Some of My Final Reflections on Howard County’s Historical Sites

    As this internship with Preservation Howard County began to wrap up, the final major piece of research involved locating old images of the listed sites, aiming to have both the written information about current states and uncover a visual of the changes to the sites. Although I had an idea of which sites had received attention and which had essentially been left to wither away over the years, it was helpful to have a visual representation. At the end of my internship, I put together a final presentation alongside a final document with all the information gathered about the sites I researched.

A summary of said presentation helps ascertain the final takeaways of this internship and what I learned along the way. To put everything I had gathered over the summer together, I split the sites between those that demonstrated clear deterioration and neglect and those that had received attention, either through restoration or reuse. The first list included: Clover Hill, Blandair, and Simpsonville Mill, three sites that clearly demonstrated the problems with leaving these sites alone. 

Throughout my time spent at each site, it was disheartening to witness how time had worn down the sites. All three are currently under the ownership of Howard County and have been for a while. Walking around each site, I fully understood the importance of caring for these sites. It’s easy to say that historical sites should be cared for, especially the ones that remain with us, but physically being around the sites and seeing the detrimental effects of neglect and pushing off plans for restoration hit a lot harder. Blandair really stuck with me, especially the slave quarters as the neglect of this site seems to go hand-in-hand with an unwillingness to confront the past of this region.

         

Blandair Entryway (2003/4 vs. 2024)

Blandair Slave Quarters Interior (2003 vs. 2024)

Seeing the sites that survived the test of time through restoration or reuse adds to that understanding of the importance of preservation efforts, witnessing the possibilities of these sites to remain standing. These sites were: Pfeiffer’s Corner Schoolhouse, the Columbia Exhibit Center, the Ellicott City Jail, and Mt. Ida. However, to be quite honest, these sites have been at least partially removed from their history in some way, demonstrating the question of how sites are preserved and often the placement of a structure over the actual history of the site. Mt. Ida stands out as an example of this as I learned early on that its use as an inn involved the interior being gutted of its historical integrity, leaving only plans for office use in its future. The building itself is still beautiful, but knowing its historical character has been stripped away is bittersweet. 

Mt. Ida Exterior (1854 Litograph vs. 2024)

Altogether, this experience was enlightening and allowed me to witness the world of preservation in action, or in some cases inaction. I loved the opportunity to be able to drive around and see history around me, even if the states of the sites may have been far from ideal. I only got a little taste of the history around me as there are many more historical sites in Maryland and this experience made me wish to know more about the history we have just sitting around us all.

Takeaways from an Icelandic Summer

During my time with Global Treks, I was able to contribute to a travel magazine about Iceland, but that description only scratches the surface of all that came from the internship. I was able to travel throughout the country, exploring historical landmarks like Thingvellir National Park as well as natural wonders like waterfalls and hot springs. I was also able to develop new and existing skills. Exploring Icelandic museums and writing about Icelandic history kept me in the familiar territory of public history, helping me apply classroom learning to actual historical work. I was also able to gain new skills. One of my favorite parts of the trip was a hike to an elevated lake where I was able to learn how to use GIS equipment and became one of the first people to officially map the trail we took. These experiences all contributed to the knowledge I gained during the internship and allowed me to have valuable takeaways from the trip. 

My main takeaway from my internship was how valuable trying new things can be. I had lots of questions about how applicable working on a travel magazine would be to public history. It was lucky that the section I was assigned was directly applicable to public history but even if it had not been, the experience still would have been worth it. As I have learned, skills can be applied almost anywhere once they are developed. Interviewing local Icelanders might translate into public speaking skills and suddenly being thrust into learning GIS equipment could translate into an example of adaptability in an interview or on a resume. Knowledge of the ability to apply these general experiences across fields would have made me much more eager to sign up for the Global Treks internship and is something that I have been trying to pass along so others do not make the same mistake I almost did. Through this internship I was able to push outside my public history comfort zone and learned to pursue interesting opportunities, even if they seem strange at first. 

Iceland is a beautiful country and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to explore it through the lens of my academic field. Writing about Iceland’s history and culture gave me immense experience both in my field and in life. It also led to some amazing experiences that I was able to share with other interns including exploring the worlds oldest parliament and walking in the Icelandic Independence day parade in Reykjavik. Looking back on the summer, it is easy to see how my historical skills were helped but I also developed a wealth of other skills and friendships that will serve me just as well in the future. Help with all of these skills in a single internship is not something I expected. Between these skills and the country I developed them in, Global Treks offered me more than I could have ever imagined when I first applied to work on a hiking magazine and this Icelandic summer is one I will certainly never forget. 

Icelandic Hot Dogs and History: Writing for Global Treks and Adventures

Interning with Global Treks offered a wealth of experiences stemming from all three phases of the project. My role was helping to produce a portion of the history and culture section to be included in the final magazine which allowed me to practice my research skills along with others. I was able to utilize these skills both while in Iceland and back home when working on my final draft. 

Each day in Iceland we had the opportunity to go to different places in the country to conduct research and get ideas for our sections of the publications. Each of these trips was valuable as we were able to meet local Icelanders, explore the country, and learn more about Icelandic history. One of the most valuable trips was to Thingvellir National Park, home of the oldest parliament in the world. We were able to explore the park’s museum which had exhibits about the history of the area and an exhibition on Icelandic independence to celebrate the nation's independence day. These exhibits gave me inspiration for two sections of my writing, focusing on Icelandic Independence and the Icelandic language. We happened to be visiting the museum at the same time as Iceland’s president which only added to the experience and afterwards, we explored the trails of the park. On the trails, we were able to see Iceland’s geologic history through the walls created by tectonic plates slowly pulling the country apart as well as Iceland’s cultural history through the law-speakers rock where the Althing was held and old farm ruins where we stopped for lunch. Thingvellir is an encapsulation of Iceland as a whole, full of rich history and beautiful nature that was incredible to explore. 

Thingvellir, along with meetings with local Icelanders and other exploration in Reykjavik provided inspiration for my final writings. In writing my final draft I combined notes from Iceland with additional research to produce a narrative of Icelandic history and culture for eventual readers. My four sections focused on the Icelandic language, the Icelandic Sagas, Iceland’s history of foreign rule and eventual independence, and a section on Icelandic Pylsas (hot dogs). Writing the final drafts involved researching which helped me improve those skills as I searched through databases, books, and general searches to find more information on each of these topics. Exploring Iceland allowed me to gain new skills but writing my sections of the magazine helped grow more direct historical tools of researching and writing about an unfamiliar place. Through Global Treks I was able to gain new knowledge as well as test my public history skills in an incredible place and it is an experience I will never forget.

Reflections and Takeaways-Be Creative!

 During the summer, I had the opportunity to work with Hope To You Community Church, where I helped with a project to collect the church's history through Oral History. Looking back at the Oral Internship with Hope To You Community Church, it was a fantastic opportunity that opened many theoretical doors into potential career paths I had not thought about. Even though this internship was not a typical internship that worked within a museum or archives, it was an experience that I will always be thankful for the chance. Even though this internship was in a small community and might not have made many connections within the field of Public History, the skills I learned were far more valuable as it is something that I can show.

As the final takeaway from this Summer internship, venturing into a project different from the norm is not inherently bad, as the skills developed will be universally helpful. The ability to have some talk to you, listening closely as well as recording it, and putting the pieces together seems easy. Still, from my experience, it was initially difficult to come up with the right questions that would develop into a casual conversation and not into an interrogation. However, over time, I learned how to write the question and how to keep the conversation going. It does not seem as much, but looking at this summer internship in a larger view, the internship helped me connect with people and the past.

Although I did not have a person to teach me the ropes on what to do, self-learning, I think, is what I enjoyed the most, with the rise of self-employment. This was an experience that I hope everyone can get. Whether it is in an internship with a direct supervisor or one that is present to check your progress but is hands-off any sort of internship is something that is whole heartily an experience that I was thankful for experiencing.

Collaboration is Key: My Main Takeaways

This summer was an incredible experience and only solidified my interest in working in museums. My main takeaway from my internship was how important collaboration is in the field. Without it, the museum wouldn’t be able to run properly or draw in any visitors. When I first applied for the internship, I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t be able to actually gain the experience I was looking for from an internship. I thought that it might be difficult to assess whether or not I wanted to be a curator at all by not shadowing one. However I tried to keep an open mind going into it and I am so glad I did.

Being an events and programming intern showed me how collaborative a museum workplace is. There are so many moving parts and although I want to be a curator someday, knowing these skills that are used to bring people into the museum is so important. I got to see that curators are only a small part of the bigger picture that makes a museum successful and it is only after working together with each team that an exhibit can really shine. My mentor’s hard work and diligence showed me this as I experienced how she uses her role to highlight everything that the curators, archivists, and restorationists accomplish. It was only through communication with several departments that events could be created in order to call attention to what was going on in the museum. Without the marketing and events teams, many people wouldn’t know about all of the things that the museum has to offer. It’s easy to see just the curator’s role in making a museum happen, but after working at the B&O Railroad Museum I was able to see just how important all of the moving parts of a museum are as a way to propel it forward.

Blog Post 3: Reflections on My Internship and Research Journey

 

As my internship with the Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC) comes to an end, I am reflecting on everything I have learned and the experiences I have gained. This internship gave me the chance to dive into history, connect it to global events, and contribute to UREC’s efforts to preserve and share the powerful legacy of the Underground Railroad.

About UREC

The Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC) is a non-profit organization that research, preserves, and shares the history of the Underground Railroad. It highlights the movement as more than just a network of “safe houses,” focusing on the courage, leadership, and civil disobedience of enslaved African Americans who sought freedom. Based in the Capital Region of New York, where thousands of freedom seekers passed through before the Civil War, UREC connects this history to modern social justice issues. Founded by Paul and Mary Liz Stewart, the Center uncovers overlooked stories and emphasizes African American leadership, showing the Underground Railroad as America’s first civil rights movement. Their work has inspired me to see history to understand and address today’s injustices.

Exploring Global Connections through History

My research focused on finding links between the American Civil War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857, two major struggles for justice in the mid-19th century. Although these events happened far apart, they both challenged oppressive systems—slavery in the U.S. and British imperial rule in India. Leaders like Jotiba Phule in India were inspired by the abolition of slavery in America, comparing caste discrimination to the suffering of African American slaves in his book Gulamgiri (Slavery), which he dedicated to American abolitionists. This showed how the fight for justice in one place can inspire movements in another.

I also explored how figures like Sayyid Ahmed Khan and A.O. Hume in India worked to create change, much like abolitionists in the U.S. Their efforts to address inequalities echoed the global call for reform and justice. Additionally, tensions such as the British land policies under the doctrine of lapse in India and the Fugitive Slave Act in the U.S. highlighted how economic and social systems fueled both revolts. Both movements, while separate, reflected a shared human desire for freedom and equality.

Finding direct connections between these events was challenging, as most resources focus on them individually. However, by focusing on common themes like resistance to oppression and the push for justice, I was able to see how these struggles are part of a larger story of global resistance.

My Takeaway

This internship has been a life-changing experience. I’ve learned that history is not just about dates and facts—it’s about people, their struggles, and their resilience. These stories show that the fight for justice is universal and crosses borders and time periods. Through this work, I’ve developed research and critical thinking skills that will help me in my studies and future career. More importantly, I leave this internship inspired by UREC’s mission and the belief that understanding history can empower us to make the world a more just place.