Come and see Historic Downtown Hagerstown for yourself!  Visit the Visitor Welcome Center, just off the Public Square at 6 North Potomac Street.  Start your walking tour there!

Jonathan Hager built his first home in Hagerstown in 1739, and set up a prosperous trading post. The City of Hagerstown was laid out in 1762 by Jonathan Hager. Originally called it Elizabeth Town, after his wife, Hager created the groundwork for Hagerstown-Washington County.  Hager served in the French and Indian War, and gained positive renown. Unfortunately, Hager was killed in 1775 during an accident, while building a church on land that he had donated. In 1814 an assembly of the town agreed to change the name of the town to Hager’s Town, which later evolved to Hagerstown. 

Hagerstown has always been the largest town in Washington County and was originally nicknamed the “Hub City” because of the large network of railroads that intersected here. Today it remains a center of activity with many roads and other transits that intersect here. Downtown Hagerstown has a vast history, often overlooked by those traveling through the city. Come explore the hidden history of Historic Hagerstown.