Hoodoo Tradition in Annapolis: Two Worlds

Description

Historian Mark P. Leone introduces viewers to the Annapolis home of Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and to the coming-together of the lives of the Founding Fathers and their African and African American slaves that the house represents. Leone focuses on the hoodoo artifacts uncovered at the house.

To view this video, select "Scholars," followed by "Mark P. Leone." Chooses one of the Windows Media options.

The Constitutional Basis of the American Nation

Description

Professor Jeffrey Sikkenga looks at the 1819 U.S. Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland, in which a cashier of the Baltimore branch of the Second National Bank of the United States petitioned against the state of Maryland for obstructing the functioning of that bank. Sikkenga looks at how the decision against Maryland, under Chief Justice John Marshall, established the Constitution as the basis of justice in the U.S.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session three, and select the Real Audio link to the left of the main text.

Billingsley House Museum [MD]

Description

Billingsley House Museum is a brick Tidewater Colonial plantation house that sits on 430 acres overlooking the confluence of the Patuxent River and the Western Branch. The house and land were named for Major John Billingsley, the original 1662 land grant owner. Even though Major Billingsley never lived on the property and there have been 27 title adjustments over its long history, the name "Billingsley" remains. The present house was built around 1740 by the prominent Weems family on or very near the site of an older 1695 house built by Colonel James Hollyday, first Chief Justice of the Prince George's County Court.

The house offers tours.

Dorsey Chapel Historic Site [MD]

Description

This small frame meetinghouse-style church is distinguished by its steeply pitched gable roof and late Victorian ornamental treatment of its principal gable front. The upper gable has alternating courses of sawtooth and rectangular shingles, a quatrefoil bulls-eye ornament, and a turned wooden finial at the ridge. Each of the chapel's side walls is lighted by three gothic-arch windows that have delicate tracery in the upper sashes.

The church offers tours.

Wicomico Historical Society and Museums [MD]

Description

The Wicomico Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Wicomico County, Maryland. To this end, the society operates several museums. The Heritage Center is a museum of local history is located within a reproduction 18th-century tobacco barn. Pemberton Hall depicts 1741 daily life. The 1872 Rockawalkin School presents education history. The 1938 Nutters Election House holds Presidential, campaign, and political artifacts.

The Heritage Center, Rockawalkin School, and Nutters Election House offers exhibits. Pemberton Hall offers period rooms and guided tours. These two museum are located within a park which hosts a naturalist who offers educational programs. The election house is open by appointment only.

Mount Airy Mansion [MD]

Description

The Mount Airy Mansion dates back to colonial times when it was the home of the Calvert family. The home was originally built by Charles Calvert, Third Lord of Baltimore, as a hunting lodge. Today, the home stands as a historic house museum, and gives visitors a glimpse into the lives of the colonial elite.

The mansion offers guided tours and special events. The website offers a brief history of the mansion, a photo gallery of the mansion, visitor information, and a listing of upcoming events.

Boyds Historical Society and the Boyds Negro School [MD] Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/08/2008 - 13:38
Description

The Boyds Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Boyds, Maryland. To this end, the society operates the Boyds Negro School. This school served the local African American population between 1895 and 1936.

The society offers tours of the Boyds Negro School. The school is open the last Sunday of each month and by appointment. School groups are welcome.

Riversdale Historic House Museum [MD]

Description

Riversdale, a National Historic Landmark, is a restored, five-part, stucco-covered brick plantation home built between 1801 and 1807. Construction of this elegant manor house was begun by Henri Stier, a Flemish aristocrat, and was completed by his daughter Rosalie and her husband George Calvert, grandson of the fifth Lord Baltimore. The Federal style mansion has particularly fine interior decorative detail. Numerous nationally significant figures later lived there.

A second website, for the Riverside Historical Society, which supports maintenance and interpretation of the house, can be found here.

The house offers tours, exhibits, educational programs, workshops and classes, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine [MD]

Description

The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine preserves Fort McHenry, defensive site of the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. It was this battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner," now the U.S. national anthem.

The site offers an introductory video, self-guided tours, exhibits, period rooms, a flag change program, educational programs for students, and Junior Ranger activities. During the summer, the site also offers talks; weekend living history interpreters; musket, drill, and artillery demonstrations. Three weeks advance notice is required for school visits. The website offers lesson plans and a teacher's guide.