Emmitsburg in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Emmitsburg
Sacred Mountain Sanctuary
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2020
After playing host to native peoples for centuries, Catoctin Mountain has served home to European settlers since the 1730’s. Among the first to come to what was considered “the backlands of the province” were descendants of English Catholics who had founded Maryland in 1634 and who would establish a famous religious community and schools here.
Hearty settlers like William Elder found a “heavenly” setting in this picturesque landscape that would come to be known as St. Mary’s Mount. Tradition says that the first mass took placed in Elder’s home in 1745. Sixty years later, a French émigré named John Dubois came to this area with instructions to build a Catholic seminary on Catoctin’s face. Elizabeth Ann Seton arrived shortly thereafter in 1809, creating a religious community of women and the parochial school system.
In 1785, resident Samuel Emmit entered into an agreement with neighbors to sell land lots to create a market center for surrounding farmsteads. Fittingly the village would take the name of Emmitsburg and quickly became known as the most productive wheat-growing area in the nation.
During the American Civil War, Catoctin Mountain screened the movements of the armies, while Emmitsburg served as a front line staging area and fall-back position during the nearby Battle of Gettysburg. Afterwards, many of the wounded were treated by Mother Seton’s Daughters of Charity.
The former St. Joseph’s College is now the site of the National Fire Academy and features a national memorial dedicated to those fire and rescue professionals who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Erected by Catoctin Mountain Town & Communities.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Education • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1634.
Location. 39° 42.507′ N, 77° 18.83′ W. Marker is in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker can be reached from Catocin Mountain Highway (U.S. 15), in the median. Located at the visitor center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17300 Catoctin Mountain Hwy, Emmitsburg MD 21727, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Emmitsburg (here, next to this marker); Emmitsburg Longrifles (a few steps from this marker); Gettysburg Campaign (within shouting distance of this marker); Monsignor Hugh J. Phillips (within shouting distance of this marker); The Town of Emmitsburg, Maryland (within shouting distance of this marker); Thurmont (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Thurmont (within shouting distance of this marker); Korean War Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Emmitsburg.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 494 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on August 16, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on November 12, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on August 2, 2019, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.