Visitor Center

On November 17, Kelly L. Watson will give a free lecture titled "Mary Kittamaquund and the Brent Family:  English-Piscataway Diplomacy in 17th Century Maryland." The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Visitor Center Auditorium. 

May 18. Lecture: "Revealing Richard Orchard: Insights on a 17th Century Ship Master"

Marlee Putnam

7:00 p.m

Visitor Center Auditorium. 18751 Hogaboom Lane. St. Mary’s City, MD

Admission: free

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The Landing of the Maryland Colonists from the Ark & the Dove, St. Clement’s Island, March 25, 1634  

Join HSMC on a free guided tour to explore and discuss some interesting facts about the standing structures on the first capital’s landscape called “Ghost Frames.”

Sara Rivers Cofield will give a lecture on September 21 that will connect fragmentary metal artifacts to the saddles and bridles they represent, illustrating an important part of social interaction in the colonial Chesapeake.

Whether you are a green thumb or green to gardening, you can contribute to the spring planting of the HSMC pizza garden! Help plant a few seeds and participate in a discussion on gardening techniques used in early Maryland. The seeds you sow will be used later in the year in other educational programs. 

Spend the morning discovering and exploring the colors of the rainbow! Through engaging activities and conversations, Little Explorers will learn about each unique color that makes a rainbow whole, concluding with a group craft that will be displayed in the HSMC Visitor Center Discovery Room.

Join Historic St. Mary’s City for an evening lecture to celebrate Maryland Archeology Month! Dr. Travis Parno will present exciting updates on the St. Mary’s Fort site, including some new clues regarding one of early Maryland's first public buildings. Ruth Mitchell will present on the evolving landscapes of the Mackall and Brome plantations in St. Mary’s City. This presentation will include the archaeological evidence of several sites where enslaved individuals lived on the landscape.

Celebrate spring and May Day with Historic St. Mary's City! Enjoy fun family crafts and activities scattered around our outdoor exhibits. 

Spring is in full bloom at HSMC! Be prepared to put your hands to the dirt as Little Explorers learn about planting sunflowers at the Woodland Indian Hamlet.

May 16. Lecture:  The Reverse Underground Railroad:  Slavery and Kidnapping in Pre-Civil War America

7:00 p.m.  

Visitor Center Auditorium, 18751 Hogabooom Lane, St. Mary’s City, Md

Join Historic St. Mary’s City for a talk with Dr. Richard Bell, the author of Stolen, a new book that tells the incredible story of five boys whose courage forever changed the fight against slavery in America.

Put your resourcefulness to the test with this basket-weaving workshop at the Woodland Indian Hamlet. Explore the area to find plants and natural materials that are suitable for the size and shape basket you envision. As you practice your weaving skills and construct your basket, discuss with staff what materials are working well and what materials may have been used by the Yaocomaco for hundreds of years.   

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

HSMC Visitor Center Auditorium

A Farthing’s for Your Thoughts book club is a monthly gathering hosted by Iris Ford, Ph.D. Each month the book club is invited to read a book of their choosing, then join Iris for a lively discussion that offers analysis and deepens understanding of the book and each other. The book club selections range from fiction to non-fiction, classics to new releases, reflecting the diverse reading habits of the group. This month, join the conversation around local author Merideth Taylor's book, Making a Way Out of No Way. 

Listen in and join the conversation around local author Merideth Taylor's book, Making a Way Out of No Way. 

From the publisher:  Making a Way Out of No Way is "A richly imagined, photo-illustrated narrative of 150 years of life in slavery on tobacco plantations in Southern Maryland

For over 165 years, plantation owners in Southern Maryland depended on the labor of enslaved men, women, and children to bring in the tobacco crop. The photographs and stories in this book grew out of the author’s quest to understand how these people, who were subjected to a system that made every attempt to brutalize and dehumanize them, were able not only to survive but to build families and meaningful lives."

The book club is free and open to the public

INFO:  icford@smcm.edu

Spend the morning with Little Explorers! Bring your toddler to HSMC for outdoor explorations, storytime, tactile play, crafts, and movement. 

A Farthing’s for Your Thoughts book club is a monthly gathering hosted by Iris Ford, Ph.D. Each month the book club is invited to read a book of their choosing, then join Iris for a lively discussion that offers analysis and deepens understanding of the book and each other. The book club selections range from fiction to non-fiction, classics to new releases, reflecting the diverse reading habits of the group.

"To Make the Men More Settled..." examines how settler women’s labor and reproductivity served as the core of colonial settler society, including its capacity to become a robust population and to disrupt and displace Native peoples. 

Spend the morning learning and making discoveries through stories, play, art, music, and nature.  

For pre-school children; ages 3-5 years old and an accompanying adult.

This series of genealogy workshops is designed to teach you how to explore your family history. Over the course of four weeks, you will discover various research methods, including census and probate records, along with valuable tips for using helpful websites.

Join this enlightening session with guest speaker, Tyler Bell, as we delve into the fascinating world of tracking birds and creating habitats and birdhouses. This event promises to be a delightful blend of education and inspiration, perfect for bird enthusiasts of all levels.