops at the final resting spots of outstanding and interesting Frederick citizens of the 1700s and 1800s such as Francis Scott Key, Thomas Johnson and Barbara Fritchie among several others, and will have participants traversing the historic part of the cemetery where they will learn the story of how this "garden cemetery" came to be in 1854. Length: 2 hours. NOTE: Walk-ups welcome without prior registration.

(We will meet at the WWI Gazebo in the middle of Areas T, U & S. Park on the lanes radiating out from the gazebo. Turn left after entering Mount Olivet's fromt gate and parallel Stadium Drive as the white Gazebo will eventually appear to your right under the US Flag)

This 1.3 mile evening walking tour of historic Mount Olivet Cemetery features stops at the final resting places of outstanding and interesting citizens of the 1900s-present such as Joseph D. Baker, Ammon Cramer, Claire McCardell and Harry Lebherz among several others, and will have participants traversing the newer part of the cemetery. Length: 2 hours. NOTE: Walk-ups welcome without prior registration.

(We will meet at the WWI Gazebo in the middle of Areas T, U & S. Park on the lanes radiating out from the gazebo. Turn left after entering front gate of cemetery and proceed on driveway that parallels Stadium Drive. Look for the white gazebo which will eventually appear to your right underneath a US flag.)

The roots of Frederick's annual county fair run deep! They go back to the early 19th century when a cattle show was held near the Jug Bridge over the Monocacy River, just east of Frederick City. A few decades later, a new home was found on the grounds of the Hessian Barracks, but that would eventually give way to the present site on the east side of town (along East Patrick Street). The largest county fair in the state has an incredible history including amusements, marketing gimmicks, stellar entertainment programming and notable guests to go with its given mission of exhibiting farm animals and agricultural implements. Learn more about this unique story in this multi-part lecture class which will include a cemetery walking tour of individuals connected to fair lore.

"Shoot if you must, this old grey head, but spare your country's flag" she said. These immortal words were allegedly spoken by 95 year-old Frederick resident Barbara Fritchie to Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson in early September, 1862 during the American Civil War. Whether it really happened or not is still debated. However, one thing is for sure, a poem about the incident by John Greenleaf Whittier of Massachusetts put Frederick (and our famed "clustered spires") on the map. Learn more about the life of this lady, why the poem was written and Chris will share his in-depth research into the Frederick resident who may have been the "real Barbara." 

Note that this is an online class that will run over the Zoom video conferencing platform. All you need is internet connection to a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You will receive a link and login instructions prior to the class.

All new edition of the tour for 2026! This is not a ghost tour, although we will talk about one or two. Instead, the name of the "walking class" says it all, as the stories slated to be reverently told are guaranteed to leave you with an uncomfortable and "unsettled" feeling. You will likely feel sorrow, compassion and empathy for the decedents whose graves are visited on our sojourn. Many have been featured in my ongoing "Stories in Stone" blog series found on FaceBook and MountOlivetHistory.com.

Scheduled for 2 hours, the route will be about 1.5 miles in length, mostly on macadam roadways with occasional walking on grass to access gravesites. Participants should be 16 years of age or over as much of the subject matter is intended for more mature audiences.

Dress appropriately including proper footwear, and feel free to bring a drink and a flashlight, or your own lantern. Rain or Shine (unless extreme weather conditions in which contingency plans will be made for make up tours). Meet at Key Memorial Chapel, with parking in adjacent driveways. 

All new edition of the tour for 2026! This is not a ghost tour, although we will talk about one or two. Instead, the name of the "walking class" says it all, as the stories slated to be reverently told are guaranteed to leave you with an uncomfortable and "unsettled" feeling. You will likely feel sorrow, compassion and empathy for the decedents whose graves are visited on our sojourn. Many have been featured in my ongoing "Stories in Stone" blog series found on FaceBook and MountOlivetHistory.com.

Scheduled for 2 hours, the route will be about 1.5 miles in length, mostly on macadam roadways with occasional walking on grass to access gravesites. Participants should be 16 years of age or over as much of the subject matter is intended for more mature audiences.

Dress appropriately including proper footwear, and feel free to bring a drink and a flashlight, or your own lantern. Rain or Shine (unless extreme weather conditions in which contingency plans will be made for make up tours). Meet at Key Memorial Chapel, with parking in adjacent driveways. 

All new edition of the tour for 2026! This is not a ghost tour, although we will talk about one or two. Instead, the name of the "walking class" says it all, as the stories slated to be reverently told are guaranteed to leave you with an uncomfortable and "unsettled" feeling. You will likely feel sorrow, compassion and empathy for the decedents whose graves are visited on our sojourn. Many have been featured in my ongoing "Stories in Stone" blog series found on FaceBook and MountOlivetHistory.com.

Scheduled for 2 hours, the route will be about 1.5 miles in length, mostly on macadam roadways with occasional walking on grass to access gravesites. Participants should be 16 years of age or over as much of the subject matter is intended for more mature audiences.

Dress appropriately including proper footwear, and feel free to bring a drink and a flashlight, or your own lantern. Rain or Shine (unless extreme weather conditions in which contingency plans will be made for make up tours). Meet at Key Memorial Chapel, with parking in adjacent driveways.