Events

Revel in a music-filled afternoon as we welcome special guests the Trident Brass Ensemble, the Naval Academy’s midshipmen jazz and swing band, to the Paca Garden! A variety of jazz and big band classics by these talented instrumentalists will accompany your exploration of the garden’s terraced landscape, formal parterres, naturalistic wilderness, and practical kitchen and […]

Discover the historic 1912 Old Masonic Hall, home to the Odenton Heritage Society Historical Center and Museum. Explore the rich history of the town of Odenton, from its railroads, homes, and churches to its schools, stores, and recreational activities over the past 154 years. Immerse yourself in displays on the Civil War, military history, and […]

It’s spring! Mole senses the arrival of spring, but Bear is still fast asleep after his lengthy winter slumber. Eager to share the joy, Mole taps on the window and knocks on the door-he even plays a trumpet to rouse his friend for a celebration. Yet, Bear remains in dreamland. Will Bear awaken? Spring has […]

The William Paca House has sheltered many people and served many functions since the 1760s. It was home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, aristocratic refugees from war-torn Europe, and a Navy widow whose sons-in-law fought on opposite sides in the Civil War. It was part of a hotel founded by a national […]

Step into the shoes of 18th-century physicians and healers as we explore the gardens for 18th-century cures and learn about how colonial people treated illnesses and injuries in an era before modern hospitals! For children aged 6-12. Members, $8. Non-members, $10.50

Step into the shoes of 18th-century physicians and healers as we explore the gardens for 18th-century cures and learn about how colonial people treated illnesses and injuries in an era before modern hospitals! For children aged 6-12. Members, $8. Non-members, $10.50.

Join Mike Parker, professor emeritus of the USNA English Department for a 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. Price: $15 | Members: Free

Hosted by Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), the Maryland State Archives, and Blacks of the Chesapeake, this is an amazing opportunity to hear firsthand stories of Anne Arundel County’s rich history and learn how you can preserve your own family’s legacy. Whether you’d like to share your story or simply listen and experience history […]

Explore the multi-generational Peale family whose art production spanned more than a century, from the colonial period through the Victorian era. Charles Willson Peale changed the course of American art through his artistic practice, his museum business, and the mentorship of his brother James, as well as his sons and daughters in the arts. Discover […]

Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture and MHT will hold an in-person workshop on April 11th at the Harwood Nature Center at Lawrence Preserve in Chestertown, MD. Additional in-person and virtual workshops will also be available on 4/25, 5/9, and 6/6. Attendance is free, but you must register.

Rise and Shine with Yoga in the Paca Garden! Join us for this special yoga series with Cathy Shaw. This 50-minute Vinyasa yoga style class is designed for all levels and includes sequences such as sun salutations, standing and seated postures, back bending and a strong focus on the power of breath awareness. Suitable for […]

Enjoy a day on the Farm committed to family fun, entertainment, history, and wonder. Visit Goshen Farm’s Annual Spring Open House on Saturday, April 10th, from 10 am to 2 pm. Gather the family and drive to 1420 Cape St. Claire Road, Annapolis, 21409, to learn about the history of Goshen Farm, the last Colonial-era […]

Come out for a FREE day of family-friendly fun, creativity, and culture—packed with hands-on activities, live performances, and demos across our studios and classrooms! Join the Chesapeake Arts Center on Saturday, April 12 from 10 AM to 2 PM, in the CAC main education building for a FREE, family-friendly event filled with creativity, culture, and […]

The historic Rising Sun Inn, located at 1090 General's Hwy in Crownsville, Maryland, will be open for public touring on Sunday, April 13, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with tours beginning on the top of the hour. Admission is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 3 - 10, and children under 3 are […]

The Annearrundell County Free School was established in 1723. It is perhaps the oldest remaining one-room schoolhouse in Maryland. Guests of all ages visiting the Free School Museum can experience educational practices from the 1700’s, when books and paper were scarce, and educational practices from the 1800’s, when Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic were the basics […]

Dedication Ceremony for James R. (Jim) Morrison and Henry A. Schmidt – 12:30 to 1 pm. Spring Farm Festival 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Folk Music (The Overtones), Bee Demonstrations by Allan Adams Tour of house and grounds available.

How and why did slavery begin in North America? It’s an incredibly important question, as America’s embrace of racial slavery as a major labor system is an event which has colored the development of this continent ever since. How were traditional practices of enslavement in Africa and Europe similar to and different from the system […]

Not just the realm of the Irish Coffee, come learn about dairy’s place in 18th-century alcohol. We’ll be having syllabub, a Colonial Cocktails classic, and trying something new with a milk punch! 21+ event. Cost: London Town Members, $25. Non-members, $33.

Start your spring garden with colonial plants and herbs grown on site. All proceeds from the sale of the veggies go to supporting the development and expansion of the demonstration garden, helping us connect the history of London Town and gardening together! Free to shop at the plant sale. 

Be a part of the event and join amazing local Plein Air artists who come to capture the beauty of our historic William Brown House, acres of ornamental and woodland gardens, stunning overlooks, and panoramic views of the South River. Participating Plein Air painters receive free admission with a suggested donation. Spectators and other site […]

Start your spring garden with colonial plants and herbs grown on site. All proceeds from the sale of the veggies go to supporting the development and expansion of the demonstration garden, helping us connect the history of London Town and gardening together! Free to shop at the plant sale. 

Annapolis wasn’t necessarily the most exciting place culturally in the middle of the 18th century, so a group of mostly Scottish immigrants decided to make things happen.  They formed a gentlemen’s club, held bi-monthly meetings for over ten years, and left us with a rich and often comical account of their goings-on.  Music (and also rum […]

Join us for a full day outing to experience Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello! We will travel by motorcoach to Charlottesville, VA, and enjoy a guided Highlights Tour of the first-floor spaces in Thomas Jefferson’s home, the West Lawn and South Wing. This experience also includes a boxed lunch, as well as access to the gardens, grounds, […]

A public meeting has been scheduled from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 24 via Zoom to discuss plans to upgrade the structural and architectural aspects of Wilson House to allow visitors to view the home and get historic information. The building is not currently accessible to the public.

“Trees Make Perfect Pets: A Story About Nature, Plants, and Gardening For Kids” by Paul Czajak Abigail is set on finding the ideal pet, and she decides on Fido. He provides shade from the sun, follows her commands, and even helps her breathe easier. That’s right—Fido is a tree! However, not everyone agrees that having […]

For Earth Month, we are throwing a party! Join us as we celebrate our oldest tree on-site that has witnessed 200+ years of United States history. Enjoy garden and tree-themed crafts, a scavenger hunt, games, other exciting activities, and, of course, birthday cake! Free with a suggested donation. Registration requested. 

Take a break from screen time and join the students of Broadneck High School’s at Hogshead Trades Museum for a day of old-fashioned fun! Students will demonstrate children’s games that were popular in colonial times such as skittles and shut the box. Everyone has a chance to participate in the fun and games –  Come […]

For Earth Month, we are throwing a party! Join us as we celebrate our oldest tree on-site that has witnessed 200+ years of United States history. Enjoy garden and tree-themed crafts, a scavenger hunt, games, other exciting activities, and, of course, birthday cake! Free with a suggested donation. Registration requested. 

Join us for a special Spring workshop on the Paca House Terrace, presented in partnership with our friends at Homestead Gardens. This afternoon workshop will be presented by a Homestead Gardens expert who will share tips on growing and caring for culinary herbs.  Participants will then be guided in creating a Culinary Herb Garden planter […]

A Watershed Movement presented by Suzanne Etgen Suzanne Etgen, Executive Director, will lead participants on a journey to understand the power of grassroots leadership to transform communities and highlight her top 5 actions you can take today to make a real difference in your local environment. For over 16 years WSA has brought environmental information […]

Join Nathan M. Richardson as Frederick Douglass for an in-depth look at the writings and oratory of Frederick Douglass. Experience this internationally-acclaimed first person interpretation. See the 19th century literary masters through the eyes of Frederick Douglass. Learn about the personal relationships, the letters between them and the influenced their writings and activism had in […]

In solidarity with UNESCO’s International Jazz Day, join the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum for Night of Sacred Sounds: An Evening of Jazz + The Spoken Word—a celebration of rhythm, soul, and inspiration featuring the Kweku Sumbry Quartet and Wesley “Panama” Watkins, Jr. and the Count the Cost Band! This special fundraiser will support the museum’s upcoming programming […]

Join us in welcoming painter r aster syrell as she prepares for a 73-day-long painting marathon/residency in the museum (see exhibition description below) that begins on May 2, 2025. Learn about how she is mentally preparing; how she thinks about painting, time, and pictorial space; which philosophers she reads; and what she hopes to accomplish. […]

Taste delicious catfish dishes from local restaurants, judged by photographer Jay Fleming, Chef John Shields & Kevin Atticks, MD Secretary of Agriculture! Enjoy live music, cooking demos, fish-cutting demos, and a lecture from a fisheries scientist on invasive species. The Chesapeake Catfish Cook-off isn’t just an event—it’s a movement. Invasive catfish threaten the Chesapeake Bay, […]

The Odenton Heritage Society’s open house on Sunday, May 4, will feature a display of maps from Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks showing plans and updates on trails in the Odenton area, including construction of the South Shore Trail, which is underway. These trails follow historic railroad right-of-ways that converged in Odenton. As always, […]