In this wide-ranging collection of essays, local historians explore various intersections of political, economic, and social interests that have played a significant role in shaping the mid-Maryland counties of Frederick, Washington, and Carroll, and indeed the nation. From the ravishes of the Civil War, through the development of transportation and industrial infrastructure, to individuals' search for meaning through protest and change, editors Barbara and Michael Powell have selected essays, originally presented as part of the Catoctin Center for Regional Studies annual conferences, that paint an intriguing, informative, and provocative portrait of mid-Maryland's history.