Vienna Heritage Foundation

…preserving the past for future generations

       Hurst & Brother Station - 1929

Our museum opened in 2002, and is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Vienna area. Our building is the old Hurst and Brother Service Station and Confectionary Shop which operated on this site from the 1920s until the 1970s.

The museum contains a large assortment of artifacts, antiques, photographs and historic memorabilia from Vienna and the surrounding area.

Our current feature display is the Martinek Button Factory from Elliott Island, MD. The factory produced mother of pearl buttons until 1999, when owner Daniel Martinek closed the last operating family button factory in the country and donated his equipment to us.

Martinek Button Factory - 1950

Vienna Heritage Museum

We invite you to visit our museum soon, and enjoy the many interesting displays available. If you have visited us before, please stop in again, as new resources are being added on a regular basis.

Our museum also welcomes special prearranged group tours. Interesting displays, demonstrations of the button factory in operation, guided tram tours of Historic Vienna, and special museum events are scheduled all year. Please contact Curator Tom Bradshaw at 410.221.1450 for information.

A Walking Tour of Historic Vienna

We have available a full color walking tour map and guide of the town. Historic highlights and points of interest are pictured with brief explanations of their historical significance.

The brochures are available at the museum and other Dorchester County tourist information facilities, by download, or by mail upon request.

Donating Memorabilia and Artifacts

Anyone wishing to contribute or loan area artifacts, antiques, or memorabilia to the museum's collection should contact Curator Tom Bradshaw at 410.221.1450 for assistance. All contributions are appreciated and handled with care.

Foundation Meetings

Guests are always welcome at our regular foundation meetings which are held at the museum on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 PM. We are actively seeking new members to help with all aspects of current foundation projects and events. If you are interested, please contact any member or come to one of our regular meetings. The museum is located at 303 Race Street.

Vienna Heritage Museum Expansion Plans

The Vienna Heritage Foundation is currently reviewing plans for a major expansion at the museum in the future. The expanded facilities will house Vienna's first fire engine, a restored 1936 Ford, a recently acquired significant Native American Artifact collection, a new meeting room and other amenities.

               A simulated night view of the proposed Vienna Heritage Museum expansion - 2007