Who We Are
Historic Ellicott City, Inc.
For over 50 years, Historic Ellicott City, Inc. has strived to preserve and restore the Ellicott City Historic District and other historic Howard County landmarks.
Founded in 1973, Historic Ellicott City, Inc. (HEC) is a non-profit organization that has dedicated itself to the preservation and promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of Ellicott City and Howard County. Over the years, HEC, Inc. has raised well over 2 million dollars in funds to protect and preserve historical landmarks, educate residents on the town’s history and advocate for policies and initiatives that support historic preservation at the local and state levels.
HEC, Inc. is best known for its decorator show houses, a fund raising initiative that has resulted in the restoration of historic homes and raised funds to support other preservation projects in Ellicott City and Howard County.
News & Advocacy
First Mill Town Tea
On the heels of our 50th Anniversary celebration we launched a collaborative venture between ourselves Historic Ellicott City, Inc. (HEC, Inc.) and the Howard County Historical Society (HCHS). MILL TOWN TEA, as it is called, was held November 9, 2023. This first tea...
50th Anniversary Party
On October 22, 2023, we celebrated our 50th Anniversary with a memory and fun filled event. We held our event at St. John's All Saints Hall. We had prominent speakers, including founding member and first recording secretary Sally Bright. [gallery columns="2"...
Howard House: The Centerpiece of Main Street Is Restored To Its Original Grandeur!
As a result of the success of our 34th show house, Oakdale (May-June 2022) which we reported on in our fall newsletter, we made a sizable contribution to Ron Peters, owner of the Howard House, to support his restoration of the second floor balcony and iron work....
EC 250 Time Capsule Dedication
On October 8, 2022 President Connie Siegel attended the dedication ceremony for the time capsule prepared by the board of EC 250 and the Time Capsule Committee. Not only was the ceremony held in front of the Merryman Street Cabin which our organization originally...
Events
Preservation Achievements
Preservation & Restoration Projects Over The Years
Historic Ellicott City, Inc.’s very first project was the restoration of the B&0 Railroad Station. HEC, Inc. and Howard County banded together to raise over $140,000 dollars to complete phase one of this project.
Over the years, HEC, Inc. has supported restoration efforts including the George Ellicott House, the Merryman Street (Thomas Isaac) Cabin and renovation efforts at Carrollton Hall. To learn more about our preservation achievements, explore the interactive history of each achievement by clicking the link below.
Contribute to Our Preservation & Restoration Mission
HEC, Inc. continues to actively find new fundraising projects and ways to support Ellicott City and Howard County preservation efforts so that future generations can understand and appreciate the history of our community. We hope you will consider participating in this effort with us.
Become a Member
Become a Volunteer
Donate to Our Cause
Visit Our Gift Shop
Fundraising Initiative
Annual Decorator Show Houses
Our passion for preservation is best known by our annual Decorator Show House. With over 30 successful show houses and counting, our efforts have led to successful partnerships with property owners in restoring our county’s historic homes and preserving them for future generations.
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