Sandy Spring Museum [MD]

Description

The Sandy Spring Museum was established in 1980 in order to help preserve the history of the Sandy Spring area, which was rapidly transitioning from a rural farming community into a popular community for commuting professionals.

The museum offers exhibits on local history, a summer camp for children, field trip programs, interactive workshops on activities such as basket weaving and carding wool, and special events. The website offers an events calendar, visitor information, historical information regarding Sandy Spring, and information regarding all programs offered by the museum.

Historical Society of Kent County and Museum [MD]

Description

The Historical Society of Kent County is dedicated to preserving Kent County and Chestertown's heritage as a commercial center in colonial times. The society is headquartered in the Geddes Piper House, which is a fine example of the Federal style of architecture. Today, the house serves as society headquarters, a local history museum, and a historic house museum. The home also is host to the society's extensive local history archives.

The society offers exhibits in the Geddes Piper House, guided tours of the house, tours of other Chestertown historic homes, and special presentations. The website offers visitor information, histories of Chestertown and the Geddes Piper House, and access to the society's archives.

St. Mary's County Historical Society [MD]

Description

The St. Mary's County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of St. Mary's County, Maryland, known as the "Mother County of Maryland." Historic Tudor Hall, once visited by George Washington, houses the society's museum collection and research center; while the Old Jail, built in 1858, is another museum exhibit venue. The research center includes access to maps, surveys, business records, water district and government records, club and organization minutes, school records, diaries, marriage licenses, music, ships' lists, newspaper clippings, family genealogies, letters, almanacs, telephone directories, postcards, family movies, friendship cards, military records, church records, paintings, Bibles, and other books.

The society offers exhibits and historical outreach presentations. Please confirm dates of visitation.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum [MD]

Description

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum presents the history of maritime activity in Chesapeake Bay, one of the major maritime regions of the United States. The museum consists of nine buildings located on 18-acres of land. Topics covered include trans-Atlantic trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, naval history, boat building, Native American ways of life, and the various maritime uses of the Chesapeake Bay. Maritime professionals staff the museum to share their experiences with visitors.

The museum offers a variety of self-guided and guided tours for students, educational hands-on programs, lectures, sailing programs, summer camps, historic vessel preservation apprenticeships, interactive and traditional exhibits, a working boat yard, group overnight programs in the Hooper Strait Lighthouse, and a research library. The website offers a lesson plan on oystering.

National Council for the Traditional Arts [MD]

Description

The NCTA is is focused on the preservation of folk and traditional arts in the United States, and maintains archives of folk music, dance, crafts, and stories. While national in scope, the National Council for the Tradition Arts (NCTA) is very cognizant of its local corporate responsibility, and so provides a variety of services for the local Maryland and Washington DC area.

The NCTA puts on folk festivals throughout the country, presents traditional art touring programs, and works with local schools to present traditional arts to schoolchildren. The website offers information about all of the programs offered by the NCTA and an events calendar.

Historical Society of Frederick County [MD]

Description

The Historical Society of Frederick County is dedicated to preserving and raising awareness of the history of Frederick County, Maryland. The society owns and operates a local history museum as well as a historic house museum, the Taney House. The museum boasts an impressive collection of decorative and fine arts, including a unique collection of tower clocks.

Both the museum and Taney House offer special events, guided tours, educational events, and exhibitions. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of Frederick County, an events calendar, and teacher resources including a newsletter and a book guide.

Evergreen Museum and Library [MD]

Description

The Evergreen Museum and Library presents more than 50,000 objects once owned by Baltimore's railway royalty—the Garrett family. The collection, which includes manuscripts, decorative arts, artworks, and more than 8,000 rare books, is housed within the residence in which the Garretts lived between 1878 and 1942. Key artworks include those of Degas, Picasso, and a variety of post-Impressionists; and the museum boasts one of the largest privately held collections of both Japanese minor arts and Tiffany glass. Also within the house is the Bakst Theatre, decorated by Leon Bakst, costume and set designer of the Ballet Russes, a major visual influence of the early 1900s. A 28,600-volume library is available for use. The non-circulating collection's strength is 16th- and 17th-century English literature and history.

The museum offers guided tours, concerts, lectures, library access, and boxed lunches for group tours (at an additional price). Groups of 20 or more require advance registration.

USS Constellation [MD]

Description

The U.S.S. Constellation serves as a museum of its own history. The vessel is the final sail-powered warship built by the Navy, and the last floating Civil War era vessel. Education program topics include African Americans in the Navy, life at sea as a powder monkey, the Constellation's efforts against the slave trade, and the construction of the sloop-of-war.

The vessel offers gun drills, exhibits, an audio tour, an overnight program, educational programs, and educational outreach presentations. The website offers downloadable curriculum.

Marietta House Museum [MD]

Description

Marietta, the Federal style brick home of Gabriel Duvall, an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built circa 1813, Marietta remained under ownership of the Duvall family until 1902. Justice Duvall's law office and root cellar still remain today. Marietta is situated on 25 acres of lawn and wooded areas and the grounds boast two County Champion trees and lovely old boxwood. Marietta operates as an historic house museum and is furnished and interpreted to reflect the three generations of Duvall's that occupied the house. The Society of Mareen Duvall Descendants has relocated the family graveyard from its original location to the serene surroundings at Marietta.

The house offers tours, educational programs, workshops, and occasional educational and recreational events.