MoCo History

Did You Know Jim Morrison of The Doors Briefly Lived in Montgomery County?

By Patrick Herron

Jim Morrison was the lead singer of the rock band The Doors, who passed away at the age of 27 in 1971. Morrison is widely regarded as one of the “best singers” of all time”, coming in at #5 on Rolling Stone magazines “Best Lead Singers of All Time” list in 2011 and at #47 on the magazines “Best Singers of All Time” list, but did you know he also briefly lived in Montgomery County as a child?

Morrison was born in Florida in 1943. Due to his father being in the military, the family moved around a lot and briefly lived in Bethesda when Morrison was a toddler (photo below courtesy of the Bethesda Historical Society Facebook page

Go to Did You Know Jim Morrison of The Doors Briefly Lived in Montgomery County? Read more

Montgomery County Receives $322K in Heritage Grants for Local History and Preservation Projects

By Patrick Herron

Governor Wes Moore announced more than $4.6 million in matching grant awards to 91 Maryland nonprofits, local governments, and heritage tourism organizations to support place-based projects that promote economic growth, tourism, and community development across all 23 counties and Baltimore City through the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. (more…)

Go to Montgomery County Receives $322K in Heritage Grants for Local History and Preservation Projects Read more

Robert E. Peary High School Alumni to Dedicate Plaque Honoring USS Peary Mast at Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center

By Patrick Herron

Robert E. Peary High School alumni will gather on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center in Rockville to dedicate a rediscovered plaque honoring the USS Peary mast, which now stands at the center. The event celebrates a renewed connection between the former high school, the U.S. Navy vessel, and the educational center where the mast has quietly resided for years.

(more…)

Go to Robert E. Peary High School Alumni to Dedicate Plaque Honoring USS Peary Mast at Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center Read more

Montgomery County’s Lost High School: A Brief History of Peary High

By MCS Staff
The old Peary HS building as it looks today, per Google Maps

Robert E. Peary High School was located at 13300 Arctic Ave. in Aspen Hill, MD. It opened in the 1960 and closed in 1984 primarily due to declining enrollment. A Facebook group with over 4,000 members keeps its memories alive.

(more…)

Go to Montgomery County’s Lost High School: A Brief History of Peary High Read more

Maryland’s California Tortilla Celebrates 30 Years

By MCS Staff
The current Betheada location

California Tortilla, commonly known as Cal Tort, has grown from a single Montgomery County, Maryland establishment into a regional fast-casual dining chain serving “California-style” Mexican cuisine. Burrito Elito is the companies loyalty program that became popular in the early 2000s with many in the area carrying the card.

(more…)

Go to Maryland’s California Tortilla Celebrates 30 Years Read more

Maryland Restaurant Has Been Serving Some of the Best Crabcakes and Seafood For Over 100 Years

By MCS Staff

O’Donnell’s began in 1922 when Tom O’Donnell opened the Sea Grill at 1207 E Street NW in downtown Washington, DC. Now, O’Donnell’s Market operates at 1073 Seven Locks Rd. in the Potomac Woods Plaza (Rockville/Potomac, MD). Our very own Mr. MoCo recently ranked O’Donnell’s as his favorite crabcake in Montgomery County and in the top five in the entire state of Maryland. Photos are available below.

(more…)

Go to Maryland Restaurant Has Been Serving Some of the Best Crabcakes and Seafood For Over 100 Years Read more
View More Stories