Maryland’s First Places
By Kathy Knotts
Historic St. Mary’s City
Trace Maryland’s history to its roots at the Maryland Day celebration at our state’s first capital. Plan to visit the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation to see heritage breed cows, pigs and chickens and the Woodland Indian Hamlet and learn about the people and culture that lived here. Step on board the Maryland Dove to imagine the risks taken on the original journey in 1634; and explore the reconstructed Town Center, the place for all government business in the 1600s. On Friday, Enso Kitchen will be serving artisan breads, sandwiches, and bowls on site, from 9am-1pm.
There will be a book-signing event inside The Shop at Farthing’s Ordinary on Saturday, March 26 (noon) with Ellynne Brice Davis and Joyce Judd, author and illustrator of the children’s book, Whispers From the Colonial Past. The pair will sign books until 3 p.m. Reservations are encouraged for the book signing; call The Shop at 240-895-2088.
The celebration continues Saturday at the annual Maryland Day ceremony (1pm) at the Margaret Brent Pavilion (parking in the State House parking lot, 47418 Old State House Road). The featured keynote speaker this year will be David J. Collins, S.J., of Georgetown University. Silas Hurry, Emeritus Curator of Historic St. Mary’s City, long-time volunteer Christa Conant, and Governor Larry Hogan will personally receive the museum’s highest honor, the Cross Bottony award, for their years of support to the institution. Music provided by the St. Peter Claver Gospel Choir. The program will close with the Ceremony of the Flags, as children from across Maryland present their county colors.
March 25 & 26, 10am-4pm, Historic St. Mary’s City, free: https://hsmcdigshistory.org/
St. Clement’s Island Museum
Celebrate the arrival of Maryland’s first English colonists in the new world at St. Clement’s Island Museum with a full day of exhibits, guest speakers, water taxi rides, food truck and ceremonies.
The day will begin at 11 a.m. with Mass on the island. The main celebrant will be Fr. Thomas O’Keefe, S.J., Jesuit Provincial for the East Coast of the United States. The concelebrant will be Fr. Thomas Clifford, S.J., from Chapel Point. Students from Father Andrew White School in Leonardtown will serve as the choir and cantors. The official Maryland Day ceremony begins at 2pm with keynote speaker Dr. Julia King, an expert on 19th century Maryland and professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The ceremony will include Commissioner President Randy Guy, the visiting Jesuits, the Piscataway Tribal Leader Francis Gray and the president of the Virginia Chapter of the First Families of Maryland. The ceremony will feature an interpreter portraying Father Andrew White who makes the annual presentation of gifts. The replica of the 17th century iron cross initially erected on the island by the settlers will be on exhibit.
March 25, 10am-5pm, St. Clement’s Island Museum: Facebook.com/SCIMuseum