Sotterley

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Jennifer Ritterhouse
2025-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | 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 His published and unpublished accounts of his trip captured a panoramic picture of the South during the Great Depression.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
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

Legends & Lore Specialty Tour
2025-10-24 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
October 24, 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. The tour will last about an hour.
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
2025-10-25 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
October 25, 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. The tour will last about an hour.
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

Emancipation Day & One Maryland One Book
2025-11-01 09:00 - 17:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
November 1, 2025 – In honor of Maryland Emancipation Day on November 1st, Historic Sotterley is partnering with Maryland Humanities and their One Maryland One Book initiative to host a full day of programming that celebrates ancestry, literature, and the power of storytelling. The event will highlight the impact of descendant voices in preserving, sharing, and interpreting ancestral histories, while inspiring others to embark on their own genealogical journeys.

One Maryland One Book brings our community together across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. This year’s book, Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford with art by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, is a work of art, history, and personal genealogy. It is the authors’ search into their family history and led them to ancestors who were some of the founders of Maryland.

Kin: Rooted in Hope can be purchased in Historic Sotterley’s Visitor Center/Museum Shop or online!

Activities will include:

A Keynote from Olivia Smith of St. Mary’s Public Library
A Sotterley Descendant Discussion Panel with Gwen Bankins, Dante Eubanks, Kelsey Bush, Tre Lancaster-Smith, and Nocola Williams, Facilitated by Merideth Taylor
Creative Writing Workshops with author Caitlyn Hunter
Living History Performances from Ms. History
A presentation and Q&A from Dave Brown, author of The Barber Family and his newest book on Agnes Kane Callum
An Open Mic for presenting poetry and creative writing

Please note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Aunt Titty’s Food Truck will no longer be available at the event. Although we will have some light snacks on hand, we recommend bringing a bagged lunch if you intend to stay for the entire duration of the event.

This is a free event. Registration is appreciated!
Register Here!

Schedule of Events
9:00 – Doors Open
9:30 – Program Start, Welcome from Nancy Easterling
9:40 – Keynote from Olivia Smith of St. Mary’s Public Library
9:50 – Living History Chapter 1 performance by Ms. Story
10:20 – Sotterley Descendant Panel with Gwen Bankins, Dante Eubanks, Kelsey Bush, Tre Lancaster-Smith, and Nocola Williams, Facilitated by Merideth Taylor
11:30 – Creative Writing Workshop 1 with Caitlyn Hunter
12:00 – Lunch/Free Time, Manor House Tours and Exhibits Open
1:15 – Living History Chapter 2 performance by Ms. Story
1:45 – Creative Writing Workshop 2 with Caitlyn Hunter
2:15 – Open Mic
2:45 – Presentation by Dave Brown
3:15 – Living History Chapter 3 performance by Ms. Story
3:45 – Final remarks, opportunity to purchase books and book signings

Food Drive
2025-11-07 - 2025-12-31
Calling all helping hands! The end of the year can be an incredibly stressful time for families in need, and Historic Sotterley is no stranger to the battle against food insecurity in Southern Maryland. We’re asking for your help with donations of non-perishable food items so we can support our local food pantries and soup kitchens through the difficult holiday season.
Donations are being accepted through the end of 2025 in a collection bin outside our Visitor Center. We are looking for non-perishable food items only. Please no expired items or items in glass containers.
All donations will be distributed to the network of local food pantries and soup kitchens that we support year-round through our Growing for Good program.
If you need need help identifying good items to donate, we have provided a PDF at the link below. This list is not exhaustive and we’ll happily accept other staple items you may think of.
Help us feed Southern Maryland!
Food Pantry Items

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Victoria Christopher Murray
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
November 12, 2025 – The daughter of formerly enslaved parents, Mary McLeod Bethune refuses to back down as white supremacists attempt to thwart her work. She marches on as an activist and an educator, and as her reputation grows she becomes a celebrity, revered by titans of business and recognized by U.S. Presidents. Eleanor Roosevelt herself is awestruck and eager to make her acquaintance. Initially drawn together because of their shared belief in women’s rights and the power of education, Mary and Eleanor become fast friends confiding their secrets, hopes and dreams—and holding each other’s hands through tragedy and triumph.When Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected president, the two women begin to collaborate more closely, particularly as Eleanor moves toward her own agenda separate from FDR, a consequence of the devastating discovery of her husband’s secret love affair. Eleanor becomes a controversial First Lady for her outspokenness, particularly on civil rights. And when she receives threats because of her strong ties to Mary, it only fuels the women’s desire to fight together for justice and equality.
Victoria Christopher Murray joins us to discuss the book she co-authored with Marie Benedict, “The First Ladies, which tells story of two different, yet equally formidable, passionate, and committed women, and the way in which their singular friendship helped form the foundation for the modern civil rights movement.

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

​​​​​​​Victoria Christopher Murray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over 30 novels to her name, including The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, co-written with Marie Benedict. A native New Yorker, she earned degrees from Hampton University and NYU’s Stern School of Business before self-publishing her debut novel, Temptation, which was later picked up by Time Warner and remained on the Essence bestsellers list for nine months. Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including five NAACP Image Award nominations and a win for Stand Your Ground. Her works have garnered critical acclaim, with The Personal Librarian becoming a Good Morning America Book Club selection and The First Ladies being named Target’s 2023 Book of the Year. Several of her Seven Deadly Sins novels have been adapted into Lifetime movies, while The Personal Librarian has been optioned for a miniseries. With more than three million books in print, Murray stands as a leading figure in African American contemporary literature.

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

Winter Wonderland Wreath Workshops by the Sotterley Garden Guild
2025-12-06 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
December 6, 2025 – Have you tried DIY holiday décor projects before, but just couldn’t seem to pull it off? Great news, the Sotterley Garden Guild is offering wreath workshops on Saturday, December 6th to share their expertise! These beautiful wreaths are made with real foliage and are stunning pieces of décor that everyone will notice.
Only 16 participants per session and each session is 1 1/2 hours long.
Various times throughout the day available for you to choose from: 8:30, 10:30, 1:00 & 3:00
Make this Christmas event part of your family tradition!
Please Note: Bring your own gloves and clippers for the wreath workshops – other materials to be provided. Wreath workshops will be held in Historic Sotterley Maintenance Building. Guests are asked to arrive promptly for your workshop time and to proceed directly to the Maintenance Building across from the Visitor Center to check in. Visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and to wear foot gear suitable for the conditions as the site is kept rustic, although the workshop will be held indoors.
If you experience any trouble making your reservation for a workshop, please call the office at 301-373-2280 (9 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday) and we will be happy to help.
Purchase Tickets Here!

Partner Event - Historically Speaking: ​​​​​​​George Plater: St. Mary's Forgotten Patriot
2026-03-26 19:30 - 21:00 | St. Mary’s College of Maryland Daugherty-Palmer Commons, 47720 College Dr., St Mary's City, MD, 20686, United States
March 26, 2026 – David Brown, adjunct professor, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
With over thirty-three years as a Foreign Service Officer, David Brown unfolds the story of this largely unknown patriot. George Plater was born and raised at Sotterley Plantation and is counted among the earliest of Maryland’s supporters of Independence. He represented Maryland in the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1780, and briefly served as the sixth Governor of Maryland in 1791 and 1792.
In this 250th Year of American Independence, encounter the story of a modest and, for our times, flawed man whose history deserves telling.
This event is being held live at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in partnership with the Center for the Study of Democracy and St. Mary’s County Historical Society. It is being offered as a free livestream thanks to a MD250 grant received by Historic Sotterley.

Register to attend in-person at SMCM
Register to attend virtually

The in-person portion of this event will be at:
Daugherty-Palmer Commons
St Mary’s college of Maryland
47720 College Dr.
St Mary’s City, MD 20686

Daffodil Planting Volunteer Opportunity
2026-03-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
March 28, 2026 – Calling all volunteers! We’re looking for help transplanting some daffodils from where the Homestead House originally stood to its new location on Historic Sotterley’s property and our Sacred Space. The daffodils are on a neighboring property, so you will not be expected to do additional travel.

Transplanting these daffodils that were planted near the 120-year-old homestead honors the families who once lived in the tenant farmer/sharecropper home. Originally planted by a mother who once lived there, the flowers are a living reminder of resilience, care, and legacy.

As they are moved to the new Homestead House and Sacred Space—together with the descendants of the family who first planted them—the community preserves a living piece of history. Each spring, these blooms will serve as a symbol of remembrance, renewal, and the enduring connection between Sotterley’s past and present.

If you would like to volunteer to help us, please sign up at the link below so we know how many volunteers to expect! It will be a fun day of digging in the dirt and enjoying the early spring flowers. Please dress for being outdoors and bring gloves if you have them.

Sign Up Here

Spring Break Activities
2026-03-30 - 2026-04-03 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Historic Sotterley, Southern Maryland Folklife Center, St. Mary’s County Public Library, and author Nocola Williams are partnering for a week of low-cost 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. Explore how early Marylanders used the natural resources available to them to survive and thrive.
Registration is required for each day’s activity. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are $5 per attendee per day. Monday is free thanks to St. Mary’s County Public Library and a generous donation from an anonymous donor. All activities take place from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm each day.
Please note: Parents are required to purchase a ticket and stay with their children throughout the duration of the event. Activities are recommended for ages 3 and up.

SOLD OUT Monday – Pollinator Party!
Kick off the week with a celebration of pollinators! Children will meet a local author and beekeeper for a reading of Bugzee and the Bees, a story that introduces young readers to the important role pollinators play in our environment. After the story, students will rotate through hands-on learning stations. Campers will explore how pollination works, discover how bees see the world, practice the famous waggle dance, and plant pollinator-friendly seeds to take home. Along the way, they’ll learn why pollinators are so important to Southern Maryland’s ecosystems and how even kids can help protect them. Join local author and educator, Nocola Williams, the team from the St. Mary’s County Mobile Library, and educator Dorothy Birch for a fun filled day of exploration and hands-on learning opportunities.
Tuesday – Wild Food, Wild Fiber, Wild Medicine – Register Here!
We will explore the woods and fields of Historic Sotterley, learning to identify the plants and fungi that were used by Native, colonist, and enslaved peoples as food, fiber, and medicine!
Wednesday – Gardening for Good Health – Register Here!
We will explore, pot up, and take home the plants that the women of olden times grew in their gardens and used as medicine for their families!
Thursday – Cancelled
Due to overnight storms on Wednesday, the site will be too muddy for a nature walk, so we have made the decision to cancel this day’s activities.
Friday – Dyeing from Nature – Register Here!
We will use plants and other natural items to dye fabric the way people used to before commercial fabric dye was available; they dyed clothes, but we’re dyeing bandanas to take home and keep!

Bald Eagle Nest Photography Walk
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 11, 2026 – Experience and capture the beauty of birds and other wildlife on an excursion at Historic Sotterley’s scenic Patuxent River property led by Ken Barlow.
On Saturday (11 April 2026 starting at 9am in the Visitors Parking lot) at Historic Sotterley in Hollywood, MD, Ken Barlow from the St. Mary’s County Camera Club/Coastal Camera Club/Bowie-Crofton Camera Club will be guiding a Bald Eagle Nest Walk. Ken has been tracking the nest over the last year and will share his insights on the eagles and camera (or binocular) viewing angles. The walk will primarily focus on camera techniques, but birds & other wildlife may be discussed as appropriate.
This walk will be between 1 to 2 miles along the various paths at Sotterley which will be a combination of brick walkway, gravel paths, wood chip paths, and limited grass paths. It is highly recommended to wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the weather and conditions.
The walk starts promptly at 9:00 am, please arrive 10-15 minutes prior in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.
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.
Restrooms will be available.

Click here to register!

Partner Event—Front Porch Stories @ Lexington Park Library
2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:30 | Lexington Park Library, 71677 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Blvd, Lexington Park, 20653, United States
Registration not required, but you can register HERE for a reminder email.

An interactive training program rooted in the tradition of gathering stories in informal, welcoming spaces.

Front Porch Stories invites you to learn the fundamentals of ethnographic research and oral history methods including developing a research focus and interview guides, interviewing and recording techniques, analyzing themes, creating safe and inviting spaces, and more!
Registration is not required to attend–register to receive an email reminder, all walk-ins are welcome!

St. Mary's County History Day
2026-04-18 | Leonardtown Public Library, 23630 Hayden Farm Ln, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, United States
April 18, 2026 – St. Mary’s County History Day is a local contest affiliated with Maryland History Day and National History Day. It is a district-level contest for middle and high school students to do in-depth research and create unique projects about each year’s theme in one of five categories: paper, exhibit, documentary, website, or performance. It is a chance for students to develop critical skills that they will use throughout their schooling and careers, and winners of the district contest will advance to the state-level contest.

Students from public, private, parochial, home, and cyber schools are welcome to participate.

St. Mary’s County History Day is brought to you by Historic Sotterley, with support from with St. Mary’s County Library, Maryland Humanities, and the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.

Learn more about National History Day and register your student on our History Day website!

Contest Date: Saturday, April 18th, 2026
Deadline to Submit Project: Saturday, April 11th, 2026
Theme: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History
Location: Leonardtown Public Library

Other Contest Dates
State Contest Day: May 2, 2026
National Contest Day: June 14-18, 2026
