The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
enjoyed a stroll through Hagerstown City Park
501 Virginia Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
June 23, 2017

Hagerstown City Park is a public urban park just southwest of the central business district of Hagerstown, Maryland. The park is located at the junction of Virginia Avenue, Key Street, Walnut Street, Prospect Street, and Memorial Boulevard.

In 1916, under pressure from the public, the City of Hagerstown purchased land to be used for the City Park. The Maryland State General Assembly passed a bill creating a five-member Park Commission in 1918. Three years later, a swamp in the park was drained, and that created Lower Lake. In 1924, Mr. and Mrs. Singer donated the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts to City Park.

Some people refer to City Park as "America's Second Most Beautiful City Park" and has been designated as a local Preservation Design District since 1989. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The district also includes the surrounding industrial area and residential neighborhoods. It consists largely of a late 19th and early 20th century residential area with most houses dating from 1890-1930.

The plaque for the Hot Air Balloon art is shown below.

Below: The two sides of the hot air balloon labeled Soaring Silhouettes

Below: This is the third time that the two RV Gypsies have seen a piece of the World Trade Center Beam. The other photos can be seen by using the red letter buttons at the bottom of almost any page, and choosing the Red Letter W, then scrolling down the page.

Below: The two RV Gypsies enjoyed browsing inside the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. No photographs were allowed to be taken inside the museum.

Below: An important notice about feeding bread to ducks. BREAD can actually be harmful to ducks. Proper food for ducks was sold in the park. Please be sure your children are aware of this. Thank you.

Below: There were ducks and swans at every step waiting for a treat. (no bread please).

Below: The two RV Gypsies enjoyed strolling along the walkway encircling Lower Lake, plus the pond with a water fountain, and two cute statues.

Below: There are numerous walking paths and playgrounds in the park as well as athletic facilities such as lighted tennis courts and a baseball field. An outdoor concert stage which holds city events including part of Western Maryland Blues Festival is located in the center of City Park, some museums.

Below; The Hagerstown Railroad Museum offers birthday parties for children. The museum is open by appointment only Sunday through Thursday, so the two RV Gypsies were unable to go inside. A minimum of 48 hours advance notice is required to schedule a group tour. The facility is available for private party rental upon request.

It features hundreds of signs, signals, bells, telephones and tools that were used by railroad workers throughout history. Most of the items in this significant collection came from the Western Maryland Railroad Company. Of special interest are an 1885 Pump Car and an 1875 Velocipede; both vehicles transported workers to rails or rail cars to make repairs.

The crown jewel of the museum is Steam Engine 202. This Locomotive was built in 1912 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and it carried passengers and baggage between Baltimore and Hagerstown. It was retired in 1953. Totaling 77 feet in length, the engine weighs 415,000 pounds. Steam Engine 202 is the only Western Maryland road-type steam locomotive in existence.

In addition to the locomotive and its coal tender, eight cabooses are also on display.

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