Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) invites the community to celebrate Maryland Day with them, by offering free admission to the outdoor exhibits on both Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26.
Living history sites will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Plan to visit the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation to see heritage breed cows, pigs, and chickens and the Woodland Indian Hamlet and learn about the people and culture that were here on this land now called Maryland. Step onboard the Maryland Dove to imagine the risks taken on the original journey in 1634; and explore the reconstructed Town Center, the place for all government business in the 1600s. On Friday, save time for lunch – Enso Kitchen will be serving delicious artisan bread, sandwiches, and bowls on-site, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Friday, March 25)
There will be a book signing event inside The Shop at Farthing’s Ordinary on Saturday, March 26 at 12 p.m., with Ellynne Brice Davis and Joyce Judd, author and illustrator of the children’s book, Whispers From the Colonial Past. The pair will be available to personally autograph books until 3 p.m. Reservations are encouraged for the book signing; call The Shop at 240-895-2088.
The celebration continues as the annual Maryland Day ceremony will take place Saturday, March 26 at the Margaret Brent Pavilion (parking in the State House parking lot, 47418 Old State House Road), beginning at 1:00 p.m. The featured keynote speaker this year will be David J. Collins, S.J., of Georgetown University. Silas Hurry, Emeritus Curator of Historic St. Mary’s City, long-time volunteer Christa Conant, and Governor Larry Hogan will personally receive the museum’s highest honor, the Cross Bottony award, for their years of support to the institution. Music for the ceremony will be provided by the St. Peter Claver Gospel Choir. The program will close with the Ceremony of the Flags, as children from across Maryland present their county colors.
Historic St. Mary’s City is an outdoor museum of living history and archaeology, dedicated to telling the diverse stories of Maryland’s beginnings.
For more information about the museum contact the Visitor Center at 240-895-4990, 800-SMC-1634, or laurel.potyen@maryland.gov.