Cooling Springs was founded in 1768 by Andrew and Barbara Michael. In 1762, Andrew, the youngest son of Francis and Anna Michael, founded the Michael Foundry in Frederick, at the time one of the largest buildings in western Maryland. More than 260 years later, the foundry survives and is now used as Sky Stage, a performing arts venue. In 1743, Andrew's wife Barbara Sinn was one of the first European children baptized in western Maryland when christened in the region's oldest church, Frederick's Evangelical Lutheran Church.