Nestled in the mountains of Western Maryland is a little-known treasure, Evergreen, a beautiful historic estate originally established in the 1780s and is today the 130 acre Evergreen Heritage Center, which features the Farmhouse Museum, Living Off the Land Agricultural Museum, Coal Camp Museum, gardens, greenhouses and orchards that beckon visitors to step back in time.
The original log house on the Evergreen property was built in 1783 by Edward Grimes. The two-story, stone section was added c.1822 by the Winter Family and the two were joined by a common roof along with the wrap around porch in 1869 by Winfield Trimble creating a six-bedroom farmhouse. Today the Farmhouse Museum is open for tours. Explore the Victorian era farmhouse and its extensive collection of family antiques and artifacts on display speaks to the significance of the 240-year-old farm and reveals the traditions and folklife of those who lived it.
Added to the National Register in 2015 for its architectural significance and role in the early settlement of Western MD, the Evergreen Heritage Center’s Pennsylvania bank barn with stone foundation is over 200 years old. The barn per historical experts was professionally built c.1780 and was restored in 2018. An agricultural museum was then established in the Barn’s lower-level stables sharing Western Maryland farm life through displays of handmade tools and implements. This museum received a best of Maryland Award from Preservation Maryland in 2020.
The Miners’ Coal Museum, located in the Coal Camp, is the trailhead for a 1-mile trail featuring historical and environmental interpretive panels. The coal camp includes four exhibits: the former mule stable, now the museum space; the boarding house; blacksmith shop and forge; and a re-established mine opening. The museum and exhibits include artifacts, maps, and photography. Visitors will learn about how coal was mined by the family and the various coal companies that leased the land.