Maryland Day 2019
The Old Line State turns 385 years old this week. While the official date of the founding of the colony is March 25, sites in Anne Arundel County will celebrate the weekend of March 29 thru 31.
A wealth of historic locales, farms, parks, businesses and museums invite you in to explore for just $1 or free.
So hoist up that iconic flag and lace up your walking shoes because an entire weekend of events invites you to experience the history, culture and heritage of our state.
Annapolis City Dock
Start your Maryland Day weekend with a spirit-lifting, flag-raising ceremony with the award-winning USNA League Cadets of the Training Ship Mercedes.
March 30, 10am, Susan Campbell Park, Annapolis, free: www.visitannapolis.org.
Anne Arundel Co. Farmers Market
Support Maryland farmers and producers at the county’s oldest market. Shop for fresh in season veggies, fruits, meats, cheeses, eggs, bakery items, jewelry, crafts, plants and celebrate the reopening of the Saturday market.
March 30 7am-noon, March 31 10am-1pm, 275 Harry S Truman Pkwy., Annapolis, free: www.aacofarmersmarket.com
Anne Arundel Co. Dept. of Recreation & Parks
Visit county parks for free all weekend: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, 9am-5pm; Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, 7am-dusk; Kinder Farm Park, Millersville 7am–dusk; Fort Smallwood Park, Pasadena 5:30am-dusk; Downs Park, Pasadena, 7am-dusk
www.aacounty.org
Anne Arundel Co. Public Libraries
Cemeteries and individual grave markers can be a treasure trove of information for genealogists. Learn about the best resources to find this information from afar and get an introduction to local cemeteries that you can visit in person to find new information about your Maryland ancestors.
March 30, 2pm, Discoveries: The Library at the Mall, free: 410-222-0133
Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park
Find out what it takes to be a Chesapeake Bay waterman. Climb aboard a historic workboat, harvest oysters in a role-playing game, practice nautical knots, and interact with Bay animals. Earn a Museum patch by completing hands-on activities.
March 29-31, 11am-3pm, 723 Second St., free: www.amaritime.org
Banneker-Douglass Museum
The Banneker-Douglass Museum serves to document, interpret and promote African-American history and culture to improve understanding and appreciation of Americas’ rich cultural diversity. Lawrence Hurst, artist in residence, exhibits a 50-year retrospective of his work. The Verda Welcome Hall exhibits Songs of the Caged Bird, curated by Lilian Thomas Burwell, inspired by the work of Maya Angelou.
March 29 & 30, 10am-4pm, 84 Franklin St., free: www.bdmuseum.maryland.gov.
Brewer Hill Cemetery
Take guided tours (hourly) and learn about the people interred here since 1797, one of the oldest incorporated cemeteries to serve African-Americans, as well as others, in the United States.
March 30, 11am-4pm, 802 West St., free (donations accepted): http://historybrewerhill.wixsite.com/1884
Captain Avery Museum
Visit the museum to hear from naturalist Greg Kearns talk about ospreys on the Patuxent and efforts to study them and increase their numbers. Also see artwork by Arundel Lodge.
March 30, 2-4pm, 1418 E. West Shadyside Rd., Shady Side, free: www.captainaverymuseum.org
Charles Carroll House
Explore the grand old home of the Carroll Family, which included framers of the Constitution. Scavenger hunt and crossword puzzles for children. See the exhibit A Night of Tragedy: July 9-10, 1866.
March 30 & 31, noon-4pm, 107 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, free: http://charlescarrollhouse.org
Chase-Lloyd House
Listen to music by the Weems Creek Jammers amidst the beauty of an 18th-century mansion. Learn the history of the patriots and the many women who lived and continue to live in Chase Home. Tasty appetizers and signs of spring in the garden.
March 30, 2-5pm, 22 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, free: http://www.chaselloydhouse.org/
Chesapeake Children’s Museum
Make your own stamp; get in the act with improvisational theater (Sa 10:30am). Meet Benjamin Banneker and NASA scientists at the Lights Out Earth Hour (Sa 8:30pm).
March 30 & 31, 10am-4pm, 25 Silopanna Rd., Annapolis, $1: www.theccm.org
Deale Area Historical Society
Explore the historic village located on the shores of Herring Bay. Learn about life before electricity. See how lathe and plaster were installed. Examine a wooden boat built here and find out how Deale got its name.
March 31, 1-4pm, 389 Deale Rd., Tracy’s Landing, free: www.facebook.com/DealeAreaHistoricalSociety
Galesville Community Center
The center kicks off a yearlong celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Galesville Rosenwald School, showcasing the rich history of three prominent African-American sites along with other South County communities.
March 31, 1pm, 916 West Bennington Rd., Galesville, free: www.historicgalesville.org
Galesville Heritage Society
GHS and the Deale Historical Society present the Model Boat Builders of South County who share the history and creativity of the craft of boat building. Exhibit includes 25 models of skipjacks, bugeyes, dredges and more.
March 31, 1-4pm, Galesville Memorial Hall, 952 Galesville Rd., free: www.galesvilleheritagesociety.org
Governor Calvert House
Join a historically costumed interpreter to explore the archeological site of a hypocaust – an underground central heating system designed to support a greenhouse for orange trees. The exploration and excavation of this colonial site is documented in a creatively-designed exhibit by the University of Maryland.
March 31, 1-4pm, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, free: www.historicinnsofannapolis.com/
Greenstreet Gardens
Visit this bustling 65-acre farm and take a tour of the production greenhouses (Sa 1pm, rsvp: www.eventbrite.com).
March 29-31, 9am-5pm, 391 W Bay Front Rd., Lothian, free: www.greenstreetgardens.com
Hammond-Harwood House
Tour this 1774 home and see its famous collection of art, furniture and decorative pieces. Visit the gardens and a special exhibit on miniatures, silhouettes and landscapes.
March 30, noon-5pm, 19 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, $1: www.hammondharwoodhouse.org.
Historic London Town and Gardens
Explore the house and garden of this “lost” colonial town located on the shores of the South River. Interact with costumed guides to learn hearth cooking, rope making and carpentry. Tour the garden (SaSu 11am) or watch a blackpowder demo (SaSu 1:30pm). Kids can dress up in colonial-style clothing during their visit.
March 29-31, 10am-4:30pm, 839 Londontown Rd., Edgewater, $1: www.HistoricLondonTown.org
Hogshead
The tradespeople of Annapolis in 1700s share: carpentry, baking, spinning, printing and more. Help sew a replica of the John Shaw Flag, Maryland’s first flag for the new United States.
March 30 & 31, noon-4pm, 43 Pinckney St., Annapolis, free: www.annapolis.org/contact/hogshead
Holiday Memories Farm
Tour the high-tunnel operations, blueberry field and Christmas trees farm. Fresh eggs and greens sold.
March 31, 10am-3pm, 4848 Muddy Creek Rd., West River, free: kelciepalmer.wixsite.com/holidaymemoriesfarm
Homestead Gardens
Join professional horticulturalist Heather Wheatley to learn about the gardens of Maryland’s founding families (F 1pm). Explore Maryland’s native perennials and the environmental solutions they offer (Sa 1pm). Learn about planting native trees and shrubs with speaker Tom Bowman (Su 1pm).
March 29-31, 9am-6pm, 743 W Central Ave., Davidsonville, workshops $1, rsvp: www.homesteadgardens.com
Honey’s Harvest Farm
Learn about native trees, taste samples of paw paw fruit and elderberries and take a DNR-led tour of a native food forest project at the farm.
March 30, 11am-4pm, 5801 Brooks Woods Rd., free: [email protected]
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
Explore this arts center that features several galleries, workshops, demonstrations and performances. Join the Big Ink Prints workshop (SaSu 11am), featuring 11 artists working to ink large woodcuts created specifically for the event. The 10th annual ArtFest (Su 1-4pm) is a full day of creative delights, capped off with a concert by the U.S. Naval Academy Band (Su 4pm). Take free photos in the digital photo booth, watch drone photography demos, sing along with a Music Together Chesapeake class, watch The Maple Academy of Irish Dance perform, watch artists at work on a pottery wheel or fusing glass work, see the Ballet Theater of Maryland or belly dancers perform, learn tap and ballroom dancing and more.
March 30 & 31, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, free: www.marylandhall.org
Maryland State Archives/ Taylor House Office Building
Experience one of Maryland’s most significant places in national history. The staff of the Maryland State Archives will answer questions as you tour the new exhibit detailing the family history of Frederick Douglass, Maryland’s native son.
March 29, 10am-4pm, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, free (photo ID req’d): https://msa.maryland.gov/
The Maryland State House
Archives curatorial staff help you explore exhibits and history in the oldest state capital still in continuous legislative use and the only one that also served as the nation’s capital.
March 29-31, 9am-5pm, 100 State Circle, free (photo ID required): https://msa.maryland.gov
Pride of Baltimore II
Grab a selfie on Maryland’s renowned tall ship, Pride of Baltimore II, which will be anchored in City Dock. (Tours SaSu) Cross the gangway and come aboard to meet the captain and crew to learn about the history and workings of Maryland’s renowned tall ship. (Pride II is not wheelchair accessible.)
March 29, 4-6 pm, March 30 & 31, 11am-5pm, City Dock, Annapolis, free: www.pride2.org
Mitchell Gallery
See the Making Our Mark exhibit, a display of printmaking from woodcut and etching to solar plate and paper lithography.
March 29-31, noon-5pm, 60 College Ave., free: www.sjc.edu/annapolis/mitchell-gallery
Scenic Rivers Land Trust/ Bacon Ridge Natural Area
Take a two-hour History Hike to explore the landscape for clues of interactions between humans and nature. All ages and leashed dogs welcome.
March 30, 10am-noon, Hawkins Rd. (just south of the 97 overpass), Crownsville, free, rsvp: [email protected].
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Explore this campus located on the Chesapeake Bay with 2,650-acres of forests, wetlands, marshes and 15 miles of protected shoreline.
March 29 & 30, 8:30am-4:30pm, 647 Contees Wharf Rd., Edgewater, free: www.serc.si.edu.
Southern High Future Farmers of America
The school greenhouse is open for plant sales directly from members of the Future Farmers of America.
March 29, 3-6pm, March 30 8am-2pm, 4400 Solomons Island Rd., Harwood: 731-234-7765.
Susan Campbell Park
Janice Hayes-Williams presents the history associated with the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, Middleton’s Tavern, Market House, Chase Lloyd House, The Maryland State House and the Bertina Nick Historic Classroom at the Stanton Center.
March 30, 1-2pm, Susan Campbell Park, City Dock, Annapolis, $1: [email protected]
Visit Annapolis!
Have your picture taken at the photo booth at the West Street visitors’ center, complete with colonial props for kids. Information specialists are at both locations to help plan your Maryland Day Weekend adventures.
March 29-31, 9am-5pm, 26 West St. and City Dock, free: www.visitannapolis.org
Watermark: Annapolis Tours
Join Squire Hillman for 100 Annapolis memorials on a 2.1-mile saunter through the Naval Academy, St. John’s College and a portion of the historic district, rain or shine, directly after official flag-raising ceremony.
March 30, 10:30am-1pm, Susan Campbell Park, City Dock, free (photo ID required): www.watermarkjourney.com
The Westin Annapolis
USNA professor Mark Croatti leads a tour of The Hall of Presidents Before Washington (F 4pm). The exhibit includes 14 “forgotten” presidents under the Articles of Confederation and the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1789.
March 30 & 31 exhibit open noon-4pm, 100 Westgate Circle, free: www.westinannapolis.com
Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center
See the Carr’s and Sparrow’s beaches exhibit, which includes combined pieces from Blacks of the Chesapeake Local Legacy Collection and Wiley Bates Legacy Center showcasing two major stops on the “Chitlin Circuit” during and beyond segregation. Watch the short film Bringing Back Bates (Sa 1:30pm, Su 2:30pm).
March 30 1-5pm, March 31 2-4pm, 1101 Smithville St., Annapolis, free: https://whbateslegacycenter.org/.
William Paca House & Garden
Colonial Annapolis Living Historians discuss welcoming visiting dignitaries. This fun-for-all-ages event will also feature Maryland-themed crafts and activities.
March 30 & 31, noon-4pm, 186 Prince George St., Annapolis, $1: www.annapolis.org.
Windermere Farms
Tour this mushroom farm and join a mushroom log inoculation workshop (10am & 2pm).
March 29 & 30, 10am-5pm, 4957 Muddy Creek Rd.,
West River: 731-234-7765
Geocaching for Maryland Day
Annapolis Towne Transport Schedule
Saturday only, 10am to 5pm
__:00 Visit Annapolis, West St.
:10 Westin Annapolis, 100 Westgate Circle
:15 Brewer Hill Cemetery, 802 West Street
:20 Banneker-Douglass, 84 Franklin St.
:25 Carroll House, 107 Duke of Gloucester St.
:30 Annapolis Maritime Museum, Chesapeake Ave.
:35 Watermark Cruises, Dock St. & Randall St.
:40 Paca House & Garden, Pr. George St.. & East St.
:45 Hammond-Harwood House / Maryland Ave & Prince George St.
:50 Maryland State House, Lawyers’ Mall & College Ave.