Leonardtown, Maryland – Residents of St. Mary’s County and surrounding areas can contribute directly to preserving local history by donating historic documents, photographs, and objects during “Community Day” at the St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point and the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum in Piney Point on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The St. Mary’s County Museum Division is hosting the event to involve the public in planning new exhibits at both museums. Participants are invited to bring items and information related to 20th-century and earlier history of St. Clement’s Island and the Colton’s Point area, as well as maritime history of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay connected to Piney Point. Museum staff will be on site to scan photos and documents or photograph objects and individuals, with owner permission, for potential inclusion in future collections or displays.
Specific items and information sought include details on local boat builders; records or memorabilia from the Golden Hotel, Shirley K Hotel, Hotel on St. Clement’s Island, Tolson Hotel, and Swann’s Hotel in Piney Point; materials from the Blackistone Island Canning Company or other oyster companies; photographs of St. Clement’s Island, the Blackistone Lighthouse, or Piney Point Lighthouse; accounts of daily life on St. Clement’s Island, in Colton’s Point, or in Piney Point; images of steamboats at Colton’s Point landing; U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Navy history tied to Piney Point; and holiday or Christmas decorations, particularly vintage glass ornaments and related items.
The event provides an opportunity for community members to share family heirlooms, personal stories, or archival materials that help document Southern Maryland’s maritime, commercial, and residential past. No prior appointment is required, and donations remain the property of the owners unless formal transfer agreements are arranged.
For those without physical items to contribute but interested in supporting the museums, monetary donations are accepted in person during Community Day or online through the Friends of the Museums store at https://friendsmuseumstore.square.site. Funds support exhibit development, preservation efforts, and educational programs at both locations.
Christina Barbour, manager of the St. Clement’s Island Museum, and Ken Burke, manager of the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, are available for questions. Barbour can be reached at 301-769-2222, and Burke at 301-994-1471.
Additional details on museum hours, programs, events, and admission are posted on their Facebook pages: St. Clement’s Island Museum at Facebook.com/SCIMuseum and Piney Point Lighthouse Museum at Facebook.com/1836Light.
The St. Clement’s Island Museum focuses on the region’s colonial and maritime heritage, including the 1634 landing site tied to Maryland’s founding. The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum preserves the history of the 1836 lighthouse, its role in Potomac River navigation, and related U.S. Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard operations. Both institutions are part of the St. Mary’s County Division of Museums, which maintains collections and offers public access to interpret local history through exhibits, research, and community engagement.
Community Day aligns with ongoing efforts to expand collections through public participation, ensuring that personal and family histories contribute to a broader understanding of Southern Maryland’s cultural and economic development along the Potomac and Chesapeake waterways.