Sotterley

Specialty Tour - Medical History at Historic Sotterley: Herbs, Lancets, Bone Saws, Vaccinations, Antibiotics, Oh My!
2023-09-29 17:00 (America/New_York) | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
September 29, 2023 – What was it like to experience treatment of illness or injury in the past? How did the practice of medicine develop in our region? While touring the manor house, slave dwelling, and gardens, take the journey from medicinal herbs, blood-letting, patent medicines, lessons of sanitation learned during warfare, crude surgical techniques, and unsettling realities of medical research to the regulation of medical practice and development of effective prevention and treatment of deadly infections. Join docent Dr. Marcia Coe for a tour highlighting medical history as it relates to the people of Sotterley during 1699-1961.
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.
It is advised to arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your tour. Please proceed to the Visitor Center to Check-in upon arrival.

Purchase Tickets Here!

Birding the Fields and Trails of Sotterley
2023-09-30 08:00 - 11:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Join us for a fall 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 8:00 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.

There is no group limit or registration needed, just show up ready to go birding!

Southern Maryland Heritage Festival
2023-10-07 12:00 - 17:00, 2023-10-08 12:00 - 17:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
October 7th & 8th – Historic Sotterley is proud to announce a NEW event: the Southern Maryland Heritage Festival. This festival is a celebration of Southern Maryland food, culture, history, and the people that make it unique. The two-day event will feature music, heritage demos and exhibits, food trucks, artisan vendors, family activities, and so much more.
Music & Entertainment – Music is part of our heritage! Enjoy a range of country, rock, gospel, jazz at various stages around the site. So much to choose from! Local comedy acts for kids and adults will also be featured in various locations on site.
Heritage Demos & Exhibits – Check out demonstrations and exhibits from Southern Maryland businesses and organizations, such as blacksmithing, quilting, bee keeping, antique tractor demos 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!
Beer & Wine – Brews on tap and wine will be available at two locations on site, including our historic Barn (bring your ID!)
Kids Corner – Your little ones will enjoy games, and other family -friendly activities
Wagon Rides – Take a scenic ride through Historic Sotterley on a wagon hauled by our new tractor
Open House Tours – Explore some areas of our Manor House and learn some history from our experienced docents

We will be running a food drive for St. Mary’s Caring Kitchen during this event! Please bring only nonperishable food items that have not expired. Donations can be dropped off at the donation table next to admissions as guests are entering the event – no need to carry them around!

Ticket Pricing
Two-Day Entrance (adults only): $40 in advance, $50 at the gate
Adults: $25 in advance, $30 at the gate
Members: $20
Youth (13-17): $10
Children (12 & under): FREE
Ticket purchase can be used for a one-day entry on Saturday or Sunday and covers entry to the event only. Food & drink will be available for purchase. If you would like to attend both days you can purchase a second ticket. Not a member, not a problem! Click here to join us and become a member today!
Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs & blankets, but NO coolers or pets will be allowed at the event!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

FULL EVENT PROGRAM

AeroPark Farmer's Market
2023-10-15 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-12-17 09:00 - 13:00 | SMC Regional Airport
Historic Sotterley is sponsoring the AeroPark Farmer’s Market, but you don’t need a plane to visit! Drive, bike, or walk in to get fresh goods and produce. All businesses selling at our Airport Farmer’s Market are local small businesses that sell products that they have grown or produced themselves. When you shop local, up to 68% of the money you spend stays in the community, so come help support the wonderful entrepreneurs that make Maryland unique. The market runs from 9am – 1pm and is located indoors so you can enjoy watching the planes go by while shopping rain or shine!
Sotterley is sponsoring this unique market at the Airport Terminal building located at 44200 Airport Road, California, Maryland. Located in St. Mary’s County, the airport is about four miles northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown.

Vendors:
TBD

Sotterley Presents: People and Perspectives with Jay Fleming
2023-10-18 19:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
October 18, 2023 – Join Maryland based photographer Jay Fleming as he presents photographs and stories from his books Working the water and Island Life and his photography on the Chesapeake Bay. Fleming will also share images from his water based photography workshops that he runs on the Chesapeake Bay out of his studio on Kent Island.
Jay Fleming’s second book, Island Life, is a visual narrative of the environment, communities and commercial fisheries of Smith Island, Maryland and Tangier Island, Virginia—the last inhabited offshore islands in the Chesapeake Bay. Although less than 15 miles of water separate Smith and Tangier from the mainland, centuries of isolation have preserved the unique way of life of these island communities, making them feel worlds apart from the life most of us know.
​​​​​​​Since his first trip to the islands in 2009, Fleming has seen remarkable changes to the islands’ landscape and communities. Cemeteries are washing into the water, acres of marshland are disappearing and the populations are in decline. Fleming felt a sense of urgency to document the islands’ iconic working waterfronts, as the very forces that sustain them also threaten to take them away. Equal parts informative and aesthetically pleasing, Island Life reveals the beauty and the perils of a life dependent upon the rhythms of the tide and the harvest of the Chesapeake Bay.
​​​​​​​Jay Fleming is a photographer and writer who documents the complex interactions between humans and their natural environment. Born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, Jay grew up with an affinity for the water. He discovered his passion for photography at the age of 13 with a hand-me-down 35mm film camera. In 2015, Jay turned his attention to photography full time in 2015 after working in the field of fisheries and seafood marketing. Since then, Jay has published two photography books – Working the Water and Island Life, he operates two workboats while leading water based photography workshops on the Chesapeake Bay and manages his studio on Kent Island, Maryland.

This event will be HYBRID, meaning you can join us virtually or in person. You can register for either here:
Register to join virtually
Register to join in-person

Buy Jay Fleming’s Books:
Working the Water
Island Life

Talking and Walking Common Ground: The Next Generation
2023-11-01 19:00 | MD
Talking and Walking Common Ground: the Next Generation, will take place on Wednesday, November 1st at 7:00pm, and this event will be held in partnership with St. Mary’s College of Maryland. It will be an amazing way to end our Sotterley Presents: People and Perspectives series for 2024, and we have chosen the date of November 1st since it is also commemorated as Emancipation Day in the State of Maryland.

Our final installment of the “Talking and Walking Common Ground” series will bring a diverse panel together to talk about how the work of talking and walking common ground can be carried out by the next generation. Some topics covered will include: how do we create stakeholders within the younger generations? What new issues or challenges will the next generation face? How must the work and mission shift in the future to ensure success? Our panelists will include Jerry Gabriel, Associate Professor of English at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Caitlyn Hunter, Associate Professor of English at College of Southern Maryland, Jaelon Moaney, Co-Founder of The Needle’s Eye Academy and commissioner of the Maryland Commission of African American History and Culture, Ashlyn Conley, St. Mary’s College of Maryland Student, and Phoebe Tate, St. Mary’s College of Maryland Student.

This event is not only part of Sotterley Presents, it is also part of our Common Ground Initiative. The theme of “Talking and Walking Common Ground” was chosen for 2024 after the video of the same title was created last year and shown on our Day of Unity in 2022. The video can still be viewed on our Common Ground Initiative page: https://sotterley.org/common-ground

As part of our speaker series events this year, we held two other “Talking and Walking Common Ground” events. The first was a virtual film screening hosted by St. Mary’s County Library followed by a panel of descendants who gave their perspectives on Sotterley’s work and their connections with the site. The second was “Talking and Walking Common Ground: A Shared Vision in Action” where a panel of museum leadership discussed their journeys toward providing a more honest and inclusive history. This included their challenges, successes, and their site’s inclusion of descendants in this important work.

The event will take place in a recital hall at the Nancy R. and Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. This is a free event for the public, but advance registration is requested as seating is limited. Walk-ins will be accepted if seating allows, but please check back to see if the event has been filled.

Register Here!

AeroPark Farmer's Market
2023-11-19 09:00 - 13:00 | SMC Regional Airport
Historic Sotterley is sponsoring the AeroPark Farmer’s Market, but you don’t need a plane to visit! Drive, bike, or walk in to get fresh goods and produce. All businesses selling at our Airport Farmer’s Market are local small businesses that sell products that they have grown or produced themselves. When you shop local, up to 68% of the money you spend stays in the community, so come help support the wonderful entrepreneurs that make Maryland unique. The market runs from 9am – 1pm and is located indoors so you can enjoy watching the planes go by while shopping rain or shine!
Sotterley is sponsoring this unique market at the Airport Terminal building located at 44200 Airport Road, California, Maryland. Located in St. Mary’s County, the airport is about four miles northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown.

Vendors:

Free State Ciders
Olivin’s Oils & Vinegar
Mully’s Brewery
Intoxi-cake-tion
Zekiah Farms
The Garden (Mushrooms)
Black Pointe – Chocolatier
Beachin Bay Bakery
Muzzy’s Wine Jelly
Sotterley (Growing for Good) sweet potatoes
Bird Dog Bistro (hot food & coffee)
Tobacco Barn Distillery
Bella’s Bones Dog Treats
Nativo C&S (Spices)
Charlotte Stone (cocoa reindeer stocking stuffers)

Winter Wonderland Wreath Making Workshop
2023-12-02 08:30 - 15:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
Various times throughout the day available for you to choose from: 8:30, 10:30, 1:00 & 3:00
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 workshops on Saturday, December 3rd to share their expertise! Only 16 participants per session and each session is 1 1/2 hours long.
Make this Christmas event part of your family tradition!
Please Note: Bring your own gloves and clippers for the workshops – other materials to be provided. 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.

Reserve your seat here!

AeroPark Farmer's Market
2024-02-11 09:00 - 13:00 | SMC Regional Airport
February 11, 2024, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Historic Sotterley is sponsoring the AeroPark Farmer’s Market, but you don’t need a plane to visit! Drive, bike, or walk in to get fresh goods and produce. All businesses selling at our Airport Farmer’s Market are local small businesses that sell products that they have grown or produced themselves. When you shop local, up to 68% of the money you spend stays in the community, so come help support the wonderful entrepreneurs that make Maryland unique. The market runs from 9am – 1pm and is located indoors so you can enjoy watching the planes go by while shopping rain or shine!
Sotterley is sponsoring this unique market at the Airport Terminal building located at 44200 Airport Road, California, Maryland. Located in St. Mary’s County, the airport is about four miles northeast of the central business district of Leonardtown.

Vendors: (Subject to change before market date)

Free State Ciders
Olivin’s Oils & Vinegar
Intoxi-cake-tion
Zekiah Farms
Olga’s Treats
Unforgoatable Goods
Dixon Family Farm
Boon Doggie Farm
Beez Kneez Ice Cream
Achterberg Acres Farm
The Garden (Mushrooms)
Black Pointe – Chocolatier
Beachin Bay Bakery
Juice Buzz
Muzzy’s Wine Jelly
Sotterley (Growing for Good) sweet potatoes
Bird Dog Bistro (hot food & coffee)
Mia Moore
Tobacco Barn Distillery
Coastal Canyon Seafood (Fresh Fish)

St. Mary's County History Day
2024-03-16 09:00 - 15:00 | Leonardtown Public Library, 23630 Hayden Farm Ln, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, United States
March 16, 2024 – 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.
St. Mary’s County History Day is brought to you by Historic Sotterley, in partnership with St. Mary’s County Library and Maryland Humanities and the St. Mary’s County Public Library.

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

Contest Date: Saturday, March 16th, 2024
Location: Leonardtown Public Library

Deadlines
Registration Opens: October 12th, 2023
Registration Closes: March 7, 2024
Project Submissions Due: March 7, 2024

Dates
Regional Contest Day: March 16, 2024
State Contest Day: May 4, 2024
National Contest Day: June 9-13, 2024

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Caitlyn Hunter
2024-03-20 19:00 | Virtual
March 20, 2024 – Caitlyn Hunter joins Historic Sotterley to discuss her book, “Power in the Tongue”, which fuses history and folktales to show Black perseverance across centuries. Her book is a hybrid of memoir and fiction which digs into the history of herself and her audience to show that the stories we tell are just as important as the facts. ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​

Caitlyn Hunter was the inaugural Emerging Black Artist in Residence at Chatham University (2021-2022). She is a doctoral candidate at Duquesne University where she researches African American literature and Black Food studies. She is currently writing both a collection of short stories and a culinary memoir around her maternal ancestry. Her first book, Power in the Tongue (Tolsun Books) debuted in 2022. Her work appears in Midnight & Indigo, Lost Balloon, and elsewhere. She is currently an Assistant Professor of English at the College of Southern Maryland.

This virtual event is free and open to the public, but registration is required!
Register Here!

Growing for Good Planting Day
2024-03-23 09:00 - 12:00 | MD
March 23, 2024 – Ready to help Historic Sotterley usher in spring? We’re looking for volunteers who don’t mind getting dirty, love gardening and farming, and want to help their community to join us for our Growing for Good Planting Days! You will help us get our seeds planted so they can start growing in our Hoop House or cut and prep potatoes for planting in our fields. What we produce here at Historic Sotterley gets donated to our partners at local food banks and pantries to support community members in need.

We’re hosting 3 planting days: March 23, March 30, and April 6. Planting will take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. These planting dates are not weather dependent, if the weather does not cooperate we can move indoors to continue planting while staying dry! Please sign up in advance so we can know how many volunteers to expect.

This volunteer opportunity is family-friendly. Anyone 5 years and older is invited to help us plant, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to teach little ones about where food comes from. This is also a great opportunity for Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops to get their volunteer requirements in.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time and check-in at the Farm Building to the right of the Visitor Center. We recommend hats, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, and shoes and clothes you are not afraid to get dirty.

Register to Volunteer Here!

Spring Break Activities - A Week in the Woods
2024-03-25 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
March 25, 2024 – Historic Sotterley and Southern Maryland Folklife Center are partnering to bring you family-friendly activities all Spring Break week! Join us for educational environmental fun! Further the fun by bringing a picnic lunch or other entertaining outdoor activities to enjoy onsite.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED prior to Monday, March 18th to purchase the necessary supplies needed for programming. Please sign up and pay online for the day(s) you would like to join for planning purposes.
$10/person ages 3 and up
$5/person for members
Monday – It’s for the Birds! We’ll spend the day watching and learning about the wonderful native birds that call Maryland home as well as the migrating birds that are flying through each spring. We’ll practice using binoculars and identification books and even learning to imitate bird calls.
Tuesday – Our Forest Home – we’ll learn to identify trees by the new leaves that they’re growing each spring and we’ll identify some edible wild plants as we walk through the woods, we can even make and sample pine needle tea.
Wednesday – Soil is Alive! Today’s the day to roll over logs, dig holes, and use hand lenses to see the many amazing organisms that call our soil home. We’ll even take home our own little cup of soil, complete with a native seed to plant and grow.
Thursday – Fabulous Fishes! We’ll talk about all of the fabulous fish in the bay and how fish migrate, too – in springtime many species are swimming from salty water up into the freshwater rivers to spawn. We get to practice seine netting, as well, and safely touching and identifying the fish we catch.
Friday – Wilderness + Disaster: How to Save Life and Limb. Dr. Bonnie Skinner joins us to teach about practicing first aid in the wilderness, rural areas, or far away from hospitals. Learn to be prepared for any situation, including what first aid items you can bring with you or things you can use from nature.
This is a rain or shine event. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to start time and proceed to the Warehouse to check-in (visible from parking area). Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate attire.

Please note that we are not a drop-off site! Parents are required to stay with their children.

Register Here

Spring Break Activities - A Week in the Woods
2024-03-26 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
March 26, 2024 – Historic Sotterley and Southern Maryland Folklife Center are partnering to bring you family-friendly activities all Spring Break week! Join us for educational environmental fun! Further the fun by bringing a picnic lunch or other entertaining outdoor activities to enjoy onsite.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED prior to Monday, March 18th to purchase the necessary supplies needed for programming. Please sign up and pay online for the day(s) you would like to join for planning purposes.
$10/person ages 3 and up
$5/person for members
Monday – It’s for the Birds! We’ll spend the day watching and learning about the wonderful native birds that call Maryland home as well as the migrating birds that are flying through each spring. We’ll practice using binoculars and identification books and even learning to imitate bird calls.
Tuesday – Our Forest Home – we’ll learn to identify trees by the new leaves that they’re growing each spring and we’ll identify some edible wild plants as we walk through the woods, we can even make and sample pine needle tea.
Wednesday – Soil is Alive! Today’s the day to roll over logs, dig holes, and use hand lenses to see the many amazing organisms that call our soil home. We’ll even take home our own little cup of soil, complete with a native seed to plant and grow.
Thursday – Fabulous Fishes! We’ll talk about all of the fabulous fish in the bay and how fish migrate, too – in springtime many species are swimming from salty water up into the freshwater rivers to spawn. We get to practice seine netting, as well, and safely touching and identifying the fish we catch.
Friday – Wilderness + Disaster: How to Save Life and Limb. Dr. Bonnie Skinner joins us to teach about practicing first aid in the wilderness, rural areas, or far away from hospitals. Learn to be prepared for any situation, including what first aid items you can bring with you or things you can use from nature.
This is a rain or shine event. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to start time and proceed to the Warehouse to check-in (visible from parking area). Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate attire.
Please note that we are not a drop-off site! Parents are required to stay with their children.
Register Here

Spring Break Activities - A Week in the Woods
2024-03-27 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
March 27, 2024 – Historic Sotterley and Southern Maryland Folklife Center are partnering to bring you family-friendly activities all Spring Break week! Join us for educational environmental fun! Further the fun by bringing a picnic lunch or other entertaining outdoor activities to enjoy onsite.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED prior to Monday, March 18th to purchase the necessary supplies needed for programming. Please sign up and pay online for the day(s) you would like to join for planning purposes.
$10/person ages 3 and up
$5/person for members
Monday – It’s for the Birds! We’ll spend the day watching and learning about the wonderful native birds that call Maryland home as well as the migrating birds that are flying through each spring. We’ll practice using binoculars and identification books and even learning to imitate bird calls.
Tuesday – Our Forest Home – we’ll learn to identify trees by the new leaves that they’re growing each spring and we’ll identify some edible wild plants as we walk through the woods, we can even make and sample pine needle tea.
Wednesday – Soil is Alive! Today’s the day to roll over logs, dig holes, and use hand lenses to see the many amazing organisms that call our soil home. We’ll even take home our own little cup of soil, complete with a native seed to plant and grow.
Thursday – Fabulous Fishes! We’ll talk about all of the fabulous fish in the bay and how fish migrate, too – in springtime many species are swimming from salty water up into the freshwater rivers to spawn. We get to practice seine netting, as well, and safely touching and identifying the fish we catch.
Friday – Wilderness + Disaster: How to Save Life and Limb. Dr. Bonnie Skinner joins us to teach about practicing first aid in the wilderness, rural areas, or far away from hospitals. Learn to be prepared for any situation, including what first aid items you can bring with you or things you can use from nature.
This is a rain or shine event. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to start time and proceed to the Warehouse to check-in (visible from parking area). Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate attire.
Please note that we are not a drop-off site! Parents are required purchase a ticket and to stay with their children.
Register Here

Spring Break Activities - A Week in the Woods
2024-03-28 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
March 28, 2024 – Historic Sotterley and Southern Maryland Folklife Center are partnering to bring you family-friendly activities all Spring Break week! Join us for educational environmental fun! Further the fun by bringing a picnic lunch or other entertaining outdoor activities to enjoy onsite.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED prior to Monday, March 18th to purchase the necessary supplies needed for programming. Please sign up and pay online for the day(s) you would like to join for planning purposes.
$10/person ages 3 and up
$5/person for members
Monday – It’s for the Birds! We’ll spend the day watching and learning about the wonderful native birds that call Maryland home as well as the migrating birds that are flying through each spring. We’ll practice using binoculars and identification books and even learning to imitate bird calls.
Tuesday – Our Forest Home – we’ll learn to identify trees by the new leaves that they’re growing each spring and we’ll identify some edible wild plants as we walk through the woods, we can even make and sample pine needle tea.
Wednesday – Soil is Alive! Today’s the day to roll over logs, dig holes, and use hand lenses to see the many amazing organisms that call our soil home. We’ll even take home our own little cup of soil, complete with a native seed to plant and grow.
Thursday – Fabulous Fishes! We’ll talk about all of the fabulous fish in the bay and how fish migrate, too – in springtime many species are swimming from salty water up into the freshwater rivers to spawn. We get to practice seine netting, as well, and safely touching and identifying the fish we catch. Due to oncoming weather, Thursday’s activity will now be Soil is Alive Part 2, featuring a special shelled guest! The activity will take place in our Historic Barn so that you can stay dry while still learning about the environment.
Friday – Wilderness + Disaster: How to Save Life and Limb. Dr. Bonnie Skinner joins us to teach about practicing first aid in the wilderness, rural areas, or far away from hospitals. Learn to be prepared for any situation, including what first aid items you can bring with you or things you can use from nature.
This is a rain or shine event. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to start time and proceed to the Warehouse to check-in (visible from parking area). Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate attire.
Please note that we are not a drop-off site! Parents are required purchase a ticket and to stay with their children.
Register Here

Spring Break Activities - A Week in the Woods
2024-03-29 10:30 - 12:30 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
March 29, 2024 – Historic Sotterley and Southern Maryland Folklife Center are partnering to bring you family-friendly activities all Spring Break week! Join us for educational environmental fun! Further the fun by bringing a picnic lunch or other entertaining outdoor activities to enjoy onsite.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED prior to Monday, March 18th to purchase the necessary supplies needed for programming. Please sign up and pay online for the day(s) you would like to join for planning purposes.
$10/person ages 3 and up
$5/person for members
Monday – It’s for the Birds! We’ll spend the day watching and learning about the wonderful native birds that call Maryland home as well as the migrating birds that are flying through each spring. We’ll practice using binoculars and identification books and even learning to imitate bird calls.
Tuesday – Our Forest Home – we’ll learn to identify trees by the new leaves that they’re growing each spring and we’ll identify some edible wild plants as we walk through the woods, we can even make and sample pine needle tea.
Wednesday – Soil is Alive! Today’s the day to roll over logs, dig holes, and use hand lenses to see the many amazing organisms that call our soil home. We’ll even take home our own little cup of soil, complete with a native seed to plant and grow.
Thursday – Fabulous Fishes! We’ll talk about all of the fabulous fish in the bay and how fish migrate, too – in springtime many species are swimming from salty water up into the freshwater rivers to spawn. We get to practice seine netting, as well, and safely touching and identifying the fish we catch. Due to oncoming weather, Thursday’s activity will now be Soil is Alive Part 2, featuring a special shelled guest! The activity will take place in our Historic Barn so that you can stay dry while still learning about the environment.
Friday – Wilderness + Disaster: How to Save Life and Limb. Dr. Bonnie Skinner joins us to teach about practicing first aid in the wilderness, rural areas, or far away from hospitals. Learn to be prepared for any situation, including what first aid items you can bring with you or things you can use from nature.
This is a rain or shine event. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to start time and proceed to the Warehouse to check-in (visible from parking area). Suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate attire.
Please note that we are not a drop-off site! Parents are required to purchase a ticket and to stay with their children.
Register Here

Growing for Good Planting Day
2024-03-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
March 30, 2024 – Ready to help Historic Sotterley usher in spring? We’re looking for volunteers who don’t mind getting dirty, love gardening and farming, and want to help their community to join us for our Growing for Good Planting Days! You will help us get our seeds planted so they can start growing in our Hoop House or cut and prep potatoes for planting in our fields. What we produce here at Historic Sotterley gets donated to our partners at local food banks and pantries to support community members in need.

We’re hosting 3 planting days: March 23, March 30, and April 6. Planting will take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. These planting dates are not weather dependent, if the weather does not cooperate we can move indoors to continue planting while staying dry! Please sign up in advance so we can know how many volunteers to expect.

This volunteer opportunity is family-friendly. Anyone 5 years and older is invited to help us plant, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to teach little ones about where food comes from. This is also a great opportunity for Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops to get their volunteer requirements in.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time and check-in at the Farm Building to the right of the Visitor Center. We recommend hats, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, and shoes and clothes you are not afraid to get dirty.

Register to Volunteer Here!

Growing for Good Planting Day
2024-04-06 09:00 - 12:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 6, 2024 – Ready to help Historic Sotterley usher in spring? We’re looking for volunteers who don’t mind getting dirty, love gardening and farming, and want to help their community to join us for our Growing for Good Planting Days! You will help us get our seeds planted so they can start growing in our Hoop House or cut and prep potatoes for planting in our fields. What we produce here at Historic Sotterley gets donated to our partners at local food banks and pantries to support community members in need.

We’re hosting 3 planting days: March 23, March 30, and April 6. Planting will take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. These planting dates are not weather dependent, if the weather does not cooperate we can move indoors to continue planting while staying dry! Please sign up in advance so we can know how many volunteers to expect.

This volunteer opportunity is family-friendly. Anyone 5 years and older is invited to help us plant, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to teach little ones about where food comes from. This is also a great opportunity for Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops to get their volunteer requirements in.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time and check-in at the Farm Building to the right of the Visitor Center. We recommend hats, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, and shoes and clothes you are not afraid to get dirty.

Register to Volunteer Here!

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Jaelon Moaney, Phoebe Tate, Roderick Lewis, and host Kelsey Bush
2024-04-10 19:00 | Virtual
April 10, 2024 – Historic Sotterley will be proud to host a virtual moderated panel of exceptional young professionals to discuss the topic “How far have we come, and where do we need to go?”.
2024 has been proclaimed Maryland Year of Civil Rights as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The Civil Rights Act was a milestone in American democracy and justice, dismantling Jim Crow laws and paving a way for racial and gender equality, but with all the progress made, equality is still something that eludes many in our nation.
Tonight’s panel will discuss how they view the progress that has been made in the previous 60 years, and the challenges that they feel we still see face today, despite the effects of this groundbreaking legislation. Are there solutions for some of these challenges, and if so, are we up for making the changes necessary?
This is a free virtual event, but registration is required
Register here
Jaelon T. Moaney is the deputy director of the Starr Center for the Study of the American at Washington College. He is an interdisciplinary visionary, ruralist, historic resource steward, and civic change agent with deep roots in the Maryland Eastern Shore. As a descendant of founding Black families in Kent and Talbot counties, he carries forward a legacy of resilience and innovation, evidenced by his appointment by Gov. Wes Moore to the MD Commission on African American History & Culture. Jaelon’s commitment to producing scholarship centering life on, and along, Chesapeake Bay tributaries has garnered prestigious awards and recognition, including the Sentinels of the Republic Prize in Government and the Gaius C. Bolin 1889 Prize in Africana Studies. With a decade of experience as a national leader in the preservation movement, he has successfully advocated for legislative measures such as the designation of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area. Additionally, Jaelon actively invests in future generations through his involvement with educational initiatives like The Needle’s Eye Academy and serving on various boards including the Williams-Mystic Alumni Council and the Talbot County Public Schools Education Foundation.
Phoebe Tate is a Senior at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she majors in English with a minor in Educational Studies. Fueled by her passion for Language Arts, she is dedicated to fostering a love for learning in others. Phoebe is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in English with the goal of obtaining a Master’s in Teaching. Outside of class, she immerses herself in reading, design, sketching, creative writing, and exploring various subjects including English, Science, Math, and History. Her internship at Historic Sotterley over the summer has deepened her lifelong interest in inclusive history, and she is currently focused on her St. Mary’s Project, which involves adapting Slave Narratives into a graphic novel. Phoebe finds immense joy in conducting research for her project and sharing the rich history of the site with others.
Roderick Lewis is currently Senator Ben Cardin’s Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland Field Representative. In 2019, he graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a BA in Political Science. While in high school and college, he worked on local campaigns, including for Delegate John Bohanan, and has been active in the St. Mary’s County NAACP Chapter. Roderick also interned in Congressman Hoyer’s District office and was a legislative intern in Annapolis for St. Mary’s College through the 2018 General Assembly session. He has served on the St. Mary’s County Democratic Central Committee and currently serves on the Charles County Democratic Central Committee. After graduation, Roderick worked in the St. Mary’s College Admissions Office and helped recruit future Seahawks during the challenging pandemic cycle. Today, Roderick resides in Waldorf, Maryland with his husband Ivan their two cats, Laura and Scrappy, and their dog Bentley.
Kelsey R.M. Bush, hailing from Lexington Park in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, boasts a diverse academic and professional background. With a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in Political Science and Sociology/Anthropology, as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Bush currently serves as the Community Affairs Liaison for St. Mary’s College. Prior to this role, he held positions such as Interim Chief Diversity Officer at the college and spent two decades working in various capacities for St. Mary’s County Government, focusing on youth-related initiatives, grant monitoring, and collaboration on community issues. Bush’s extensive involvement includes appointments to the Historic St. Mary’s Commission and the Maryland Commission for African American History and Culture, along with membership in numerous boards and committees dedicated to youth, family, and historical preservation efforts. Residing in California, Maryland, with his family, Bush remains deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life and fostering inclusivity in his community.

What's Soaring at Sotterley Birdwalk
2024-04-20 08:00 - 11:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
April 20, 2024 – 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 8:00 am, please arrive 10-15 minutes prior in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center. Please bring 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

Garden Guild Plant Sale
2024-04-27 09:00 - 14:00, 2024-04-28 12:00 - 15:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
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.
PLANT SALE:
Saturday, April 27 – 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sunday, April 28 – 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition: Accessing the Diverse History of Southern Maryland Website Launch
2024-05-01 16:00 - 19:30 | St. Mary’s College of Maryland Dodge Performing Arts Center, 47855 College Dr, St. Mary's City, MD, 20868, United States
**This is an event by our partners at the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition**
Join in to celebrate the launch of the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition’s program and website “Accessing the Diverse History of Southern Maryland.” The program’s purpose is to elevate the history of Black, Indigenous and other people of color and make it more accessible for educators, students, the people of Southern Maryland, and those beyond the region.

Thirty organizations across the three counties (museums, community organizations, school systems, colleges, historical societies, churches and libraries) are working together to identify this history and make it accessible through this comprehensive easily searchable website.

The launch will include:

The initial showing of the website
An exhibit area featuring the Coalition organizations and others
Information about the three summer teacher’s institutes
A general session featuring keynote speaker Melisande Short-Colomb – a descendent of the families sold south by Georgetown U. in 1838. She is a noted speaker about her experience and has been featured in print, TED talks, and other news outlets. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Georgetown Memory Project, is a founding Council Member of the GU272 Descendants Association.

Visit this page for more information about the project and partners.
This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.

Tour Season Opening Weekend
2024-05-02 - 2024-05-05 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 2, 2024 – Historic Sotterley’s Tour Season officially begins on Thursday, May 2nd! Guided tours of our Historic Manor House will be offered Thursday through Saturday at 10:30, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 and on Sunday at Noon, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00. 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, see our visit page.

We can’t wait to see all of you for another great Tour Season!

Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives with Donald Barber, David Brown, and Janice Walthour
2024-05-08 19:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 8, 2024 – Historic Sotterley’s next Sotterley Presents: People & Perspectives event will introduce a new book, The Barber Family: From Slavery, Through Segregation, and The Civil Rights Movement, by Donald Barber and David Brown. The Barber family are Sotterley Descendants, and the book tells their story against the backdrop of their challenges with post-Civil War economic decline and racism in St. Mary’s County, and the struggle for more self-reliant, prosperous, and fulfilling lives with dignity. The two authors and Janice Walthour will share their perspectives about the book. The Barber Family: From Slavery, Through Segregation, and The Civil Rights Movement will be available for purchase and signing during the event.
This is a FREE hybrid event, but registration is requested.
Register to attend in-person here
Register to attend virtually here
Donald Maxwell Barber, DOB 3/24/1957 was the sixth of 7 children born to Alice Ruth Somerville Barber and James Bernard Barber, who were employees of Mabel Ingalls at Sotterley. His parents instilled him with a strong work ethic and he worked in the gardens until he left Sotterley in the mid 1970’s. Donald’s parents impressed upon him the value of a college education, as well as their inability to afford college tuition. Donald was a strong student and was awarded a National Merit Scholarship that enabled him to attend St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science. He embarked on a 30 year career in Human Services and returned to Sotterley as a volunteer; serving many years as a Trustee. Donald is retired and living quietly in Hollywood with his wife Rosa.

Born in Boston MA, David Brown was a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. State Department for over thirty years serving mainly in Asia. After retiring, he spent almost twenty years as a researcher, administrator and adjunct professor in the China Studies program at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAAIS) in Washington. For the past two decades, he has been a volunteer interpreter at Sotterley researching and writing numerous articles about Sotterley personalities, including the short history entitled Sotterley: Her People and Their Worlds.

Dr. Janice Walthour is a retired educator, political activist, poet, speaker, and life-long resident of St. Mary’s County. She has a long list of accomplishments, including serving as principal of George Washington Carver Elementary School for 15 years and being elected delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention. She is also involved in various organizations, such as the Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions (past President and current member) and the St. Mary’s County Branch NAACP. Dr. Walthour has received numerous awards for her professional and community services, and she is an active member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. She is dedicated to advocating for equity and civil rights in her community.

Women of Sotterley Specialty Tour
2024-05-10 17:30 - 19:00 | Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD, 20636, United States
May 10th, 2024 – In honor of Mother’s Day weekend, we are offering a tour focusing on the lives and legacies of ten remarkable women who lived at Sotterley over the course of 300 years. Learn about the lives of the women of Sotterley including Rebecca Bowles, Elsa Bond, Mabel Ingalls, and Agnes Kane Callum. We will hear about the lives of women from the 18th century, 19th, and 20th centuries. We will tell these women’s stories and explore how women’s roles in marriage, birth, family differed depending on their era and status. Along the way we will discover the role that women have played in preserving the history of the site. A reception with Q & A will follow the tour.
Recommended for ages 16 & older. Walking and standing required, please note the historic house is not ADA compliant.
Advance reservations required – please no walk-ins. Limited to 15 people per tour.
It is advised to arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your tour. Please proceed to the Warehouse to Check-in upon arrival.

Register Here

Mother's Day Weekend Tours - Moms get in FREE!
2024-05-11 10:30 - 2024-05-12 15:00 | MD
May 11 & 12, 2024 – 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 11 and Sunday, May 12. 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.
Tours will be offered Saturday at 10:30, 11:30, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 and on Sunday at Noon, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00.
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.
