Building Communities

Building Communities Overview

Type

Partner Program/ Initiative

Organizer

Preservation Maryland

Website

Building Communities: Paper Model Project Initiative

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In 2023, Preservation Maryland launched Building Communities, an initiative designed to help Marylanders explore the state’s history and architecture through hands-on paper model construction. By combining accessible design with place-based storytelling, the program invites learners of all ages to engage with Maryland’s past through the act of making.

Printable on a standard home printer (we recommend cardstock for best results), these free downloadable models offer an engaging entry point into architectural history. Each model includes historical background information and easy-to-follow assembly instructions, making them ideal for classrooms, libraries, community programs, and home use.

With support from the Maryland Two Fifty Commission, Preservation Maryland is expanding the initiative to include representative historic structures from all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City, creating a statewide collection that reflects the people, places, and stories that have shaped Maryland over the past 250 years.

Click here to download a PDF of each model. We encourage you to build the model, then visit the real site. Share photos of your completed model and your visit on social media and tag Preservation Maryland and MD Two Fifty.

Additional models will be released throughout 2026. Check back regularly as we expand the collection to include sites representing mid-century modern architecture, women’s history, African American heritage, maritime traditions, agricultural landscapes, and other stories that define Maryland’s rich and diverse history.