Historic St. Mary’s City in southern Maryland is launching the DIG! St. Mary’s Fort Excavation Experience, a full-day, hands-on archaeology program that lets adults join professional archaeologists in excavating the site of Maryland’s first colonial settlement, St. Mary’s Fort.
The program, announced March 11, 2026, invites participants to work directly at the active dig site on select Saturdays throughout 2026. Limited to eight adults per session, it offers intimate access to ongoing research at this pivotal 17th-century location, where discoveries continue to shed light on Maryland’s founding, early colonial life, and Indigenous-European interactions.
Travis Parno, PhD, director of research and collections at Historic St. Mary’s City, described the initiative’s appeal. “We’re thrilled to launch the DIG! St. Mary’s Fort Excavation Experience to give visitors the unique opportunity to get their hands dirty excavating one of Maryland’s most important archaeological sites,” he said. “The St. Mary’s Fort site continues to produce fascinating discoveries on an almost daily basis, and now we’re inviting guests behind the ropes to experience that excitement.”
Sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and include lunch, a commemorative keepsake, a digital photo of the participant at work, and a complimentary admission pass for a future visit to Historic St. Mary’s City. Scheduled dates are April 25, May 9, July 18, August 22, September 26, and October 24.
The cost is $95 per person, with registration opening to the general public on March 20 via Eventbrite. The program targets adults 18 and older, involving moderately strenuous outdoor fieldwork such as digging, kneeling, and screening soil. Weather-dependent activities include cancellation policies to prioritize safety and site preservation.
Historic St. Mary’s City, an outdoor museum of living history and archaeology, has conducted excavations at St. Mary’s Fort for decades, earning international recognition. The site marks the 1634 arrival of English colonists and serves as Maryland’s first capital and major European foothold in the region. Recent work has uncovered significant artifacts and features, including human remains from the late 1630s and structural evidence of the original palisaded fort.
Participants contribute to real research while learning archaeological techniques firsthand from HSMC’s expert team. This program builds on the organization’s long-standing commitment to public engagement in historical archaeology, allowing everyday enthusiasts to play a role in uncovering Chesapeake history.
For details or inquiries, contact hsmcc.groups@maryland.gov or call 301-994-4372. Full program information appears at www.hsmcdigshistory.org.