Historic St. Mary’s City will host its popular free trick-or-treating event, Lost City on October 19, 2024. Spreading out over the museum grounds, the event will be spooktacular! Families are invited to meet “lost” sailors, go trick-or-treating, play games, or enjoy stories. Maryland Dove will be open and dressed for the occasion as a haunted ship!

Families are invited to walk the grounds after hours to see the museum decorated with period-appropriate fall décor and more present-day “Halloween” items. The evening includes stepping aboard the “haunted ship” Maryland Dove, dancing to music with the “Monster Mash Disco Ball” at the Margaret Brent gazebo, fortune telling and broomstick lessons in the Town Center area, Halloween-themed crafts, and family-friendly fall games, giving guests a full evening of enjoyment and…candy!

Workshop sessions: 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. 

A program specially designed for homeschool families, with interpretive discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.  

$10/ student, an additional workshop is $7, adults are general admission

HSMC Member pricing $8/ student, additional workshop is $5, adults are free. 

For full information, visit https://www.hsmcdigshistory.org/events/homeschool-workshops/

Hosted by the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association

RiverFest, a celebration of the St. Mary's River and its watershed, is free and open to everyone! Discover 101 ways to protect and enjoy our waterways, enjoy live music, try kayaking and seining, and enjoy tours of Historic St. Mary's City. Visit exhibits and vendors from southern Maryland. Come face‐to‐face with birds of prey, snakes, terrapins, and other seldom‐seen neighbors. Join the ceremonial Wade-In at 2:00 p.m

Free

Workshop sessions: 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. 

A program specially designed for homeschool families, with interpretive discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.  

$10/ student, an additional workshop is $7, adults are general admission

HSMC Member pricing $8/ student, additional workshop is $5, adults are free. 

For full information, visit https://www.hsmcdigshistory.org/events/homeschool-workshops/

August 11.  Sunday Family Fun Day - Compass Creations 

10:00 a.m.—10:45 a.m.

Waterfront

Successful navigation is a science, but it is simpler than you may think! Join us at the waterfront to learn how and why a compass works by making one yourself. Your compass will then point you in the direction of Maryland Dove crew members, who will discuss the compass and its role in the navigational process of dead reckoning. 

Museum admission. Free for Historic St. Mary’s City members.

Info: email hsmcc.groups@maryland.gov; 301-994-4371 / 301-994-4372

Food. Music. Beer.  On June 22 bring your friends, an appetite, and an outdoor chair to enjoy one of the best outdoor festivals southern Maryland has to offer.

BeerFest will feature music from local bands, food from local cuisine, and a variety of regional craft brews.

Enjoy a rollicking outdoor festival while helping to further education and research at HSMC.

Maryland Dove and waterfront*

Gaming and gambling have an extensive history in Maryland, from the ships that navigated local waterways to the ordinaries where travelers lodged. This one-hour walking tour will allow visitors to try their hand at both shipboard and land-based games that were popular in 17th-century Maryland. 

Approximately 1 hour. 

Museum admission. Free for members. No registration required.

*Due to construction in the State House parking lot, guests are advised to park in either St. Mary’s College of Maryland Lot K, Campus Center or the HSMC Visitor Center (located at 18751 Hogaboom Lane, St. Mary’s City, Md 20686)

Donations appreciated.

Come join HSMC for a Free Trick-or-Treat Halloween extravaganza! Explore the Maryland Dove, chat with pirates, get your fortune told, and play games. Don't miss out on this spooktacular event!

 Parking will be available off Old State House Road
GPS address 47414 Old State House Rd, St Mary’s City, MD 20686

Come sail with us!

Experience the rare opportunity to sail on board Maryland Dove, a spectacular wooden vessel. 

General Admission:

Tickets can be purchased below. **

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 8 a.m., September 22

Sails may be canceled at any time. Should HSMC cancel due to weather or staffing, the customer will have an option for a refund or credit for another sail. Due to limited space, customers may cancel up to 48 hours prior to the sail to get a refund.

HISTORY:

Maryland Dove is a reconstruction of the original Dove, a 17th-century trading ship. Hired by Cecil Calvert, the Dove accompanied the Ark, a vessel holding 140 colonists and their equipment to what is now Maryland in 1634. Later that year, Dove was sent north to Boston to trade corn for salt cod and other commodities, and in August of 1635, Dove was sent back to England with furs and timber to trade. Dove was never seen again, probably lost at sea. The new Maryland Dove, launched in 2022, serves as an ambassador for Historic St. Mary’s and as a public educational exhibit. Maryland Dove is owned by the state of Maryland and operated and maintained by the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission.

Come sail with us!

Experience the rare opportunity to sail on board Maryland Dove, a spectacular wooden vessel. 

General Admission:

Tickets can be purchased below. **

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 8 a.m., September 22

Sails may be canceled at any time. Should HSMC cancel due to weather or staffing, the customer will have an option for a refund or credit for another sail. Due to limited space, customers may cancel up to 48 hours prior to the sail to get a refund.

HISTORY:

Maryland Dove is a reconstruction of the original Dove, a 17th-century trading ship. Hired by Cecil Calvert, the Dove accompanied the Ark, a vessel holding 140 colonists and their equipment to what is now Maryland in 1634. Later that year, Dove was sent north to Boston to trade corn for salt cod and other commodities, and in August of 1635, Dove was sent back to England with furs and timber to trade. Dove was never seen again, probably lost at sea. The new Maryland Dove, launched in 2022, serves as an ambassador for Historic St. Mary’s and as a public educational exhibit. Maryland Dove is owned by the state of Maryland and operated and maintained by the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Cambridge, Md in September 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours during the following hours:

September 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 8, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Cambridge, Md in September 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours during the following hours:

September 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 8, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Cambridge, Md in September 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours during the following hours:

September 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 8, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Crisfield, Md in September 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. Maryland Dove is Historic St. Mary’s City floating ambassador and one of its most popular exhibits. The wooden ship design is based on the original Dove, a cargo vessel that arrived along with the passenger ship Ark in 1634.

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours during the following hours:

September 1, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

September 2, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

September 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Crisfield, Md in September 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours during the following hours:

September 1, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

September 2, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

September 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Crisfield, Md in September 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours during the following hours:

September 1, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

September 2, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

September 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Ahoy, mateys! Become a pirate for the day, and search for a “pirate ship” (Maryland Dove in disguise)

This program is for children 3-4 years old with an accompanying adult.

10 a.m.—11 a.m. Meet at Historic St. Mary’s City museum shop, The Shop at Farthing’s Ordinary to begin your adventure.

Space is limited, registration is required.

Payment in full is due at time of registration:  $10 per child ($8 HSMC museum members); one accompanying adult free

To register, contact (301)994-4371, or hsmcc.groups@maryland.gov

Maryland Dove will be visiting Fells Point in Baltimore of June 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours

June 20, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. / June 21, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. / June 22, 10 a.m.—1 p.m.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Fells Point in Baltimore of June 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours

June 20, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. / June 21, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. / June 22, 10 a.m.—1 p.m.

Maryland Dove will be visiting Fells Point in Baltimore of June 2023, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and matching funds from Historic St. Mary's City Foundation. The state-funded ship was built on Maryland’s eastern shore and delivered to Historic St. Mary’s City in August 2022. 

Maryland Dove will be open to the public for free deck tours

June 20, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. / June 21, 10 a.m.—5 p.m. / June 22, 10 a.m.—1 p.m.