Jefferson Patterson Park Gets $8.5M for Upgrades

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in St. Leonard. Photo: By Acroterion – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikipedia.org.

By Kathy Knotts

Several 1930s era buildings at the historical Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM) in St. Leonard in Calvert County will be getting some much-needed TLC.

The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved an $8.58 million contract to upgrade and transform several buildings on the property. The board is composed of Governor Larry Hogan, Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“Our museums and parks play an important role in providing educational opportunities and recreation for our citizens,” said Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rob McCord. “JPPM connects Marylanders to the past through history and archaeology, and these upgrades will allow us to continue to honor this tremendous legacy.”

The Patterson House (the main museum house), and additional outbuildings will have the electrical, heating and cooling, plumbing, security, and automatic fire protection renovated and upgraded. The project will transform the Patterson House and two primary outbuildings into a modern, public museum and events facility. The contract was awarded to North Point Builders of Maryland, LLC and is expected to be completed late 2024.

“We are looking forward to significant upgrades as part of the $8.5 million contract approved by the Board of Public Works last week,” said Patricia Samford, Acting Executive Director of the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. “Nearly all of the construction will be done away from the areas most visited by the public as work will begin later this year.”

JPPM, which was gifted to the state in 1983 by Mary Marvin Breckinridge Patterson, is located along the Patuxent River and includes miles of trails, a Visitor Center full of interactive exhibits, and dozens of educational programs and events. JPPM is also the home of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation (MAC) Laboratory, one of only three in the nation, and currently stores more than 10 million artifacts.

“More than 120,000 visitors enjoy our 560 acre park annually,” said Samford.

For more information visit jefpat.maryland.gov.