St. Mary's County Events
Ongoing
Historic St. Mary's City
Spring Season 2009 - March 10 through June 13 Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM . until 5:00 PM. The entire site is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM . until 5:00 PM.. The entire site is closed on Sunday and Monday with one exception: everything is open on Maryland Day, March 29.. $10.00 adult, $8 seniors (60+), $6.00 student (13-18 years or college ID), $3.50 ages 6-12, Child (5 and under) free. Summer and Fall Seasons 2009 - June 17 through November 29 The entire museum will be open Wednesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. $10.00 adult, $8 seniors (60+), $6.00 student (13-18 years or college ID), $3.50 ages 6-12, Child (5 and under) free. Audio tour rentals are an additional $3.
Exhibit: Once the Metropolis of Maryland: The History and Archaeology of : Maryland’s First Capital
Discription: An exhibit that chronicles the history and archaeology of St. Mary’s City. The exhibit features original paintings, artifacts, and reproduced graphics to introduce and orient visitors to Historic St. Mary’s City.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: Historic St. Mary’s City Visitor’s Center
Time: see above
Fee: Free with purchase of museum admission
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
Exhibit Rebuilding the Brick Chapel :
Discription: An exhibit that outlines the history and archaeology of the Chapel of 1667 in St. Mary’s City. The exhibit features paintings, artifacts, and reproduced graphics to explain the process of recreating this unique and significant building.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: Historic St. Mary’s City Visitor’s Center
Time: see above
Fee: Free with purchase of museum admission ticket
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
Tour: Living History and More
Discription: Historic St. Mary’s City offers a variety of historic interpretations of Maryland in the 17th century. Reconstructions include a Woodland Indian Hamlet, William Nuthead’s Print House, Smith’s Ordinary, Cordea’s Hope, the State House of 1676, the Maryland Dove (a recreated 17th-century ship), and a 17th-century tobacco plantation. The new St. John’s Site Museum preserves the foundation of the building where many of Maryland’s “firsts” occurred. Exhibits explore the state’s legacy of liberty and how archaeologists know what they know about the past.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: St. Mary’s City
Time: see above.
Fee: $10.00 adult, $8 seniors (60+), $6.00 student (13-18 years or college ID), $3.50 ages 6-12, Child (5 and under) free
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
March 21
Lecture: Written in Bone: Tales from 17th-Century Graves
Discription: Dr. Douglas Owsley will present a lecture on his forensic studies and the new Smithsonian exhibit Written in Bone.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: Auerbach Auditorium, St. Mary's Hall, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary’s City
Time: 2:00 PM
Fee: Free admission
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
March 28
Symposium:Maryland at the Beginning: A Symposium Exploring the Founding of Lord Baltimore’s Colony
Discription: A series of lectures including "Why Maryland? The Lords Baltimore and their Colonial Enterprises." John Krugler, Professor of History, Marquette University,.“The Ark and The Dove: The Ships that Founded Maryland and their Crews.” Joseph M. Greeley, Waterfront Interpretive Supervisor and William Gates, Captain, The Maryland Dove, “A Relation of Maryland’s Founding Voyage.” Henry M. Miller, Director of Research, Historic St. Mary’s City, The Piscataway and Yaocomico Peoples of Maryland. Gabrielle Tayac, National Museum of the American Indian. “Manorial Maryland: Establishing the Colony.” Garry Wheeler Stone, Monmouth Battlefield, New Jersey Parks. and Maryland at the Beginning: Significance and Legacy. Edward Papenfuse, Maryland State Archivist.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: Auerbach Auditorium, St. Mary's Hall, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary’s City
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Fee: Free admission
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
April 4
Symposium:: Archeological Society of Maryland's Spring Symposium
Colonial Archeology: Investigating & Celebrating Maryland’s 375th Birthday
Description: A Brief History of Archaeology in Maryland’s First Capital Silas D. Hurry, Historic St. Mary’s City Commission This presentation details the history of archaeological investigations in St. Mary’s City from the period of antiquarian enquiry through the modern era of scientific archaeology. A range of interesting characters will be presented and the results of their explorations explained. Much of this story focuses on the past 40 years when St. Mary’s has provided a virtual laboratory for the development of the discipline of historical archaeology.
Three Decades of Archaeology on St. John’s Freehold Ruth M. Mitchell, Historic St. Mary’s City Commission Archaeology conducted in the 1970s revealed a story-and-a-half English framed dwelling, known as St. John’s. The 1638 building reflects English architectural practices that were soon modified. Post-in-the-ground additions and support structures were found throughout the site. Recent excavations shed new light on the architectural changes found throughout the site.
The Richard E. Stearns Memorial Lecture Burial Archaeology in the Chapel Field at St. Mary’s City Timothy B. Riordan, Historic St. Mary’s City Commission Since 1983 HSMC has identified over 250 graveshafts in the Chapel Field and evidence suggests that there may be as many as 1000 people buried in this field. Starting with the spectacular discovery of the lead coffins in 1990, burial archaeology has been an important part of understanding the use and meaning of the Chapel site. Since 1990, 65 burials have been excavated and the remains of 75 individuals removed. Because of the unique circumstances of the Chapel Field site, it has been possible to divide the burials into three equal periods, spanning 1638-1730. Insights on coffin shape, use, and construction are outlined. The context of “shroud pins,” commonly found in 17th-century burials, is explored, and the significance of changes in burial patterns considered.
The Iris McGillivray Memorial Lecture A Comparative Analysis of a 17th Century Dutch Plantation Site on the Eastern Shore to Known 17th Century Archeological Sites in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Bruce Thompson, Maryland Historical Trust. Archeologists have probed ever deeper into the archeological evidence for colonial life in middle to late 17th-century Maryland. Geographically, those efforts focused on sites along the western shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Using primary documents, artifact analysis and Maryland Historical Trust’s “Comparative Archaeological Study of Colonial Chesapeake Culture,” this paper offers a comparative look at a mid- to late-17th-century Dutch site called the Grieb Site (18KE83) located on the Chester River.
Into the Zekiah: The Untold History Julia A. King, Scott M. Strickland, and Michael J. Sullivan, Zekiah Swamp in Charles County was the setting for some of the most colorful places and events in the colony's history: Lord Baltimore’s summer house, the Piscataway Indian’s Fort Zekiah, and the county and race track. For all of this interesting history, very little archaeology has been done in the Zekiah Swamp. Beginning in late 2007, a partnership involving St. Mary's College of Maryland, the College of Southern Maryland, and a consortium of interested businessmen in Charles County began a long-term project to map the Zekiah's patent history and identify important 17th-century sites. This presentation describes those sites that have been found, including the Court House, John Pryor's store, and Johnsontown, as well as the progress to date searching for Major Boarman's dwelling plantation, Lord Baltimore's summer house, and, most significantly, the Zekiah Fort.
Discovering Port Tobacco: the ASM Annual Field Session James G. Gibb, Port Tobacco Archaeological Project Less than two years of archaeological survey and testing at the Colonial town site of Port Tobacco in Charles County has revealed the probable location of Potobac (mapped by Captain John Smith in 1608), a previously unknown Colonial period cemetery, several early to mid-18th century house sites, the County’s third generation jail (1859-1897), and several well-defined Archaic sites. This presentation summarizes the research completed to date and discusses the annual field session which will occur at Port Tobacco from May 22 through June 1.
Sponsor: Archeological Society of Maryland, Inc., Historic St. Mary’s City, and the Maryland Historical Trust Office of Archeology
Location: Historic St. Mary's City Visitor Center
Times: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Fee: $5.00 for members of the Archeological Society of Maryland $7.00 for non-members
Contact: Jim Gibb
April 26
Lecture: Calvert House Excavations 2008.
Discription: Dr. Tim Riordan, HSMC chief archaeologist, will present findings from the 2008 Historic St. Mary’s City Field School excavations of the yardscape around the Calvert House. Learn about the discovery of a possible outbuilding, excavation of a 10-foot segment of the ditch of Poe’s Fort (1645), and what was learned about how the site used.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: HSMC Visitor Center auditorium, St. Mary’s City
Time: 3:00 PM
Fee: Free admission
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
May 27 – August 2
Excavations: 2009 Archaeological Field School at the Leonard Calvert House
Discription: An opportunity to visit the excavations and talk to the field school students and the archaeologist about the most recent discoveries and how they are made.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: Town Center area
Time: During museum hours (call in advance in case field school is off site)
Fee: Free with museum admission ticket.
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
June 20
Event: Celebrate Maryland 375
Discription: Celebrate Maryland's 375th anniversary at the place where it all began! Step onboard a visiting tall ship or take a skipjack ride. Try a make-take activity at a living history site. Try colonial dancing, watch American Indian dancing, and enjoy period entertainment as your relax in a cider/beer/coffee garden. Wrap up your day with a special River Concert at St. Mary's College of Maryland and fireworks.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: St. Mary’s City
Time: 10:00 AM . until 5:00 PM.. (River Concert and fireworks at 7:00 PM.)
Fee: Free admission
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
July 25- 26
Excavation: Tidewater Archaeology Weekend
Discription: Experience a hands- on opportunity to be an archaeologist for a day at the site of Maryland’s first capital. Help screen and sift through the dirt to uncover artifacts from Maryland’s past. Special behind the scenes guided tours.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: St. Mary’s City
Time: 10:00 AM . until 5:00 PM.
Fee: $10.00 adult, $8 seniors (60+), $6.00 student (13-18 years or college ID), $3.50 ages 6-12, Child (5 and under) free
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
September 12
Event: Woodland Indian Discovery Day
Discription: Come to Historic St. Mary’s City to witness how American Indians lived. Special hands-on activities including bead making, archery, pottery, and flintknapping alongside demonstrations in cooking, hide preparation. Traditional dancing completes the program.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: St. Mary’s City
Time: 10:00 AM . until 5:00 PM.
Fee: $10.00 adult, $8 seniors (60+), $6.00 student (13-18 years or college ID), $3.50 ages 6-12, Child (5 and under) free
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
September 27
Event: RiverFest
Discription: Discover some of the many ways to enjoy and protect our waterways. Sponsored by the St. Mary's River Watershed Association.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: St. Mary’s City
Time: 10:00 AM . until 5:00 PM.
Fee: Free admission.
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
Nov. 27 - 28
Event: Hearth & Home in Early Maryland.
Description: Following the harvest, the colonists made preparations for the long winter. Learn about homely skills in the 17th century by watching demonstrations and trying hands-on activities. Included with museum admission.
Sponsor: Historic St. Mary’s City
Location: St. Mary’s City
Time: 10:00 AM . until 5:00 PM.
Fee: $10.00 adult, $8 seniors (60+), $6.00 student (13-18 years or college ID), $3.50 ages 6-12, Child (5 and under) free
Contact: 1-800-SMC-1634 or 240-895-4990 HSMC
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