USMH History
Enriching local education since 2005
Located in the heart of downtown Hagerstown, the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH) sits on a landmark site with a rich history dating back to 1790. From hosting George Washington at the original Globe Tavern to housing the grand Baldwin House hotel and Academy of Music, our location has served as a cornerstone of our Hagerstown community for centuries. Today, thanks to big goals and a modern renovation, USMH continues this legacy as a hub for higher education.
Our History in Downtown Hagerstown
Students of USMH study within a former landmark of Hagerstown, MD, with a longstanding and proud history. The original building was built in 1790 as the Globe Tavern. Due to its good location along the National Pike, now referred to as U.S. Route 40, The Globe was a popular inn, and hosted some famous guests, most notably our first president, George Washington.
As Hagerstown grew, The Globe Tavern was demolished, and a spacious hotel was built, called The Washington House. The four-story Washington House dominated the Hagerstown skyline for 23 years and eventually was demolished in the Civil War era. After the Washington House’s demise, the Baldwin house was built and is now part of the current USMH building.
Built in 1880, the Baldwin House served as a grand hotel with many new and modern amenities for its guests including a large theater called the Academy of Music. Many guests stayed in its spacious and well decorated rooms, and throughout the twentieth century it served many functions.
Renovation to our Modern Educational Center
In the 1990s, the building had fallen from its glory and many wondered what would come of the facility. The University System of Maryland submitted a proposal to house its new higher education center in the building and the proposal was accepted. The old Baldwin House was to be beautifully restored and transformed into a new home for higher education.
Combining modern with old world design, the current building is an architectural feat. With its majestic five-story windows and its open floor plan, the modern addition is visually astounding, and the original sections have been restored with historical accuracy and grandeur.
The completed renovation with the addition is 77,000 square feet. It boasts 44 offices, 22 classrooms, four interactive video network (IVN) classrooms, six computer labs, two nursing labs and a library/media center.
The USMH center is an architectural achievement in downtown Hagerstown.
Excerpted from, “The Baldwin Story,” by Alan N. Clingan
$23,547
Average cost of a 4-year degree, in comparison to $128,496 at University of Maryland’s main campus!
6 in 1
USMH is home to six Maryland universities, all from one central Hagerstown campus.
98%
Of USMH graduates feel that USMH prepared them for their career
