ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — Ellicott City was first founded in 1772, and it remains one of the most relevant cities in modern-day Maryland. Situated in Howard County, Ellicott City has consistently been the center of historical events and offers a variety of old architecture to explore in 2026. As a designated National Historic District, we’re going to walk you through a few interesting things you didn’t know about Ellicott City.
Though the Quaker population in Ellicott City has dwindled over the years, it was originally founded by three Quaker brothers by the names of Andrew, John and Joseph Ellicott. The trio relocated from Pennsylvania to Maryland in 1772, creating various farms, mills and a granite quarry in what they began calling Ellicott’s Mills — a name that would later change to Ellicott City in 1867.
The Ellicott brothers were known for their distinct approach to farming, which focused on using fertilizers to grow grain, as opposed to the focus on tobacco farming that dominated the local region at the time. The motivation of three brothers laid the foundation of Ellicott City in the late 1700s, though the influx of new residents helped further the Maryland community’s goal and establish it into the historic city you see today.
Though not many outside of Ellicott City know the impact the Ellicott brothers had on the region, they’re mentioned often in historical accounts of the Maryland city.
Flooding is a common occurrence in Ellicott City due to its location near the Patapsco River and Tiber River. Over a dozen major floods have wreaked havoc on the community throughout the last 250 years, including Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and Hurricane Eloise just a few years later in 1975.
Most notably of all, the Great Flood of 1868 occurred when the Patapsco River rose 21 feet, causing extreme destruction in its path. Following the 1868 flood’s conclusion, 43 people had been killed by the natural disaster.
Though terrible storms occur in the modern day as well, the lack of technology in 1868 is one of the reasons why the Great Flood of Ellicott City took so many lives from the community.
Babe Ruth is one of the most revered baseball players in American history, having played for both the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Born in Baltimore in 1895, Ruth has other connections in Maryland as well, including to Ellicott City.
Ruth married his first wife, Helen Woodford, at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church located in Ellicott City, Maryland, in October 1914. The famous baseball player had been raised at the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys in the city of Baltimore, where he found his Catholic faith.
Even though Babe Ruth never lived in Ellicott City, his marriage ceremony is one of the most interesting things about the community’s history.
There’s plenty of historic architecture to visit in Ellicott City, but perhaps the most important to the city’s legacy is the Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station. The B&O Ellicott City Station was built all the way back in 1830, and it’s presently the oldest railroad station in the entire country that’s survived until the modern day.
This railroad took passengers between Baltimore and Ellicott City, which was known as Ellicott’s Mills in the early 1800s. The B&O Ellicott City Station is one of the city’s claims to fame, and it still exists in 2026 as a museum to help visitors learn about the railway.
For those who love history, you can visit the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum year-round for free to explore a model, the railroad ticket office and other fascinating tidbits that’ll immerse you in the 19th century.
Before the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad came to fruition, the first federally funded highway in America paved its way through Ellicott City. Known widely as the National Road, construction on the historic pathway began in 1811.
The National Road stretched between Illinois and Maryland, with a pathway near Ellicott City’s Main Street being an essential part of the American highway. Main Street is still very lively in 2026, as it’s home to historic architecture and a variety of local businesses.
Ellicott City is one of the most important cities for transportation innovation in the United States, which is a core reason why it remains a popular Maryland city to visit centuries after its original founding.
