This museum is free. The hours are limited, so check the details listed above for their schedule…read more They have 2 train cars on display that are vintage, one being a diner car full with real china used on the train. The brick and mortar part of the museum offers a scavenger hunt for children and adults to play alike. They have original antiques used at train stations, like a Morse code reader. It's located in the heart of Old Gaithersburg, right outside the Marc train station .

I have always passed this place on weekends, looking a the steam engine and then got the…read moreopportunity to take my son on a week day when this museum is open. Whole lot of history from Montgomery County and enjoyed poking around the station books, typewriter and imagined I was present a 100 years ago. Good Job Montgomery County on keeping these memories away. Who doesn't want the opportunity to also see the almost 200 wagon CSX pass by

The 1920s exhibition is wonderful I'm going to come back before it ends in January. You get to see…read moreperiod dresses and bakelite. The docent was friendly and discussed the textile conservation that goes on in the old kitchen area. They said the curator does Thursday conservation labs where you get to see closeup costumes not on display.

Knowledgeable and engaging staff that answered my questions about the museum and history in…read moregeneral. I will return when I have more time to explore the area.

Across from a school and in a residential neighborhood, McCrillis Gardens feels like the "hidden…read moregem" the Washingtonian Magazine once claimed it to be. Visiting on a Monday morning, here's my experience. 1) Entrance: Good thing there's clear signage. Otherwise, it would be easy to miss. When you walk in, there's a roundabout in front of an old house. The garden is behind the house. In case you miss the signs or the staff furiously yelling at you, you can't park here. Some park across the street at the school or you can find street parking along nearby Renshaw Drive. 2) Gardens: Go in the spring when flowers are in bloom. There are trails, benches, and other areas to find stillness.

So as stated, no parking on the property but there is a school across the street so off hours there…read morewould work. There is also a gate in the back and theee might be parking on street? I would guess spring would be the best time to visit as there looked to be lots of rhododendrons and daffodils. According to Carl, who is taking over the care of the property, there are azaleas blooming from March thru May.... So it looks like this property has been a little neglected in past years. Vines are growing , bushes have not been cut back. The restrooms were not open on our visit. It looks like a friends of volunteer group would be great for locals who would like to lend a hand. As we all know, it take a lot of effort!!!!

My family and I were introduced to Josiah Henson by watching a PBS special on his life. We pass…read morethe museum frequently so we finally decided to go. The Museum & Park located on the plantation property where Josiah Henson was enslaved for over twenty years before escaping to freedom. The tour starts with a video presentation detailing the history of slavery in Montgomery County, details about Josiah Hensen's life and his impact on American history. After the video the guide gives you an orientation on the property. There is an outdoor path with signage with historical information + the Isaac Riley house (Henson's former enslaver) that has been converted to a modern museum. The guides were extremely friendly and helpful in providing additional background information about the site and life at that time. I think we spent about 1.5 hours there. There is a very very small parking lot in front of the visitor center but a larger parking lot about 1.5 blocks away. Overall it was a great expereince and I would highly recommend it.

I visited this museum a couple months ago and it was an excellent experience more than I expected…read more Small yet so impactful on what Josiah Henson's history means to the state of Maryland and the country. Tickets were $12 a piece and you have to park a 1/2 a mile away across the street at a park then cross a busy street. My only suggestion for this part of the visit is to let visitors park at the daycare next door or the commercial building lot where there was no one on the weekend. (Saturday in particular no 1 was at either business) Both are on the same side as the museum and much safer to walk. Once I was at the museum, you watch a video of Josiah Hensons' history which was about 10-12 minutes. Then Ginger, the friendly front desk receptionist, takes you outside to the grounds of where Josiah and his family were enslaved. There's signage at each ground site and then you walk into the original house where everything felt surreal. Our tour guide Jessie had so much wealth of knowledge and was able to answer every question we had. We actually had the house to ourselves so it felt more personable as she guided us until the next group came in. You can take pictures of most inside. While I don't want to go into the particulars of what you see (nothing graphic), some things you just have to experience in person. I would highly recommend this hidden treasure to any local of Maryland. I would pass this place all the time and glad I finally carved time out to visit. What I thought in the beginning would be less then an hour turned into 2 1/2 hours of a phenomenal, educational visit. Thank you Ginger & Jessie! (We even bought a couple books after)

This is so beautiful. I feel really moved seeing this humble but sturdy home which served as one of…read morethe first dwellings for emancipated African Americans in this area. I highly recommend visiting. It's quick, but worth it. There is also a trail here for hiking

I have two dear friends who are history nerds like me, and one of them found out about the tours of…read morethis historic place. We went on 10/31 - BOO! We arrived early and spent several minutes enjoying the displays in the small visitor center. There is so much history there, we were surprised to keep discovering things none of us knew before. And one minored in history in college! After reading and admiring most of the displays, it was time to start the tour. It's a short walk from the visitor center, along a path made of oyster shells, to the house itself. It must have been so grand back in the 1800's - it's huge and the sweeping front drive would allow one to see the entire front of the building. We had a docent and their "shadow", a new docent learning the ropes, who were very informative and easy to be around. The tour actually starts in the "dependency", which we learned is just a fancy word for "outbuilding". ;) Fascinating to see how the enslaved persons would have cooked on a fireplace, although we weren't there for a demonstration. They do have those, though, so check for dates and times. Next was the big house and we covered the main rooms and a few rooms upstairs. Each room that is furnished had a story about the people who lived or visited. Many of the furnishings are original pieces; some returned from people who had acquired them over time, and some that remained when the last owner lived there. It's well worth an hour of your time if you like history and seeing some beautiful architecture, furnishings, and the like.

I enjoyed the demonstration. Kathy and Barbra taught me a lot. Between the cooking it felt like a…read morehistory lesson on much more, while also feeling like we were gossiping in the kitchen

Blooming as of May 9,2026 and not quite at peak. This is a big open field of peonies that leads to…read morethe lakeshore trail in Seneca Creek Park. Apparently it is a field of flowers from the personal and commercial collection of Edwin P. Schwartz's mansion home, which once overlooked the garden, is now Gaithersburg City Hall. In the 1940s the family moved their commercial garden operations to five acres in what is now Seneca Creek State Park. Great place for an instagram Mother's Day shoot. Not crowded even on a weekend, with minimal bees but lots of annoying gnats at this time of year. Parking is at the first left after the entrance booth, you will see the field and garden on your right. There is plenty of free parking on the grass across from the field on your left. There are tons of signage to get there. There is a three dollar entry fee for Maryland residents on weekends

Rating 4 stars due to the bugs (gnats) that were present around the gardens. Other than that it's a…read morereally pretty place to spend a few hours! Some of the plots were short on flowers but I had a great time nonetheless.

Absolutely gorgeous gardens and the best part is that admission is completely free…read more Rain or shine, the gardens were stunning and exceptionally well maintained. We were impressed by the variety of plant collections, some of which rivaled gardens we had previously paid admission to visit. Parking was free and we chose to park at the Visitor Center. However, those planning to visit the Butterfly Experience should park closer to the Conservatory, as the walk between the two was fairly substantial. The map was detailed and pathways were well maintained, making the grounds accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. We purchased tickets for the Butterfly Experience and check in was quick and seamless. I did find the additional $2 service charge unfortunate, especially since there was no option to purchase tickets in person. Thankfully, staff were flexible with entry timing. The volunteers were incredibly kind and guided visitors through the double door system efficiently. Inside, butterflies freely flew around the conservatory and many rested on the ground, so we had to stay mindful of where we stepped. I especially appreciated the bulletin board displaying all the butterfly species currently housed inside. The Children's Garden was relatively small but wonderfully colorful and dense with greenery. The vibrant artwork throughout added a whimsical charm that made the area feel playful and inviting. Nearby, the Winter Garden and Camellia Garden were similarly well maintained, though neither was particularly abundant in blooms during our visit. I still appreciated the many art installations scattered throughout the surrounding trails. The Fragrance Garden absolutely lived up to its name and ended up being one of my favorite sections. Beyond the floral aromas surrounding the garden, the entire area felt incredibly serene and the air itself felt remarkably fresh and crisp. The Japanese Tea House was beautifully simplistic, featuring plain wooden benches along the exterior while overlooking still water framed by lush Japanese trees. The Anderson Pavilion offered a similar tranquil atmosphere on the opposite side of the Visitor Center, though surrounded by a different collection of trees and landscaping. The Visitor Center contained a small gift shop, though I did not notice many customized or particularly memorable souvenirs. The building otherwise seemed primarily dedicated to educational programming and exhibits. The grounds were incredibly well maintained and there was an impressive variety of gardens to explore and interact with. While I found the Butterfly Experience somewhat expensive, it would absolutely be worthwhile for those who have never visited an active conservatory before. Otherwise, the free portions of Brookside Gardens alone make this an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area.

This is a lovely park and served as a great alternative to going downtown to see the cherry…read moreblossoms. They have areas to sit with various views of the lake. Dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals. There are centers on the premises that have bathrooms in addition to events and programs they give yearly.