Sandy Spring Museum
Sandy Spring Museum
The Sandy Spring Museum was established in 1980 in Sandy Spring, Maryland as a tribute to the history of the community of Sandy Spring. At this museum you will find artifacts from the settlers, such as old clocks, buggies, and other items they used in their everyday lives.
The museum is divided into six separate facilities.
The Exhibit Hall is constructed in the old manner of how the Quakers built the earliest types of barns and buildings. This facility is where you will mostly find objects and photographs reminiscent of daily life for the settlers and shapers of the community.
The Farm Exhibit building is another part of the museum. Here you will find equipment and tools that the people of the community used for gardening and other such work around the house and grounds. The Carriage House is part of this exhibition - buggies and even an old-fashioned wicker sled are on display here.
The Dr. Bird Meeting Room is another important part of the museum. Dr. Jacob Bird was a doctor in the settling community and founded Montgomery General Hospital. This meeting room is an octagonal shape, as were many Quaker meeting houses. Many believe this is because an octagon, like a circle, favors equality where all people are welcome.
The Farquhar Gallery features temporary art displays. The art is along one wall, while tables and chairs are set along the opposite wall made of windows. This type of environment persuades visitors to sit and reflect the artists' works.
The Bentley Courtyard, which is surrounded on three sides by the museum and a fourth by a wall of evergreen trees, was designed and is maintained by the museum's Garden Club. Bricks in the garden bear the names of families, businesses and local organizations. The courtyard is named after Jack Bentley whose wife, Helen, donated the land on which the museum was built.
The Marcus Administrative Wing contains the offices, kitchen, and storage. This wing also houses the research and reference library and archives, which is open to the public. You can look up general local history or perform genealogical searches. Research historic homes or businesses. The archives contain old diaries, letters and deeds.
The Sandy Spring Museum is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am-4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-4pm.
