WELCOME TO HANCOCK, MARYLAND
Before Hancock was named after the man who ran a ferry on the
Potomac, it was known as Tonoloway Settlement, Northbend and
William’s Town. An early trading post on the western edge of
the frontier, Hancock was subject to frequent raids by the Native
Americans, resulting in visits from the likes of George Washington
and General Braddock, and the construction of a line of forts to
protect the settlers. With the coming of the Chesapeake and Ohio
(C&O) Canal and the Western Maryland Railroad, Hancock grew and
flourished with settlers pushing west for new opportunities. A
brief and fascinating history of Hancock is provided for
history buffs, and there are more than of few of those
around.
Hancock’s proximity to
Interstates 68 and 70, the
the Potomac River, the C&O Canal, and the
Western Maryland
Rail Trail (WMRT) allow easy access to many exciting outdoor
pursuits.
SIDLING HILL
Photo by
Paul Breeding, 1988
One of the best rock exposures in Maryland and indeed in the entire
northeastern United States is located approximately 6 miles west of
Hancock in Washington County, where Interstate 68 cuts through
Sideling Hill. Almost 810 feet of strata in a tightly folded
syncline are exposed in this road cut.
The Sidling Hill Exhibit, once residing in the now defunct
Sideling Hill Visitor Center, is now located right here in the
Hancock Visitors Center at 42 W. Main St., Hancock, MD
21750-1107; (301)678-6236.
And speaking
of rock exposures and geology, a geo-cache also resides within the
Visitors Center. The cache can be accessed when the Center is open.
It is a regular-size lok n lok which contains Hancock-related items
as well as the usual swag. Safe and secure, this would be an ideal
stopover for geocoins and travel bugs.
Museum hours
are:
Monday:
9-5
Tuesday: 9-5
Wednesday - Closed
Thursday: 9-5
Friday: 9-5
Saturday: 9-5
Sunday: 1-4
Note: The
Visitor Center is staffed by Volunteers. There may be times when
volunteers are not available during posted hours. We regret any
inconvenience.
Thanks For Visiting
Hancock
