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Blending modern with historic, the Hays-Heighe House connects the past to the present.

Built in 1808, and renovated in 2007, this historic property now acts as a museum for community members to learn about our heritage through tours, exhibits, and programming. The building is also used for classes, workshops, meetings, and other special events, as well as a rental facility for outside groups. 

Hays-Heighe House is one of the community’s touch points for the College. Our programs are a commitment-free way for people to test the waters of this Harford's culture of learning and exploration and see that they are welcome participants. It is a place where community members can interact with scholars and feel a camaraderie based on shared passion for particular subjects.

We invite you to discover this unique resource!

Visit the Hays-Heighe House Exhibits & Events

INTEGRATION NOW

The Harford Civil Rights Project
NEW EXHIBIT ON VIEW FEB 2 - JUN 30

Our upcoming exhibit at the Hays-Heighe House explores issues of race and civil rights in Harford County, and we need your help to pull it together! We would like to borrow and display the ephemera you have saved: flyers, leaflets, programs, pins, and more.

Even if your family was not directly involved in civil rights activities, you might still be able to help. Our three areas of focus are housing, education, and public accommodations (restaurants, theaters, rinks & links). If you have local ephemera along these lines from the 1940s through the early 1970s, we’re interested! Examples include menus, flyers, brochures, advertising, school books, schedules, clippings, report cards, or any other related paperwork. And of course, we’d love to display photographs you may have of family members at school, enjoying public accommodations, or in their newly-built housing.

If you have Harford County ephemera either directly relating to civil rights activities, or to local schools, housing or businesses in the 1940s through early 1970s, we’re interested in the items and in your stories that go with them! Please consider participating by loaning them for public display, and to help make this exhibit even more community based.

  • What is the time period? 1930s-1970s, taking a broad view of the civil rights movement to encompass earlier activities.
  • What kind of memorabilia? Flyers, leaflets, programs, pins, brochures, ads, menus, placemats, souvenir items, school spirit items, school schedules, clippings, school books, report cards. We’d also love to display related family photos.
  • What will we do with this stuff? Your loaned Items will be cataloged and carefully displayed in locked cases during our open hours for the duration of the exhibit.


Hays-Heighe House: Photos, Exhibits, and Events

Hays-Heighe House: A Brief History

1808: Archer and Hanna Hays build the 2-story stone farmhouse.

1828: Property becomes known as Prospect Hill Farm.

1840s: East wing addition built.

1921: Property acquired by Robert and Anne Heighe.

1964: Farm becomes campus of Harford Junior College, where the House is used as an administration building.

1972: House is named to the National Register of Historic Places.

2002: Administration offices move from the House, where AMC Decorator Showcase is held.

2006: Community & Campus Steering Committee determines future use.

2007: First of three renovation phases begins.

2009: Community focus group meetings held.

2010: June ribbon cutting ceremony, September exhibit opening.

2011: Open for community use and special events.

 

Accessibility

The Hays-Heighe House is wheelchair accessible. Guests who require other arrangements should contact Disability Support Services at least two weeks prior to visiting.