The Tourism Council’s project has been presented in numerous public forums as the plans have developed. These include:

Spring 2005 – Discussion with the Board of County Commissioners for Frederick County culminating in a vote to separate the site desired for this project from a larger site being proposed for a new centralized County Board of Education headquarters, reserving the opportunity for the Tourism Council to pursue purchase of the proposed project site.

Spring 2005 – Discussion with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Frederick culminating in an agreement to sell the site to the Tourism Council at a preferential rate, based on an appraisal that predated the extension of East Street to the site.

November 2005 – Briefing of the Frederick County State Legislative Delegation on the proposal. The Delegation anticipated such a project when drafting the Frederick County Hotel Rental Tax legislation in 2004, including a provision allowing the Frederick County Commissioners to earmark a portion of the hotel tax revenues to provide local funds toward a new tourist center.

December 8, 2005 – An evening informational and public input meeting. Hosted by the Tourism Council in the Community Room of the Frederick County Library in Frederick.

January 23, 2006 – An afternoon informational and public input gathering meeting was hosted by the Tourism Council in the meeting room of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick.

Attendees at the public meetings included representatives of businesses, museums, Main Street programs, the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Frederick Arts Council, clergy, parks, residents, a neighborhood advisory council, developers of downtown projects, the City of Frederick, and the City of Brunswick.

The proposed project is also being presented to civic groups such as the Frederick Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Clubs of Fredericktowne and Frederick, and the local chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Briefings/input meetings were held with the Director of Frederick County TransIT Services; representatives of municipalities, organizations, merchants, attractions, developers, parks, clergy, residents, the MD Office of Tourism Development-DBED; MD State Highway Administration-MDOT (Scenic Byway Coordinator & District 7 Engineer), MD Parks Service – DNR, National Park Service, the Heart of the Civil War MD Heritage Area, Economic Development Director for the City of Frederick and others.

Input received at these presentations of the proposed project concept has been uniformly positive. Ideas include:

What amenities or features would you like to see included in the new Frederick Visitor Center?

  • Exhibit room   
  • Information Kiosks   
  • Orientation center – incorporate historical context into everything!   
  • Expertly designed exhibits, very high caliber   
  • Use of “spokes” to link region’s Civil War battlefields and sites
  • Preservation of building’s history (renovation materials, etc.)
  • Lots of bathrooms!
  • Use of local/native materials in the reconstruction/renovation
  • Expand landscaping to boundaries for large outdoor/patio area
  • Downtown Frederick Kiosk – interactive computer kiosk/directory
  • Special events display – highlight upcoming events & current events
  • Great American Main Street Award destination
  • More trains scheduled at the MARC station so people can visit with public transportation on weekends. Why not hourly service to/from Rockville METRO station?
  • Space for non-profit tourism – related organizations
  • Meeting rooms
  • Highlight art exhibits, theater, Weinberg events
  • Display on the “Clustered Spires” of Frederick City
  • Public art is very compelling and doesn’t have to be expensive
  • Lovely seating outdoors – fun
  • Looped films that you can enter at anytime
  • Monitors for PowerPoint photo slideshows as part of displays
  • A small exhibit area devoted to our local historic sites to rotate so we all have the opportunity to put in exhibit experience was positive

Other comments included:

  • It was noted the building was originally scheduled for demolition in 1999 and we are fortunate that the building was saved.   
  • One resident stated that the new visitor center will set the precedent for other structures to be built along the East Street corridor and this site will set the tone for a visitors experience in Frederick.
  • Multi-use finishes – easy to repaint, easy to hang, also easy to focus lights for display, easy surfaces can either be impervious or easily resurfaced.
  • Long overdue & welcome.
  • Consider using images from photo collections to blow up and use in design.
  • Try to help with City with parking deck signage.
  • I like the spoke idea.
  • Continue to grow your great walking tour map that shows restaurants/hotels, etc.
  • An education niche with grade-level ideas for historic sites to visit.

Throughout 2006 and 2007, Tourism Council staff, Board members, and community stakeholders continue to meet at the subcommittee level.  Subcommittees include Design, Exhibit Planning, and Video Production.  A combined worksession was held in January 2007 as plans reached 65% completion, to identify remaining tasks for 2007.  Interested parties are urged to contact the Tourism Council.