Accessible Art and History in Howard County

Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum – Ellicott City 

This small, historic museum in downtown Ellicott City highlights the importance of the B&O Railroad in the region. The wheelchair-accessible ground level features a gift shop, restrooms, and the Freight Agent's Office. A ramp leads to the second level, which houses the Superintendent's Office, Telegraph and Ticket Offices, Men's Waiting Room, and the Car House. Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Private tours are available for a per-person fee, and rental space can be booked for events. This charming, mostly accessible museum offers visitors a chance to step back in time to explore the railway history of Ellicott City and the surrounding area.

Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott CIty Station Museum, Ellicott City

Columbia Art Center – Columbia

The Columbia Art Center, part of the Columbia Association, is fully accessible with an ADA-compliant lift, ensuring everyone can enjoy its offerings. Conveniently located in downtown Columbia, the center hosts art classes for all ages, gallery exhibitions, art lectures, and a summer art camp for kids. It also has a gift shop and space for rent for events such as birthday parties. You can purchase one-of-a-kind artwork made by students and instructors at the Gallery Shop.

For easy access, avoid using the GPS if it directs you to the lower parking lot with steps. Instead, take the first right upon seeing the Stonehouse in the complex, park in the handicapped parking spaces, and follow the sidewalk past the Stonehouse to the art center entrance. If you park in the lower lot, use the glass double doors and ring both doorbells to be let in by a staff member. You can then use the elevator to reach the main level. Most visitors and students use this entrance to access the center.

Harriet Tubman Cultural Center - Columbia

Opened in 1949 as Howard County's only all-Black high school, the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center was closed in 1965 following desegregation. The building has been carefully preserved and transformed into a historical, cultural, and educational hub that honors the legacy of Harriet Tubman High School and highlights the contributions of African Americans in Howard County. Informational plaques and photographs line the hallways, providing insight into important historical figures and events. The center offers guided tours and field trips, with spaces available for rent.

The building is equipped with ADA lifts to bypass stairs on each level and includes an adult changing table in one of the restrooms, ensuring accessibility for all visitors.

Howard County Arts Council – Ellicott City

8510 High Ridge Road
Ellicott City, Maryland, 21043
Phone: 410-313-ARTS (2787)
www.hocoarts.org

The Howard County Arts Council provides over 2,100 square feet of exhibit space across two galleries, showcasing local, regional, and national artists. The resident studio wing also features works from Resident Artists. The one-level facility is easily accessible, with ramps near the front entrance and parking lot, as well as accessible parking spaces. All entrance doors are accessible, and the restrooms feature wide doorways and grab bars. The galleries are spacious and easy to navigate for visitors using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

Howard County Historical Society

The Howard County Historical Society has three museums that are accessible. The society also maintains a space at the Miller Branch Library https://hclibrary.org/ as its Historical Center and Archives. The library is fully ADA-compliant, with accessible parking and restrooms. Feel free to call the Society if you have additional questions about accessibility.

Museum of Howard County History

This museum is ADA accessible and has an ADA accessible restroom. There is an accessible parking space. All exhibits have text available to read, and there is a sound system for speakers and concert events.

Ellicott Mills Children's Museum

While this renovated historic building is not ADA-accessible, it offers interactive exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities for young children. An accessible parking space is available.

Howard County Public Libraries

Phone: 410-313-7800

https://hclibrary.org/

All six branches of the Howard County Public Library are ADA-compliant, with accessible restrooms, doorways, and entryways. The libraries provide large print books, closed captioned DVDs, books on CD, downloadable audiobooks, and accessible public computers. A link to the Maryland State Library for the Blind is available for additional resources. Contact the specific branch you plan to visit for information on additional accommodations available at that location.