Historic Sotterley is inviting the community to gather under the evening sky next month for Sunset at Sotterley, an annual fundraising gala at one of Maryland’s most significant historic landmarks, with this year’s proceeds directed specifically toward the site’s educational programming.
The evening, set for Friday, Sept. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m., will take place inside the Barns of Sotterley event space and include sweeping sunset views, entertainment, unique auction items and experiences, and dinner. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, dressed in “garden party chic” attire, for an optional professional portrait session in Sotterley’s Colonial Revival Gardens, offered from 5 to 6 p.m.
This year’s fundraising target is notably specific: Sotterley says its educational programs, from school field trips to community events, have already outpaced the field trip rate of the past several years, with demand from schools, families, and community members continuing to grow. Organizers say proceeds will go toward purchasing field trip supplies and expanding hands-on family education programming, aiming to keep Sotterley what it calls a trusted educational partner across Southern Maryland.
Sotterley itself carries substantial historical weight behind that mission. The property is a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO Site of Memory, anchored by a manor house dating to around 1703 and encompassing roughly 94 acres along the Patuxent River, including an 1830s slave dwelling. It’s considered the only Tidewater plantation site in Maryland open to the public with regular visitor programming, and is part of both the Chesapeake Gateways Network and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail — designations that reflect the site’s role in interpreting the region’s full history, including its legacy of slavery.
In past years, individual tickets to Sunset at Sotterley have run $150 per person, with sponsorship levels ranging from $500 to $5,000 arranged directly through the organization; this year’s specific pricing was not listed on Sotterley’s website at the time of publication, so prospective attendees should check directly with the organization for current ticket and sponsorship details.
The event will be held at 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD.
