Schifferstadt Architectural Museum
Schifferstadt Architectural Museum
4.5
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This house is the oldest in Frederick, Maryland, dating to 1756. Closed during the winter.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
51 reviews
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33
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14
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Boyce R
Frederick Md7 contributions
Feb 2022
Schifferstadt is one of the best examples in America of German house design. Guides will point out the German (as opposed to English) features.
The most distinctive feature is the heating system, which was state-of-the-art in its day. It supplied clean (no smoke), safe (no sparks), energy efficient (heat a house with 1/4 as much wood as needed with English fireplaces), radiant heat. The house holds the only example such a heating system still in the place where it was installed.
That's a key reason the house is one of only two National Historic Landmarks in Frederick County. That's the highest honor bestowed by the National Park Service. (The other is the Monocacy Battlefield.)
The most distinctive feature is the heating system, which was state-of-the-art in its day. It supplied clean (no smoke), safe (no sparks), energy efficient (heat a house with 1/4 as much wood as needed with English fireplaces), radiant heat. The house holds the only example such a heating system still in the place where it was installed.
That's a key reason the house is one of only two National Historic Landmarks in Frederick County. That's the highest honor bestowed by the National Park Service. (The other is the Monocacy Battlefield.)
Written 18 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelkitty50
Frederick, MD918 contributions
Oct 2021
After our previous visit during Octoberfest (pre-COVID) I wanted to go again but I don't think they have opened since then. If anyone out there knows, please post it since I'm sure that many others are interested in going back for Oktoberfest. It is a great family experience and very popular in Frederick. There are vendors that also set up and sell things outside the property. The people in charge really keep it authentic, which I think is why visitors enjoy being there so much.
Written 16 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
the4thr
3 contributions
You feel German upon entering this historic place. Very nice people guide you through. Lots of history.
Written 21 July 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wbullseye
Windermere, FL1,321 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
I decided to stop at the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum on a Sunday afternoon based on the bad weather and it sounded interesting. The museum is one of the oldest buildings in Frederick, MD and the home of German immigrants from the village of Klein Schifferstadt (hence the name). It is only open on the weekends and has limited hours April thru October. The website had conflicting hours that stated it was from 1300-1600 Saturdays and Sundays, and at the bottom of the page it mentions that it is open only on Saturdays from 1200-1600. I would plan on it being open both days, but don't know the true hours of operation. The museum is technically free, but they do ask for a $5 donation per adult.
The museum is as it was basically since around 1758 with only minor changes. As the docent stated, the house survived due to none of the tenants or landlords who occupied the house after the Brunner family sold the property. Only routine upkeep was conducted, so you get to view the building as it was originally when it was built. A docent takes you through the house and provides detailed information about the property and its unique features, as well as what is known of the Brunner family.
You get an opportunity to see the first two floors and the cellar. There is an attic which is not on the tour. In one of the rooms you can still see some of the remaining "Schifferstadt pink" paint along the walls. It got that name due to the fact the color was favored back in that town in Germany, confirmed by a German visitor from their who mentioned it is still used in government and private buildings. It is little things like this and the interior enclosed staircase in the kitchen to the cellar, that make this museum stand out. You don't get to see lot of artifacts or displays, but you do get to see a historical home and its features.
I would highly recommend the Schifferstadt Museum if you are in the Frederick or Baltimore area. It is well worth the visit. I would plan on 45 minutes to tour the museum. There is parking across the street in a church parking lot s well as along the road in front of the museum (although I'd feel more comfortable across the street). The house is not assessable for the handicapped, which is expected given when it was built. There a couple of steep staircases to navigate as well.
The museum is as it was basically since around 1758 with only minor changes. As the docent stated, the house survived due to none of the tenants or landlords who occupied the house after the Brunner family sold the property. Only routine upkeep was conducted, so you get to view the building as it was originally when it was built. A docent takes you through the house and provides detailed information about the property and its unique features, as well as what is known of the Brunner family.
You get an opportunity to see the first two floors and the cellar. There is an attic which is not on the tour. In one of the rooms you can still see some of the remaining "Schifferstadt pink" paint along the walls. It got that name due to the fact the color was favored back in that town in Germany, confirmed by a German visitor from their who mentioned it is still used in government and private buildings. It is little things like this and the interior enclosed staircase in the kitchen to the cellar, that make this museum stand out. You don't get to see lot of artifacts or displays, but you do get to see a historical home and its features.
I would highly recommend the Schifferstadt Museum if you are in the Frederick or Baltimore area. It is well worth the visit. I would plan on 45 minutes to tour the museum. There is parking across the street in a church parking lot s well as along the road in front of the museum (although I'd feel more comfortable across the street). The house is not assessable for the handicapped, which is expected given when it was built. There a couple of steep staircases to navigate as well.
Written 10 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Goyde
Washington DC, DC87 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
Very fun afternoon. Beautiful setting, good crowd. Beer lines too long and struesel not original German recipe... more like Sara Lee
Written 22 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BDM05
Springfield, VA17 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Don't be expected to be dazzled by original to the family or period pieces of furniture, fine dinnerware, silk reproductions, or fully restored rooms on your visit to Shifferstadt. The value in visiting this home is to see, in its original and unrestored glory, the German architecture of this home, which is in stark contrast to techniques employed in Colonial homes of the same era. The Germans were so efficient in their thought processes of design at the time that you will likely walk away asking yourself, "What were those English folks thinking when they build their homes?"
Written 15 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
floridalady1
Okahumpka, FL88 contributions
Oct 2014
Schifferstadt is worth a visit all year long. For me it was a nice surprise to get to know that Schifferstadt was built from people of my home state Rhineland-Palantine, just 30 min away from my hometown. For sure everybody should at least once attend the annual Oktoberfest!
Written 8 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jose
Herndon, VA198 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
If you are at all a history or architecture fan, or have an interest in Germans or are simply curious, this is a worthwhile stop. The tour takes about 45 minutes which you would think would be overkill, but it's not. It's very interesting. It's free but a $5 per person donation is suggested. The house was built by and home to a prosperous German immigrant by the name of Joseph Brunner, who had been secretary to the Prince Bishop of Speier, Germany (not a bad gig if you could get it in those days!). The details which he incorporated into the house, which the docent will share with you, are quite remarkable for a home that dates to 1758! Go!
Written 5 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2005-travel-lover
Frederick, MD547 contributions
Dec 2012
I have toured this house many times over the past 20 years and always enjoy seeing the building and introducing out-of-towners to old Frederick history. The people taking care of the house and the tour change from time to time, but are always friendly and knowledgeable. You can't go wrong here. Please leave them a donation to help with upkeep!
Written 22 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bravo J
San Francisco, CA43 contributions
Sept 2016 • Friends
Interesting place to visit if you're into architecture/old buildings. We stopped here on our way into Frederick proper. We didn't pay the $5 to enter the building but looked through the window. :) I guess we were being a bit cheap! Beautiful building! I would have been ok if we didn't stop here!
Written 24 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is my understanding that this is the historic home of my ancestors the "Bruners" or "Brunners". Is that correct?
Written 15 July 2017
Would that not depend on what Brunners you descent from? :)
Written 13 September 2017
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