The Maryland Center for History & Culture collects, preserves, & interprets the history, art, & culture of Maryland. Formerly the Maryland Historical Society. The Maryland Center for History and Culture collects, preserves, and interprets the history, art, and culture of Maryland. The Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) collects, preserves, and interprets the history, art, and culture of Maryland. Originally founded as the Maryland Historical Society in 1844, MCHC inspires critical thinking, creativity, and community by exploring multiple perspectives and sharing national stories through the lens of Maryland. As the oldest continuously operating nonprofit cultural institution in the state, MCHC houses a collection of 7 million books, documents, manuscripts, and photographs, and 350,000 objects in its museum and library located in Baltimore. MCHC also serves as a leading center of Maryland history education for people of all ages.