LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the St. Clement’s Island Museum project on August 26, 2025, at 2 p.m., marking the start of construction on a new two-story facility expected to enhance historical education and community engagement in Southern Maryland. The event, open to the public at the museum site in Colton’s Point, comes as the current building prepares to close August 27, 2025, for the duration of the work, projected to finish in December 2026.
The St. Clement’s Island Museum project involves building a 9,450-square-foot structure on the existing footprint, overlooking the Potomac River. Features include a children’s activity room, a formal conference room, a redesigned exhibit space highlighting Piscataway Nation perspectives, and a new exhibit on Maryland’s founding developed with the Smithsonian Institution in advance of the state’s 400th anniversary in 2034. The design incorporates a lighthouse-inspired circular staircase, an elevator for accessibility, native-plant landscaping, and the reinstallation of the First Landing mural in the first-floor gallery. Construction is slated to begin in September 2025, following approval of a $4.4 million contract to W.M. Davis Inc. in July 2025.
During the closure, visitors can still access limited services through the annex building across the street, including seasonal water taxi rides to St. Clement’s Island and a museum store with curated items, though inventory will be restricted. Events normally at the museum may shift locations or pause, with updates available on the museum’s website and Facebook page. The St. Clement’s Island Museum project also includes a new lease expanding green space and adding dedicated handicapped parking, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for permitting and preservation.
“While the building itself will temporarily close, the heart of the museum—its mission to share and preserve our rich history—remains open,” said Karen E. Stone, St. Mary’s County Museum Division Manager. “We are excited for the community to join us on this journey as we create a new and vibrant space that honors Maryland’s beginnings and celebrates our cultural heritage.”
Commissioner President Randy Guy added, “St. Clement’s Island Museum is a cornerstone of both our county’s and state’s heritage. The upgraded facility will not only honor our history but offer an enhanced and inspiring space for generations to learn, reflect, and connect with Maryland’s roots.”
The St. Clement’s Island Museum project builds on years of planning, with county commissioners approving additional funding from the capital reserve in recent months to cover costs totaling about $6.3 million. The museum, part of the St. Mary’s County Museum Division, focuses on early Maryland history and Potomac River heritage, overseeing sites like the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, the Old Jail Museum and the Drayden African American Schoolhouse.
St. Clement’s Island holds key historical importance as the site of Maryland’s first colonial landing on March 25, 1634, when about 150 English settlers arrived aboard the Ark and the Dove, establishing the fourth British colony in America and celebrating the first Roman Catholic Mass in the British colonies. A 40-foot cross erected in 1934 commemorates the event and the establishment of religious tolerance principles. The island, now a state park accessible by water taxi from the museum, spans 40 acres and features hiking trails, a replica 17th-century building and interpretive signs detailing its role in Maryland’s founding.
Incorporating Piscataway Nation voices in the redesigned exhibits reflects efforts to highlight Indigenous perspectives in Maryland history. The Piscataway, whose ancestral lands include much of Southern Maryland, maintained generally friendly relations with early English colonists after initial contacts in the early 1600s. The tribe’s oral histories and artifacts contribute to narratives at sites like the Piscataway Indian Museum and Cultural Center, which displays historical and contemporary items to educate on Native cultures. This inclusion in the St. Clement’s Island Museum project aligns with broader initiatives to recognize Piscataway resilience and contributions, such as state recognition in 2012 and collaborations on exhibits exploring pre-colonial life along the Potomac River.
The Smithsonian collaboration for the founding exhibit ties into preparations for Maryland’s 400th anniversary, building on partnerships like the Museum on Main Street program, which brings traveling exhibits to local venues through Maryland Humanities. Similar efforts include Smithsonian-supported displays on innovation at the College of Southern Maryland, fostering community access to national resources.
St. Mary’s County, with its focus on preserving rural character and heritage, supports the St. Clement’s Island Museum project as part of ongoing public services. The museum division collects and interprets artifacts to connect residents with local history, from colonial beginnings to maritime traditions. Recent preparations involved moving items from the current building, with staff sharing updates on social media.
For details, contact the museum at 301-769-2222 or visit https://www.facebook.com/SCIMuseum. The St. Clement’s Island Museum project underscores commitments to historical preservation, with the new facility poised to serve as a landmark for education and reflection in Southern Maryland.
