Spring Break Activities
2025-04-18 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Historic Sotterley, Southern Maryland Folklife Center, St. Mary’s County Public Library, and local artist Jami Faith are partnering to bring a week of FREE activities during Spring Break to keep kids active and engaged in learning while having fun on their days off. Each day is a different activity for your family to enjoy.

Registration is required to make sure we acquire enough supplies for each activity. The registration link is below and is the same for all days – while registering you can select which days you’ll be attending. Please register once per family group. Parents/Guardians will be required to stay with children throughout the event and are welcome to participate as supplies allow.

Register Here!

NOTICE
Due to higher than anticipated interest, registration for our Spring Break Activities has closed early. We deeply appreciate all of your support and apologize for any inconvenience. We will have more events popping up throughout the year with our partners at the St. Mary’s County Library, Southern Maryland Folklife Center, and local artist Jami Faith, so please keep an eye on our calendar and socials for additional information. Thank you and we hope you have a wonderful, educational, and fun Spring Break!

FULL, Registration closed Monday, April 14 – Birds, Bees, Butterflies and You
Join us for a Nature Walk and Citizen Science Adventure, a fun partnership between Historic Sotterley and St. Mary’s County Library! Explore the beauty of nature on a guided walk with one of our local experts. Afterward, head to the Mobile Library to discover the Library’s Citizen Science Kits to learn how you can contribute to real-world science from your own backyard. End the day with a relaxing stroll through the Colonial Garden, observing pollinators at work and putting your new Citizen Science skills to work!
Perfect for nature lovers, future scientists, and families—don’t miss out on this exciting, hands-on adventure!

FULL, Registration closed Tuesday, April 15 – Hands-On with the History of Clay Pots
Step back in time at Historic Sotterley and discover the history of pottery and clay, then build your own clay pot to paint and take home!
In partnership with Historic Sotterley, families will learn how clay pots were crafted and used in the past. The St. Mary’s County Library will provide materials and guide children as they hand-build their own clay pots and decorate them with naturally pigmented paints. This hands-on program blends history and creativity for a memorable family experience!

FULL, Registration closed Wednesday, April 16 – Nature Sketching Around Historic Sotterley
Future Botanists, Scientists, Gardeners, Naturalists…
Come meet up at the barn with a representative of Historic Sotterley and Creation Guide Gramma Jami as we take you on a nature walk. You will be given a small blank notebook with which to take notes and do some sketching of the wonders that abound all around us. Sotterley Representative will help with what we see, and Gramma Jami will help you with your journal, and then we will return to the barn to add color to our sketches with various provided tools.

FULL, Registration closed Thursday, April 17 – Growing for Good, Growing for All
Help Farmer Joe prep and plant fruits and vegetables for our Growing for Good program. Growing for Good helps fight food insecurity in Southern Maryland by growing fresh produce right here in Sotterley’s fields and donates it to local food pantries and soup kitchens for families in need. Help your neighbors while learning how to grow your own food! At the end of the day, take home your own planted seed so you can grow food at home.

FULL, Registration closed Friday, April 18 – First Aid Safety
Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department will be visiting to give families a lesson in first aid! Help your family learn critical skills to help them in an emergency and give you more peace of mind. These are the building blocks they’ll use to navigate situations safely for the rest of their lives.

What's Soaring at Sotterley Birdwalk
2025-04-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 19, 2025 – Historic Sotterley and Southern Maryland Audobon Society are joining in partnership to bring you this FREE Event being led by Dean Newman, Director of the Southern Maryland Audobon Society.
Celebrate Earth Day with a bird walk at this scenic and historic Patuxent River property as the annual surge of migrating birds begins throughout St. Mary’s County. Nesting Bald Eagles, migrating warblers, meadowlarks, woodpeckers and waterfowl can all be found via Sotterley’s farm roads and trails.
The walk starts promptly at 9:00 am, please arrive 10-15 minutes prior in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. Please bring with you binoculars and a field guide (don’t worry if you don’t have). Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and attire weather appropriate. For all levels of birdwatchers.
No registration required.

In preparation for the walk, please download the Merlin app from Cornell University for your phone and install the US: Southeast Bird Pack. Both downloads are free and you won’t get spammed with email. It’s a GREAT app and you’ll be glad you downloaded it.
Directions: From Rt. 235, go north on Sotterley Road; turn right through gates then head towards the Historic Sotterley Visitor Center, we meet in the parking lot.
Watch our website and Facebook for updates on this event (especially in case of inclement weather).

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Matthew Neff
2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 23, 2025 – Have you learned about one of the newest animal exhibits at the Calvert Marine Museum – the Eastern Hellbenders? These gargantuan amphibians were once common across the eastern United States, spanning from southwestern New York to Georgia, now their populations are widely declining and they’ve disappeared from many of their historic homes. Learn all about these lost denizens that used to be found in the Chesapeake Bay. Matt will also be talking about fieldwork he did with their larger cousins in Hiroshima, Japan – The Japanese Giant Salamander.

This is a FREE in-person event. Registration is required.
All participants are welcome to join us for a pre-reception at 6:15 pm.

Register Here!

Matt Neff is in his third year as Curator of Estuarine Biology at the Calvert Marine Museum. Since joining the museum, he has launched several new exhibits, including one focused on the Eastern Hellbender, an endangered salamander once found in the Bay. Matt is also starting his 13th season with FrogWatch, a citizen science program that trains individuals to listen for and record frog calls during the breeding season. Last year, over 1,100 observations of 14 different frog species were submitted across the Southern Maryland and surrounding DMV area. Prior to his work at the museum, Matt spent 12 years as a zookeeper in the Department of Herpetology at the Smithsonian National Zoo. With a lifelong passion for animals and environmental education, Matt is excited to continue sharing his love for the natural world, particularly the native species of Southern Maryland.

Annual Historic Sotterley Garden Guild Plant Sale
2025-04-26 09:00 - 14:00, 2025-04-27 12:00 - 15:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 26 & 27, 2025 – From nurturing and maintaining our exquisite Colonial Revival Gardens – to giving fun and informative workshops, and bringing extra flair and beauty to the site. The Sotterley Garden Guild are dedicated volunteers who do so much! Please stop by, support, and shop at their Annual Plant Sale!

Here is your chance to buy plants lovingly nurtured by the Sotterley gardeners. Have questions? Members of the Garden Guild will be on hand with the answers and to share advice. The funds raised by this all-volunteer group of gardening enthusiasts are used to maintain the beautiful Colonial Revival Garden. It is in the gardens that their labors and their love of gardening is displayed so majestically.
To come and browse the plant selection is free. A cost is only involved if you choose to purchase plants or other items.
2025 PLANT SALE:
Saturday, April 26 – 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sunday, April 27 – 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Guided Tour Season Opens
2025-05-02 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 2, 2025 – Historic Sotterley’s Tour Season officially begins on Friday, May 2nd! Guided tours of our Historic Manor House will be offered Friday through Saturday – specific tour times coming soon. Tickets can be purchased at our Visitor Center the day of the tour. Exhibits will also be opened for self-guided tours. For more information closer to opening weekend, see our visit page.

We’re looking forward to another great tour season!

Mother's Day Weekend - Mom's tours are FREE
2025-05-10 - 2025-05-11 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 10 & 11, 2025 – Looking to spend time with your mom this Mother’s Day? Spend the day at Historic Sotterley!
Historic Sotterley will have an extra focus on the women of Sotterley on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. To make the day extra special, Moms get their tours for free! Tickets can be purchased at Sotterley’s Visitor Center on the day of the tour. Other tour participants will need to buy their tickets at normal price.
Tours will be offered on Saturday at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm and on Sunday at 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. For more information about our hours and pricing, check our visit page.
Historic Sotterley’s guided tours allow visitors an intimate perspective of the lives and cultures of those that owned, lived, and worked in the historic Manor House, enslaved or free, over three centuries of American history. Tours this weekend will have an extra focus on the women of Sotterley, from Rebecca Bowles, the second wife of Sotterley’s first owner, to Ruth Barber, one of Sotterley’s last residents. Visitors will learn about how these women influenced Sotterley’s history and set the course for its future.
The tour is on the ground floor spaces and is approximately 45-60 minutes in length. The 18th Century Manor House doorways may not accommodate all wheelchairs or walkers in some rooms of the house. Please call in advance for full access details.
After the tour, Sotterley offers a museum gift shop, beautiful trails, expansive gardens, access to a quiet creek, and additional exhibits to explore and learn from. Tour attendees are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy all that the grounds have to offer with their mom. Historic Sotterley is a “Leave No Trace” site, so please be prepared to pack out any trash and leftover food when you leave.

Southern Maryland Heritage Festival
2025-05-17 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-05-18 11:00 - 17:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 17 & 18, 2025 – Historic Sotterley is excited to host the 2nd Southern Maryland Heritage Festival. Join us for an unforgettable two-day celebration of Southern Maryland’s rich history and culture, and the incredible people who make it unique. This festival promises something for everyone, so mark your calendars and get ready for an amazing experience!

Heritage Demos & Exhibits – Check out demonstrations and exhibits from Southern Maryland businesses and organizations, such as blacksmithing, jousting, quilting, antique tractor pulls, and more!
Food and Artisan Vendors – Shop one-of-a-kind hand-crafted goods made by local artisans, and enjoy fabulous food from local favorites!
Music & Entertainment – Music is part of our heritage! Enjoy live performances on our outdoor stage – more info about our performers to come.
Beer & Wine – Brews on tap and wine will be available at two locations on site. (Bring your ID!)
Kids Corner – Your little ones can enjoy games and other family-friendly activities at our designated kids area.
Wagon Rides – Take a scenic ride through Historic Sotterley on a tractor-pulled wagon ride.

Open House Tours – Explore some areas of our Manor House and learn some history from our experienced docents.

Don’t miss out on this vibrant celebration of Southern Maryland’s heritage. Bring your friends and family for a weekend filled with fun, learning, and community spirit! Event information will be updated as information becomes available.

Ticket Pricing
Two-Day Entrance (Adults): $18 in advance, $25 at the gate.
One-Day Entrance (Adults): $10 in advance, $15 at the gate

Children (12 & under): FREE

Boondocking at the Southern Maryland Heritage Festival
For the first time this year, the Southern Maryland Heritage Festival will allow 2 nights of on-site RV camping (May 16 & 17)! Guests will be able to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of Sotterley and the festival experience.
Camping Registration costs $100 and includes 2 adult two-day tickets to the festival. To reserve your spot, please reach out to Sotterleyfest@gmail.com

Purchase Tickets Here!
Learn more about the Exhibitors, Vendors, Entertainment, Etc.!

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Lauren Zimmerman
2025-05-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 21, 2025 – The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative (SMWGC) was formed in 2007 by a group of local farmers, of which several were transitioning away from tobacco production to begin planting grapes. 12 farms came together to form the SMWGC making it the first grape-growing cooperative in the state of Maryland leading the way for viticulture and future wineries. With the help of local funding, the group opened Port of Leonardtown Winery in 2010 to process and sell their product. The Port of Leonardtown Winery has developed a strong reputation for producing premium wines grown from vineyards located throughout Maryland. The Winery is located in the prosperous town of Leonardtown and is open daily for wine tastings.
Lauren Zimmerman, winemaker at Port of Leonardtown Winery, will be joined by David Wood, current President of the Southern Maryland Wine Growers Co-op, and vineyard owner at Forest Hall Farm, who supplies grapes to Port of Leonardtown Winery to speak about the Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative and Port of Leonardtown Winery.

This is a FREE in-person event. Registration is required.
All participants are welcome to join us for a pre-reception at 6:15 pm.

Register Here!

Lauren Y. Zimmerman has 20 years of experience managing different areas of the wine industry, from grape growing, and winemaking, to marketing and sales. After graduating with a degree in Enology, she purchased land and planted 5 acres of vines in her hometown of Wellington, Ontario, Canada. She has worked with wineries around North America and New Zealand, gaining experience from top players in the industry. Lauren met her husband and moved to Maryland in 2012. Since working with Port of Leonardtown Winery, the winery has brought home numerous prestigious awards, including five Best in Show trophies. Lauren is a big advocate for local tourism and is an ongoing ambassador for the local craft beverage industries.

Creating our own Natural Brushes with Jami Faith
2025-05-23 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 23, 2025 – You don’t need expensive brushes to create art, you can do it with things you forage around you! Creation Guide Jami will take us out on the grounds, as we walk about the garden and surrounding areas to gather leaves, twigs, pine needles etc.
Once we have acquired our own items we will return to the barn where we will assemble our brushes, play with the marks they make and then create a painting. A great way to create texture and unique patterns from various natural elements.

This opportunity is open to artists of all levels and ages. Registration is not required. $5 per person for non-members. FREE for Members. Please Arrive between 10:00-10:15 to pay your event fee at the Visitor Center.
Not a Historic Sotterley Member yet? Become a Member now!

Create Artwork from Nature All Around You with Jami Faith
2025-06-06 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
June 6, 2025 – Create art at Historic Sotterley by using objects found in nature. Creation Guide Jami will provide small accordian style books and guidance to our guests as we create prints from leaves and other natural elements. We will do a short walkabout on the grounds of Historic Sotterley , gathering items – lookinh for textures, and then return to the barn to make our own nature booklet.

This opportunity is open to artists of all levels and ages. Registration is not required. $5 per person for non-members. FREE for Members. Please Arrive between 10:00-10:15 to pay your event fee at the Visitor Center.

Not a Historic Sotterley Member yet? Become a Member now!

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Jennifer Ritterhouse
2025-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
June 11, 2025 – When white newspaper editor Jonathan Daniels set out to “discover the South” in his stately black Plymouth in the summer of 1937, he especially hoped to find the land that existed somewhere between the mythical old plantation and the sharecropper’s cabin, between Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and Erskine Caldwell’s Tobacco Road. He succeeded. His published and unpublished accounts of his trip captured a panoramic picture of the South during the Great Depression. In Discovering the South: One Man’s Travels through a Changing America in the 1930s, historian Jennifer Ritterhouse follows Daniels on his journey to explore a wide range of interrelated topics, from the impact of the New Deal and the southern literary Renaissance, to the tragic Scottsboro case and planters’ and industrialists’ violent suppression of labor organizing.
The questions at the center of Discovering the South are big ones: What was the true nature of the South and its problems, and who was trying to address them–in what ways, against what opposition, and with what results–during the Roosevelt years? More provocatively, why, in the late 1930s when Jonathan Daniels, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and a great many other Americans were “traveling,” did the destination of a more just and egalitarian South prove so impossible to reach?

This is a FREE hybrid event, meaning you can join in person or virtually. Registration is required.
In-person attendees are welcome to join us for a pre-reception at 6:15 pm.

Register for In-Person Attendance Here!
Register for Virtual Attendance Here!

Jennifer Ritterhouse is Professor of History at George Mason University. She specializes in the history of the post-Reconstruction South, with emphasis on race and gender issues. She is the author of Discovering the South: One Man’s Travels Through a Changing America in the 1930s (UNC Press, 2017) and Growing Up Jim Crow: How Black and White Southern Children Learned Race (UNC Press, 2006). She is the editor of a reprint edition of Sarah Patton Boyle’s autobiography, The Desegregated Heart: A Virginian’s Stand in Time of Transition (UVA Press, 2001), and one of several co-editors of Remembering Jim Crow: African Americans Tell About Life in the Segregated South (New Press, 2001). Her current research focuses on the surprisingly southern history of the women’s rights projects of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in the 1970s.

This event is made possible in part by a sponsorship from:

Father's Day Weekend Tours - Dads get in FREE!
2025-06-14 - 2025-06-15 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
June 14 & 15, 2025 – Whether your dad is a history buff or just looking to do something new this Father‘s Day weekend, Historic Sotterley has something to offer!

Historic Sotterley will be offering free guided tours to Dads on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15. Tickets can be purchased at Sotterley’s Visitor Center on the day of the tour. Other tour participants will need to buy their tickets at normal price.

Tours will be offered on Saturday at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm and on Sunday at 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. For more information about our hours and pricing, check our visit page.

Historic Sotterley’s guided tours allow visitors an intimate perspective of the lives and cultures of those that owned, lived, and worked in the historic Manor House, enslaved or free, over three centuries of American history.

The tour is on the ground floor spaces and is approximately 45-60 minutes in length. The 18th Century Manor House doorways may not accommodate all wheelchairs or walkers in some rooms of the house. Please call in advance for full access details.

After the tour, Sotterley offers a museum gift shop, beautiful trails, expansive gardens, access to a quiet creek, and additional exhibits to explore and learn from. Tour attendees are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy all that the grounds have to offer with their dad. Historic Sotterley is a “Leave No Trace” site, so please be prepared to pack out any trash and leftover food when you leave.

Juneteenth Weekend Tours
2025-06-20 - 2025-06-22 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
June 19-22, 2025 – In honor of Juneteenth, Historic Sotterley will offer guided tours focusing on stories of strength and resilience. Learn about how over the centuries, the enslaved at Sotterley resisted against slavery, how they maintained strength and identity when it had been denied to them, how they built families and communities, and discover how many took their freedom, and what life was like at Sotterley after the abolition of slavery.

Tour Times
Friday – Saturday: 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm
Sunday’s tours will be open house all day long due to the From Legacy to Leadership event, but will still have a focus on stories of strength and resilience. Please considering joining us for Sunday’s event – it’s free!

For more information on visiting Historic Sotterley and our hours, check out the visit page.

Colorful Creative Collage Card with Jami Faith
2025-06-20 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
June 20, 2025 – Make a lovely collage card inspired by the nature around Historic Sotterley. Creation Guide Jami will walk with our guests through Sotterley’s beautiful and colorful flower garden for our inspiration to create a beautiful collage card. We will use a variety of colorful paper ephemera as well as a variety of mark making tools.

This opportunity is open to artists of all levels and ages. Registration is not required. $5 per person for non-members. FREE for Members. Please Arrive between 10:00-10:15 to pay your event fee at the Visitor Center.

Not a Historic Sotterley Member yet? Become a Member now!

From Legacy to Leadership: Answering the Call
2025-06-22 14:00 - 18:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
June 22, 2025 – Join us in honoring a truly momentous occasion as Ms. Gwendoline Bankins becomes the first descendant of the enslaved at Historic Sotterley to be elected President of the Board of Trustees—and the first in the State of Maryland to serve in this distinguished role.

Enjoy an inspiring afternoon featuring:
A welcoming reception in honor of Ms. Bankins
Open house tours of historic structures
Historical presentations and interpretive displays
Live entertainment
Wagon Rides
A tribute to Historic Sotterley’s commitment to truthfully telling our shared history
We request that you RSVP by Thursday, June 12th at the link below if you will be attending. Please feel free to pass this invitation to friends and family – the more the merrier.

RSVP Here!

Descendants of Sotterley Focused Tours
2025-06-27 - 2025-06-29 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
June 27 – June 29, 2025 – In honor of Descendants Day on June 29th, Historic Sotterley’s guided tours will have an additional focus on the roles and impacts of the Descendants of Sotterley. Learn about the dynamic role descendants have had over sixty years of shaping this historic site, starting in 1961.

Tours will be offered on Saturday at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:00 pm and on Sunday at 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. For more information about our hours and pricing, check our visit page.

Historic Sotterley’s guided tours allow visitors an intimate perspective of the lives and cultures of those that owned, lived, and worked at Historic Sotterley, enslaved or free, over three centuries of American history. The tour is on the ground floor spaces of our historic Manor House and Slave Dwelling and is approximately 45-60 minutes in length. The 18th Century Manor House doorways may not accommodate all wheelchairs or walkers in some rooms of the house, and reaching the Slave Dwelling requires traveling down an uneven dirt road. Please call in advance for full access details.

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Dr. Tayzhuan Glover
2025-07-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
July 16, 2025 – During the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, hundreds of enslaved men, women, and children in the Chesapeake, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana were able to secure their freedom by offering aid to the British. Following the war, many of these freedom-seekers were resettled in Nova Scotia and Trinidad. This presentation will use American and British colonial archives to follow the journey to freedom of the enslaved men, women, and children from Historic Sotterley who were resettled in Trinidad in 1815, where they laid the foundation for Trinidad’s “Merikin” descendant community.

This is a FREE hybrid event, meaning participants can join us in-person OR virtually. Registration is required.
In-person participants are welcome to join us for a pre-reception at 6:30pm with cookies and drinks.

Register Here to Attend In-Person
Register Here to Attend Virtually

Dr. Tayzhaun Glover received a Ph.D. in History from Duke University in 2024. He also received a B.A. in Africana Studies, Anthropology, and French from Franklin & Marshall College in 2017. He is primarily interested in the seaborne mobility practices of freedom-seeking enslaved men, women, and children in the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Eastern Caribbean, and the Americas, more broadly. He engages with questions about labor, geography, law, and European and Indigenous sovereignty to understand how enslaved people conceptualized refuge, liberty, and freedom based on their geopolitical knowledge of their worlds. His research has received support from Fulbright France, The McNeil Center for Early American Studies, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Duke History and African and African American Studies departments, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. He is currently a Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the National Park Service where he researches and interprets the legacy of enslaved people from the Chesapeake who joined the Colonial Marines during the War of 1812

Are you interested in hearing more about human migration? Visit Lexington Park Library to view the exhibit World on the Move, 250,000 Years of Human Migration, from July 21 – August 22, 2025.

This event is made possible in part by a sponsorship from:

To Be Rescheduled - Pursuit of Freedom Specialty Tour
2025-07-18 17:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
**Due to unforeseen circumstances, this tour is being rescheduled. More information coming soon.**

July 18, 2025 – Historic Sotterley is offering a guided tour with a special focus on The Pursuit of Freedom at Historic Sotterley. Take a guided tour with our Interpretive Programs Manager for an in-depth look at how freedom evolved through the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, the Civil War, and post-emacipation into the 20th century. We are offering only one time for this tour on Friday, July 18th, at 5:30 pm.

Recommended for ages 16 & older. Walking and standing required. The historic house is not ADA compliant.
Advance reservations required – please no walk-ins. Tour is limited to 18 people. Tickets are $25/person.
It is advised to arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your tour. Please proceed to the Warehouse to Check-in upon arrival.

Buy Tickets Here!

Sweet Summer Nights at Sotterley
2025-07-26 19:30 - 21:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
July 26, 2025 – Join us at Sotterley from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. to explore Lovely Lepidoptera! This program will include a Moth Magnet for seeing and identifying beautiful moths up close and a tour of the gardens with UV lights to see the amazing patterns that butterflies can see in the flowers they visit (that are usually invisible to us).

This event is best for children ages 5 and up. $5/person for non-members. FREE for members! Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to check in at the Warehouse and pay event fees or check membership. Registration is requested so we can have a rough estimate of attendance.
Parents are expected to pay the event fee and stay with their children for the duration of the event. Thank you!

Register here!

Not a member yet? Become one today!

This event series is made possible in partnership with the Southern Maryland Folklife Center and instructor Dorothy Birch.

Day of Unity and Healing
2025-08-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
August 23, 2025 – Join us for our annual Day of Unity and Healing. This descendant-led event centers on shared history, healing, and education by bringing together descendants and interfaith and community leaders to recognize the interconnectedness of our lives and to honestly confront Sotterley’s past and build unity. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 am and will include a bell ringing ceremony to honor the lives and sacrifices of those who came before us.
After the ceremony, there will be wagon tours, open house tours, music by Casual Groove Band, a documentary quilt exhibit, archaeology updates from our community partners, and holistic health screenings. More information and an exact schedule are coming soon.
If you know you’ll be joining us, please consider registering so we have an idea of attendance. Thank you!

Register Here!

Documentary Story Quilt Workshop
12:30 pm
$30/person, limited space
Dr Joan M.E. Gaither will be conducting a documentary quilting workshop in the afternoon. No prior quilting experience is required. There will be an afternoon quilting workshop to provide an opportunity to learn about documentary story quilting and then you will be able to create your own quilt square using personal photographs and objects. Her documentary story quilts have been on display at each Day of Unity and Healing for the past four years. Registration is required.
Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither, a native Baltimorean with a history of helping to integrate local schools and businesses during the Civil Rights Movement, is an artist, teacher, and activist. She has created 183 documentary story quilts since 2000 and continues to hold quilting workshops that encourage participants to research, capture, and visualize personal oral histories and memories. Dr. Gaither’s documentary story quilts are a one-of-a-kind creation with complex themes and depth of expression in each quilt. Each documentary story quilt uses traditional quilting fabric’s, recycled clothing, and objects relevant to each quilt theme to create vibrant and colorful quilts to illuminate historical events, places or people that have shaped American History, She has created 300 documentary story quilts since 2000. Her documentary story quilts are included in personal collections and continue to be exhibited in local and national museums, galleries, schools, and churches.
Purchase Tickets

Are you interested in hearing more about human migration? Visit Lexington Park Library to view the exhibit World on the Move, 250,000 Years of Human Migration, from July 21 – August 22, 2025.

Sweet Summer Nights at Sotterley
2025-08-31 19:30 - 21:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
August 31, 2025 – Join us at Sotterley from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. to explore Nature After Dark! We’ll enjoy a night hike through the fields and forests, calling owls, looking for foxfire, identifying frog calls and all of the other cool nighttime noises. This program is best for children ages 8 and up; bring a flashlight and you’ll go home with a flashlight adapter for your own fun night hikes at home.

This event is best for children ages 8 and up. $5/person for non-members. FREE for members! Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to check in at the Warehouse and pay event fees or check membership. Registration is requested so we can have a rough estimate of attendance.
Parents are expected to pay the event fee and stay with their children for the duration of the event. Thank you!

Register here!

Not a member yet? Become one today!

This event series is made possible in partnership with the Southern Maryland Folklife Center and instructor Dorothy Birch.

Sunset at Sotterley Gala
2025-09-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
September 13, 2025 – Join us to enjoy golden hour views, a signature cocktail, a fabulous silent auction, and music and dancing in our beautifully remodeled barns of sotterley, all while helping preserve one of Maryland’s treasured historic landmarks.
Dress in your best garden party chic attire and party under the sunset.

This is a fundraising event in support of Historic Sotterley and its programming. The event is open to the public, but tickets are required. $150 per person.
Sponsorship options are available, please see the sponsorship link below or reach out to Angela Stansbury at stewardship@sotterley.org or 301-373-2280 for more information.

Buy your tickets now!
Become a Sunset at Sotterley Sponsor!
Event takes place RAIN or SHINE. Reservations are non-refundable.

Birding the Fields and Trails of Historic Sotterley
2025-09-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
September 20, 2025 – Join us for an excursion to this scenic and historic Patuxent River property, sponsored jointly by SMAS and Historic Sotterley. Bald Eagles, migrant songbirds and lingering meadowlarks and sparrows can be found via Sotterley’s trails and river views.
The walk starts promptly at 9:00 am, please arrive 10-15 minutes prior in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. Please bring with you binoculars and a field guide (don’t worry if you don’t have). Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and attire weather appropriate. For all levels of birdwatchers.
Register Here!

In preparation for the walk, please download the Merlin app from Cornell University for your phone and install the US: Southeast Bird Pack. Both downloads are free and you won’t get spammed with email. It’s a GREAT app and you’ll be glad you downloaded it.
Directions: From Rt. 235, go north on Sotterley Road; turn right through gates then head towards the Historic Sotterley Visitor Center, we meet in the parking lot.
Watch our website and Facebook for updates on this event (especially in case of inclement weather).

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Franklin Robinson, Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, & Dorothea Smith
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
September 24, 2025 – In 2012, a massive storm ripped through Charles County, ripping a tree and waterpipe from the ground on Serenity Farm in Benedict, Maryland. Years prior, the farm’s family of owners had found a human skull buried in that same place, so the storm’s damage presented an opportunity to deep dive into the archaeology. The result was not only the recovery of a lost African American slave burial site, but Serenity Farm stepping forward as private citizens to preserve and honor both the history and the recovery of ancestry. Join us for this incredible event to watch a documentary about the discovery and hear from Franklin Robinson, owner of Serenity Farm, Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, professor of Africa-centered history at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Dorothea Smith, President of the African American Heritage Society of Charles County, as they discuss a process of discovery and preservation that closely mirrors Historic Sotterley’s own efforts.

This is a FREE hybrid event, meaning participants can join us in-person OR virtually. Registration is required.
In-person participants are welcome to join us for a pre-reception at 6:30pm with cookies and drinks.

Register to Attend In-Person
Register to Attend Virtually

Franklin A. Robinson, Jr. is a life-long member of St. Thomas’ Parish and has served as parish historian since 1995. An archivist at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, he is also the chair of the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission in Southern Maryland. Mr. Robinson has received numerous awards for his commitment to historic preservation including The Maryland Historical Trust’s Preservation Service Award and the Prince George’s County Historical Society’s St. George’s Day Award. He is a contributor to Exhibits in Archives and Special Collections Libraries published by the Society of American Archivists. He has authored many finding aids, monographs, and was a contributing author to the award-winning The Naylors of Woodborough. He is also a professional actor, produced playwright, and adjunct faculty at George Mason University.
Kathryn Barrett-Gaines is a dynamic scholar, educator, and performer whose career bridges academia, international engagement, and the arts. A Washington DC native, she holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. from Stanford, and has earned prestigious awards like the Fulbright and Rotary scholarships for research in Uganda, where she also thrived as a musician, columnist, and media personality. Currently a tenured professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, she teaches African diaspora history and promotes student civic and global involvement. Her eclectic past includes teaching at every level, publishing on Ugandan history, winning academic honors, and performing stand-up comedy at the Apollo, all while maintaining a vibrant presence in both U.S. and Ugandan cultural spaces.
Dorothea Smith, a dedicated educator and civic leader, began her impactful 30-year teaching career in 1965 after earning both Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Bowie State University. A highly recognized middle school language arts instructor, she received prestigious honors such as the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award and the Charles County Teacher of the Year Award. Beyond the classroom, she served in leadership roles within the Education Association of Charles County and represented faculty at John Hanson Middle School. Since retiring, Smith has continued to shape her community through service on multiple advisory boards and organizations, including the African American Heritage Society of Charles County, the Charles County Retired School Personnel Association, and the Kiwanis Club of Waldorf, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to education and public service.

Sharing our Common Humanity from Common Ground - Exhibit at Boyden Gallery
2025-09-29 - 2025-12-12 | MD
September 29 – December 12 – Historic Sotterley is honored to be partnering with the Boyden Gallery at St. Mary’s College of Maryland to bring the public a new art exhibit titled “Sharing our Common Humanity from Common Ground”. The exhibit features the first 38 portraits of Historic Sotterley Descendants by artist Nicole Stewart with additional work by photographer Ken Barlow and quilter Dr. Joan M. E. Gaither. Visitors can view the exhibit from September 30th through December 12th during the Boyden Gallery’s open hours, Tuesdays through Fridays from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Please note that the Boyden Gallery will be closed from Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28th for Thanksgiving. It will reopen on Tuesday, December 2nd.

Nicole Stewart’s Sotterley Descendants Portrait Project is a two-year commitment she has made to paint as many registered Sotterley descendants as possible, aiming to complete somewhere between 60 and 100 total portraits. This exhibit of the first 38 portraits serves as the introduction for many visitors to Historic Sotterley and Historic Sotterley’s Descendant Project, with new portraits and more information in subsequent exhibitions throughout our area.

The exhibit is viewable at the Boyden Gallery, which is located in Montgomery Hall on the campus of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. A map of the campus can be found at https://sholink.to/campusmap

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Jonathan Kavalier
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
October 15, 2025 – Join Jonathan Kavalier, director of gardens and grounds at Dumbarton Oaks, for a virtual exploration of the gardens as he shares the design history and management over the past century, along with contemporary guiding principles that are influencing future stewardship and preservation priorities. Following a virtual tour of some garden highlights, Jonathan will present challenges and opportunities that come with historical gardening in a 21st century context, and highlight some of the work the gardeners at Dumbarton Oaks are pursuing to ensure its preservation and relevance in the next century. Jonathan has served as Director of gardens and grounds at Dumbarton Oaks since 2018, and has spent the past 25 years working in public garden management and horticulture in the Washington DC area and abroad.

This is a FREE virtual only event. Registration is required.

Register Here!

Jonathan Kavalier is director of gardens and grounds at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C., where he focuses on preserving Beatrix Farrand’s historic design within a 21st century horticultural context. A horticulturist and self-proclaimed plant-geek, he earned a BS in horticulture and international agriculture from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. After several years of commercial landscape design, Kavalier managed a design & build firm in Madagascar focusing on ornamental gardens and ecological restoration using endemic Malagasy plants. From 2008-2015, Kavalier oversaw several public gardens for the Smithsonian Institution including the Enid A. Haupt, Mary Livingston Ripley, and urban bird habitat gardens, where he facilitated connections between people and plants. From 2015-2018, at the Architect of the Capitol, Kavalier led strategic planning and organizational development efforts for the Capitol Building, Capitol Grounds, the United States Botanic Garden, the Library of Congress, and the United Sates Supreme Court. He currently serves on the boards of the American Boxwood Society and Tudor Place Gardens, and is a Senior Fellow with the Partnership for Public Service.

Legends & Lore Specialty Tour
2025-10-17 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
October 17, 2025 – Forbidden love, gambling debt, and murder… Explore the unconfirmed (but oh so fun!) legends and lore of Historic Sotterley with historian Sam Baldwin and actors Jennifer Goddard, Luke Rowe, and Michael Blackwell. This specialty tour starts with a fascinating presentation followed by a guided tour through the manor house with thrilling acted scenes. Celebrate the dramatics of the Halloween season with us!
Prior to the tour, you can enjoy a reception in our beautiful Historic Barn with refreshments and nibbles.
Recommended for ages 16 & older. Walking and standing required. The historic house is not ADA compliant.
Advance reservations required – please no walk-ins. Each tour time is limited to 20 attendees. Tour times are available at 6:00 pm, 6:45 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:15 pm.
It is advised to arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your tour. Please proceed to the Historic Barn to check-in upon arrival.

Buy Tickets for Friday, October 17
Buy Tickets for Saturday, October 18
Buy Tickets for Friday, October 24
Buy Tickets for Saturday, October 24

Legends & Lore Specialty Tour
2025-10-18 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
October 18, 2025 – Forbidden love, gambling debt, and murder… Explore the unconfirmed (but oh so fun!) legends and lore of Historic Sotterley with historian Sam Baldwin and actors Jennifer Goddard, Luke Rowe, and Michael Blackwell. This specialty tour starts with a fascinating presentation followed by a guided tour through the manor house with thrilling acted scenes. Celebrate the dramatics of the Halloween season with us!
Prior to the tour, you can enjoy a reception in our beautiful Historic Barn with refreshments and nibbles.
Recommended for ages 16 & older. Walking and standing required. The historic house is not ADA compliant.
Advance reservations required – please no walk-ins. Each tour time is limited to 20 attendees. Tour times are available at 6:00 pm, 6:45 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:15 pm.
It is advised to arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your tour. Please proceed to the Historic Barn to check-in upon arrival.

Buy Tickets for Friday, October 17
Buy Tickets for Saturday, October 18
Buy Tickets for Friday, October 24
Buy Tickets for Saturday, October 24
