HOLLYWOOD, Md. — Historic Sotterley will open its new Visitor Experience Center to the public on Saturday, May 2, 2026, marking the start of its 2026 guided tour season.
The central location of the Visitor Experience Center improves access to the historic corridor and provides space for rotating exhibits on local and national history. The grand opening runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 44300 Sotterley Lane in Hollywood. Admission to the event is free, though guided tours carry separate fees.
Visitors can explore family-friendly activities throughout the day. These include the “Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now” traveling exhibit on loan from Maryland Humanities. The exhibit examines the evolution of press freedom from the Maryland Colony to modern society and forms part of a larger project encouraging critical thinking about the free press in democracy.
Historic Sotterley serves as the only host site for this exhibit in Southern Maryland. Organizers have expanded it to feature examples of the press’s impact on the site over its lifetime. The display remains in the new Visitor Experience Center from May 2 through the end of June.
Themed tours will focus on Historic Sotterley’s history as a museum. These tours trace its development from opening to the public for guided tours in the 1960s to its current role with descendant leadership and a commitment to preserving stories of all who lived there.
Additional activities feature face painting and bubbles for children, a puppeteer show, and opportunities to view the site’s farm animals. Guests may bring picnics to enjoy on the scenic grounds overlooking the Patuxent River.
Guided tours of the site begin that day and continue through October. New exhibits for the 2026 season include “Transportation and Trade on the Tidewater” and updates on preservation work in progress at the Homestead House.
Tour times on May 2 are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for general admission, $9 for seniors, $6 for children ages 6-17, and are free for children 5 and younger and all Historic Sotterley members. Tickets are available first-come, first-served at the Visitor Experience Center.
Historic Sotterley, a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO Site of Memory for the Routes of Enslaved Peoples, spans more than 300 years of history. The site welcomes visitors to its grounds, gardens, trails, museum store and guided tours. Its Descendant Project maintains a registry of those connected to the property’s history and promotes healing through shared stories.
The new Visitor Experience Center enhances the overall visitor journey by centralizing orientation and exhibit space. This upgrade supports increased programming and better accommodates families and school groups exploring the Tidewater plantation’s layered past.
Southern Maryland residents and visitors from across the region can use the day to connect with local history in an accessible, engaging setting. The combination of free activities, special exhibits and paid tours offers options for different interests and budgets.
No advance registration is required for the grand opening itself. Those planning to take a guided tour should arrive early for tickets, as availability is limited to first-come, first-served.
The event provides a timely opportunity to experience both the fresh facilities and ongoing preservation efforts at one of the area’s oldest and most significant historic sites.
