| |
|
Located on Hwy 5, Historic St. Mary's City is an 800 acre outdoor museum with five major exhibits that illustrate the social history, archeology and natural history of the St. Mary's City.
Historic St. Mary's City was Maryland's first settlement and for sixty-one years - until 1695 - its colonial capital. The Commission preserves, develops, and maintains historic St. Mary's City, an outdoor museum and archaeological park on the site of Maryland's original settlement. With emphasis on the 17th century, the Commission studies the history of St. Mary's City, preserves its archaeological evidence, and interprets that history for the public.
Today Historic St. Mary's City is an outstanding living history museum bringing the 17th Century to life. It is the perfect setting for a memorable tour.
|
Historic St. Mary's City is the site of Maryland's first capital. We tell the story of Maryland's beginning with a mix of colorful costumed interpreters and fascinating archaeology, all set in a beautiful Tidewater landscape. Exhibits at the outdoor museum include the square-rigged ship, the Maryland Dove, Godiah Spray's fine tobacco plantation, the State House of 1676, and a Woodland Indian Hamlet. At the Visitor Center you can see an introductory video and exhibits on the history and archaeology of St. Mary's City and visit our Museum Shop.
Special events are scheduled on weekends from March through December. With miles of walking trails and stunning river vistas, Historic St. Mary's City is indeed a special place "Where Time and Tide Meet."
History and Archaeology
Historic St. Mary's City has had an active research program since shortly after its founding in 1968. In the early years of the museum, the research staff included historians, archaeologists, and architectural historians.
History: Dr. Lois Green Carr has been the Staff Historian for Historic St. Mary's City since the inception of the research program. Dr. Carr is broadly considered the Dean of early Chesapeake studies. The results of many of her ongoing research projects are available at the State Archives web site.
Archaeology: The Archaeology program at Historic St. Mary's City has been ongoing since 1971 when the museum hired its first staff archaeologist. We have recorded over three hundred archaeological sites within the limits of the National Landmark. Historic St. Mary's City has co-sponsored with St. Mary's College of Maryland one of the longest running Field Schools in Historical Archaeology in the United States. Current research projects range from analysis of 18th century deposits on the college campus to excavations at the site where William Nuthead operated the first printing press in the English colonies south of Massachusetts. Past research projects range from site intensive excavations through site surveys and include the excavations at the Brick Chapel of 1667 and the examination of three lead coffins found in the Chapel.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Potomac Heritage Partnership |
| 1623 28th St., NW |
Washington, DC 20007 |
| Phone: 202.333.4478 |
Fax: 202.333.6733 |
| info@potomacheritage.org |
|
|
|
|
