On August 4, 2025, Historic St. Mary’s City launched www.stmarysfort.com, a vibrant digital platform that invites the public to explore the archaeological discovery of St. Mary’s Fort, the 1634 epicenter of Maryland’s founding. Nestled in St. Mary’s County, this Southern Maryland landmark—once lost to time—now comes alive through an interactive online experience, offering a front-row seat to one of the state’s most significant historical finds. For residents of Southern Maryland, where history shapes community identity, the website bridges past and present, making the region’s colonial roots accessible to all.
The fort, established by English settlers as the colony’s first capital, was described in a 1634 letter by Governor Leonard Calvert as a 120-yard square palisade with four defensive flanks, located within a half-mile of the St. Mary’s River. Its precise location eluded historians for centuries, becoming a puzzle that captivated archaeologists. Early efforts in the 1980s and 1990s uncovered 17th-century artifacts near the Town Center and Mill Field areas, but the fort’s footprint remained elusive. The breakthrough arrived in 2018, when Dr. Travis Parno, Director of Research and Collections at Historic St. Mary’s City, teamed up with geophysicist Dr. Tim Horsley. Using advanced ground-penetrating radar, they identified a large palisaded enclosure in Mill Field. Excavations in 2019 confirmed the fort’s defensive ditch and structures, blending English and Native American influences. Announced in 2021, the discovery was celebrated as a cornerstone of Maryland’s historical narrative.
The new website transforms this academic milestone into a public journey. Visitors to www.stmarysfort.com can dive into photo galleries showcasing unearthed artifacts, read blog posts from archaeologists detailing ongoing fieldwork, and explore the fort’s historical context. “This site is more than just a digital archive—it’s an active, evolving resource that gives the public access to discoveries as they happen,” said Dr. Parno. For Southern Marylanders, particularly in St. Mary’s County, where local pride in historical sites like Point Lookout and Sotterley Plantation runs deep, the platform offers a chance to engage with their region’s foundational story.
Beyond the digital realm, Historic St. Mary’s City is bringing the fort to life on the ground. A partial palisade wall, constructed with traditional materials and informed by archaeological data, now stands at the Mill Field site. This tangible reconstruction, paired with interpretive signage, helps visitors visualize the fort’s 1634 layout and defensive design. For families visiting from nearby Leonardtown or Lexington Park, the site offers an educational outing that complements the online experience, blending physical and virtual storytelling.
The website’s launch aligns with Southern Maryland’s growing reputation as a hub for historical tourism. St. Mary’s County, with its scenic waterfront and rural charm, draws visitors to sites like the Historic St. Mary’s City living history museum, where costumed interpreters recreate colonial life. The fort’s digital platform extends this experience, making it accessible to students, teachers, and history enthusiasts unable to visit in person. It also supports local educators, who can use the site’s resources to enrich lessons on Maryland’s colonial era, a key part of the state’s history curriculum.
The project reflects years of meticulous research and community investment. Funded by grants, the 2018 geophysical surveys marked a turning point, leveraging technology to pinpoint the fort’s location without invasive digging. The subsequent excavations uncovered evidence of early interactions between English settlers and Native American communities, offering insights into the cultural dynamics of Maryland’s founding. These findings resonate in Southern Maryland, where Native American heritage, including the Piscataway and Yaocomaco tribes, remains a vital part of the region’s identity.
For local residents, the website and ongoing excavations are more than historical novelties—they’re a point of pride. St. Mary’s City, once Maryland’s capital, is a cornerstone of the county’s identity, and the fort’s rediscovery reinforces its significance. The site’s development, both online and on-site, complements other regional efforts to preserve history, such as the restoration of historic buildings in Port Tobacco or the archaeological work at St. Clement’s Island. Visitors can explore the fort’s story in person at Historic St. Mary’s City, where the palisade wall and interpretive materials bring the 17th century to life.
The launch of www.stmarysfort.com marks a new chapter for Historic St. Mary’s City, inviting global audiences to Southern Maryland’s historic heart. Whether browsing from a classroom in California or walking the grounds near the St. Mary’s River, users can follow the dig in real time, meet the archaeologists, and uncover the story of Maryland’s origins. For Southern Marylanders, it’s an opportunity to celebrate their region’s role in shaping the state, one click or step at a time.
