In its 13th year, the Montgomery County History Conference is still teaching Montgomery County residents about the rich history in their own proverbial backyard. On Jan. 26, residents from across the county came to the Montgomery College’s Germantown campus to attend a variety of panels, with topics ranging from the Underground Railroad to immigration and its effect on high school students.

The History Conference is hosted by Montgomery History, which is celebrating its 75th year. The organization collects, preserves, interprets, and shares histories of “all of Montgomery County’s residents,” according to their website. The main ways the organization does so is by providing educational opportunities, including the History Conference.

In an interview with Montgomery College Television (MCTV), Executive Director Matt Logan said of the conference, “History is a way to kind of deepen their roots to this place, to create a more welcoming community, [and] to create more civic engagement.”

Local politicians joined this spectacular symposium, including County Executive Mark Elrich and Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando. “Talking about history is a way to put into context the challenges that we face today,” Jawando said before starting the conference.

To find out more about future events hosted by Montgomery History, go to their website.