Recognizing the lack of higher education opportunities in
Washington County, Maryland, in 1999, local leaders campaigned to have a new regional center of the
University System of Maryland. The new center was targeted for the closed Baldwin House Hotel building in the city's rundown
central business district. Hagerstown was eventually selected as the site for the educational facility which opened in 2005. Built in 1881 the
Second Empire style, the Baldwin House Hotel was a four story hotel located at 36-46 West Washington Street. The building stands on the site of two former hotels, the Globe Tavern and the Washington House along the
National Pike. The hotel closed in 1914 from fire damage and was later used as retail space. Dr. Jacob Ashby is the third Executive Director of the center. ==Collaborating institutions==