The Odenton Heritage Society invites the public to an open house on Sunday, February 1 celebrating Black History Month and showcasing St. John AME Zion Church in Wilsontown.
Located south of Odenton, St. John’s Church—a rural church founded in the 1870s and home to a vibrant congregation today—is more than a place of worship. It became the heart of an African American community shaped by emancipation and the pursuit of freedom. Quakers transferred a former meeting house to African Americans to serve as their church, fostering interaction between the two groups and the sharing of adjoining cemeteries. The current church building was constructed in 1942 after wartime evacuations made way for the expansion of Fort Meade.
Enjoy additional exhibits exploring Odenton’s railroads, homes, churches, schools, and the lives of the people who have shaped the community, past and present. Visit the OHS Historical Center at 1367 Odenton Road. We are open from 1:00PM to 4:00PM, with free admission and guided tours led by costumed docents.