Introduction to Germantown, Maryland
Germantown is an unincorporated municipality in Montgomery County, Maryland. Serviced principally by Interstate I-270 and Maryland State Highway 27, Germantown is situated 20 miles southeast of Frederick, 53 miles west of Baltimore, and 30 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Although the majority of early residents in the area were of Scottish and English descent, many of the shops in the area's first commercial center were owned by a group of German immigrants, a fact which most likely explains the community's name. Although small throughout much of its history, Germantown has exploded in population since the 1970s and is today a large and urbanized municipality.
Germantown Area Attractions
Performing arts in Germantown can be found at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, which brings quality performing, visual, and arts education programs to the community. Another Germantown attraction is the Seneca Schoolhouse. Established in 1865, the one-room schoolhouse is a reminder of the early days of public education and now serves as a museum and teaching facility with a scenic picnic area.
Only a half-hour away, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is home to several attractions of all types including the following:
- National Gallery of Art
- Capital Children's Museum
- The Octagon Museum
- International Spy Museum
- Woodrow Wilson House Museum
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Smithsonian Institution
- National Postal Museum
- National Air and Space Museum
- The National Zoo
- Shakespeare Theatre
- The Washington Opera
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- The Washington Ballet
Professional sports can be found in nearby Frederick, home of Minor League Baseball's Frederick Keys, a Class Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. A little further away in the city of Washington, the following pro teams call the city their home:
- Hockey: Washington Capitals (NHL)
- Baseball: Washington Nationals (MLB)
- Soccer: DC United (MLS)
- Men's basketball: Washington Wizards (NBA)
- Women's basketball: Washington Mystics (WNBA)
