Over the course of four years, enslaved people worked to turn the Civil War into a freedom war. Slowly but surely, they pushed President Abraham Lincoln and his commanders in the field toward embracing emancipation as a war aim and to compel them to take the giant steps forward needed to abolish slavery once and for all. On June 19, 1865, the federal government finally met that objective, declaring slavery dead across the country. This momentous event marked a new birth of freedom—an occasion we now commemorate as Juneteenth. Registration...

For the first time, AAHPP has a new annual appropriation of $5 million, up from $1 million annually! AAHPP provides grants to assist in the preservation of buildings, sites, or communities of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland. Attend this general in-person overview to learn how to apply and more.

African American Land Conservation and Heritage Preservation: Black Beaches & Recreation Please join us online for a highly anticipated discussion with Vince Leggett about his most recent projects, including the preservation of historic Maryland beaches and recreation areas. Vince Leggett is the founder and President of Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation which documents, promotes and educates on the significant contributions of African Americans to the bay’s maritime industries and culture. The Library of Congress designated the Blacks of the Chesapeake as a Local Legacy Project in 2000. The centerpiece of that submission was...

The 2023 tour features private gardens in the Annapolis Historic District—Prince George Street, King George Street, Maryland Avenue, Hanover Street, and surrounding locations. This area holds a beautiful collection of homes built in various periods and architectural styles, including some of the great colonial mansions. The Historic District provides the perfect setting for an afternoon of garden exploration, to see what lies behind the gates and down the alleyways. The gardens featured epitomize the goals of the home gardener: to have a beautiful space filled with flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses,...

Visit the Museum of Historic Annapolis on the second Sunday of every month for Hands-On History Days. Drop in any time between 10 am and 2 pm for special family activities – a new theme each month means you and your family will want to visit again and again! Activities are included with Museum admission. In June, we are celebrating Pride Month! Go on a Rainbow Scavenger Hunt as you explore the Museum and Annapolis: An American Story! Meet representatives from Annapolis Pride, who works to advocate for, empower, and...

The 2023 tour features private gardens in the Annapolis Historic District—Prince George Street, King George Street, Maryland Avenue, Hanover Street, and surrounding locations. This area holds a beautiful collection of homes built in various periods and architectural styles, including some of the great colonial mansions. The Historic District provides the perfect setting for an afternoon of garden exploration, to see what lies behind the gates and down the alleyways. The gardens featured epitomize the goals of the home gardener: to have a beautiful space filled with flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses,...

With the temperatures climbing, this month we'll cool down by learning all about water! Students will perform experiments on density, currents, and tsunamis and learn about the plants and animals that call our local waters home.​ $8 for member children ages 6-12 $10.50 for non-member children ages 6-12​ Pre-registration is required. ​

Celebrate Flag Day at the William Paca House & Garden! Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. Stop by the William Paca House and Garden any time on Thursday, June 15 between 1 pm and 4 pm to create a special craft that honors our national flag.

From punches to bounces, syllabubs to juleps, colonists imbibed a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. At Colonial Cocktails, you’ll get to make and enjoy two historical drinks and learn about colonial tavern culture. From Atlantic to Pacific, this month we're exploring sugar-based spirits. We will discover the world of arrack, an Indonesian palm/rice wine that became the base of the British Rack Punch, then sail on to learn about Bumbo, a sweetened cocktail of Caribbean Rum.​ Participants must be 21+​ Members: $25 Non-Members: $33 Please note: this program is held...

Explore the Hammond-Harwood House collection of nine elaborate clocks from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. The tour begins with an in-depth history of timekeeping from sundials to Chinese water clocks. The invention of the pendulum in the 17th century modernized horological devices and a rising artisan class created clocks for elite and middle-class markets as consumer demand expanded. The tour will examine each item, admiring the individual creation of the piece, its decorative design, and the social history connected to it. You will come away from this experience...

“The Despot’s Heel” tells the story of the secession crisis in Maryland in the early days of the American Civil War. Both the state, as well as the city of Baltimore, experienced tensions caused by the divided loyalties of its citizens. These differences erupted into a riot in the streets when a pro-secession mob attacked U.S. troops passing through Baltimore on their way to Washington, and the subsequent military occupation of the city by federal forces. News of the riot inspired James Ryder Randall, a Marylander living in New Orleans,...

Participants will enjoy a 90-minute guided tour of the house that compares the customs and social graces of the Loockerman family, who lived in the Hammond-Harwood House in the early 19th century, with those of characters in Jane Austen novels.

Cheers to 15 years – join us for the 15th annual Paca Girlfriends Party! Wander the picturesque William Paca Garden as you enjoy a glass of bubbly and indulge in culinary creations prepared by the area’s premier chefs. Shop in our festive marketplace, meet and greet with local designers, and connect with a wide network of influential women. This popular annual fundraiser supports Historic Annapolis and our mission to Preserve . Protect . Connect.

Want to show off your colors? Come out and join us for Pride Pots where participants will get to create and take home the start of a rainbow garden, and learn about LGBTQIA+ history and how it relates to the world of botany. Members: $15 Non-Members: $20

The historic Rising Sun Inn, located at 1090 General's Hwy in Crownsville, Maryland, will be open for public touring on Sunday, June 25, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with tours beginning on the top and bottom of the hour. Admission is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 3 - 10, and children under 3 are free. See this unique pre-colonial farmhouse and 18th century tavern, located in central Anne Arundel County along the famed Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, featuring period furnishing and artifacts as well as a one-of-a-kind...