Effective July 1, 2010 the Waters House is CLOSED to the public.

The Montgomery County Historical Society continues to experience unprecedented reductions to its funding from all sources, including a decrease in direct county funding of 50% for fiscal year 2011.  As a result, the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Historical Society has been forced to make a number of difficult decisions, including terminating the lease with M-NCPPC to steward the Waters House History Center in Germantown. For more information about the closure of the Waters House History Center, click here. 

The Waters House, originally known as Pleasant Fields, was built in three sections, the oldest of which dates from the 1790s. This early brick farmhouse was built by Basil Waters, a member of a prominent Montgomery County family. Over the course of the 19th century the house was added onto and improved by Basil’s son Zachariah, and later by Zachariah’s cousin Dr. William A. Waters. In the late 19th century Dr. Waters’ son Charles operated a breeding and training facility for standardbred horses on the farm.

The Waters family sold the house in the early 1930s, and a series of owners and tenants followed. When the land was acquired by the Milestone development company, the house was saved and refurbished. Today it is owned by Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission, and operated by the Montgomery County Historical Society as an upcounty resource center.  To learn about our current exhibit, click here.

Location
12535 Milestone Manor Lane, Germantown MD, 20876
(301)515-2887

Hours
Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10-4, or by appointment. Closed major holidays.

Fees
There is no admission charge for the Waters House History Center.

What You'll Find
The Germantown campus of the Historical Society is made up of the Waters House, a ca. 1790s farmhouse (with later additions), and several original outbuildings.  The Waters House includes exhibit galleries, a research library, and a museum shop.  The house is not furnished as a traditional historic house museum.  Tours of the exhibits are self-guided; a walking tour, also self-guided, of the grounds is available.

Access
The public areas of the Waters House are handicapped accessible.

Directions
From 1-270: Take the Father Hurley Blvd. Exit (16A) toward Route 355 and Damascus.  Turn left at the first stop light onto Observation Drive.  At the first stop light turn right onto Royal Crown Drive.  Go around the circle to Milestone Manor Lane and the house will be ahead on the left after you pass Gibbs Elementary School.

From Route 355: Turn west on Ridge Road toward I-270.  Turn right at the first stop light onto Observation Drive and follow the directions above.