Four Rivers Heritage Area will hold its Eighteenth Annual Heritage Awards on Thursday, November 4, 2021, 5 p.m., at Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater, under the tent. These awards recognize individuals, organizations, partnerships, programs and products that contribute significantly to the community by interpreting, promoting, preserving, researching and/or supporting our historical legacy. The honorees have had a lasting impact on authentic stories and experiences at our museums and historic attractions, the sustainability of local organizations, and the preservation of the history and heritage of the local community.
At the ceremony, the heritage area will also mark the 20-Year Anniversary of Certification as one of Maryland’s Heritage Areas, and thank the many funders, partners, Board members, Coordinating Council members, committee members, and dedicated volunteers who have contributed to the organization’s long list of achievements and milestones.
Tickets are $10 per person at Eventbrite or at the door. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us as we gather again in person to reconnect and celebrate this year’s outstanding honorees!
To connect with Eventbrite, click here: https://heritageawards.eventbrite.com
We are pleased to announce the honorees to be recognized this year:
2021 Heritage Tourism Product (Exhibit) Award
This award recognizes an outstanding heritage tourism product created in the past year. Eligible products include exhibits, events, programs, self-guided or guided tours, audiotours, videos/CDs/podcasts, interpretive brochures, publications and websites. This year’s award recognizes the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park for its new Permanent Exhibit, “Our Changing Waterfront.”
2021 Heritage Tourism Product (Event Series) Award
This award recognizes an outstanding heritage tourism product created in the past year. This year Four Rivers recognizes a second Heritage Tourism Product, an Event Series, by Historic London Town and Gardens, for its “Colonial Cocktails” series.
2021 Heritage Volunteers of the Year Award
This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer who has made a significant difference to the growth, sustainability, programming, or other essential element of a non-profit or for-profit heritage organization. This year’s co-honorees are Susie Cosden and Cynthia Czubat of the Galesville Heritage Society.
2021 Heritage Professional of the Year Award
This award recognizes an author, archaeologist, architect, artist, exhibits/publications designer, historian, natural resource professional, preservationist, professional staff person, or researcher, for significant professional contributions to heritage interpretation, stewardship, and/or education in the past year. This year’s award recognizes Catherine Rogers Arthur of the Maryland State Archives.
2021 Heritage Interpreter of the Year Award
This award recognizes a heritage interpreter—docent, educator, tour guide, volunteer—in a non-profit or for-profit heritage organization, who provides outstanding factual, and educational information to the public. This year’s award recognizes Barry Gay, of the Galesville Community Center Organization.
2021 Heritage Leadership Award
The Leadership Award recognizes an individual for significant and long-lasting contributions to the community by interpreting, preserving, promoting, researching, and/or supporting local history and heritage. This year’s award recognizes Glenn Campbell of Historic Annapolis.
2021 Patricia Barland Leadership Award
The Barland Leadership Award is named for the long-time former Chair of the Four Rivers Heritage Area Board, Patricia Barland. For this award, we look for an individual whose career reflects a broad vision and reach, a lasting dedication to our community, and a long career that has strengthened the depth and vitality of our local heritage. This year, the Patricia Barland Leadership Award goes to T.C. Magnotti, a founder of the Captain Avery Museum in Shady Side.
Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town & South County, one of Maryland’s 13 certified heritage areas, is a partnership among the State of Maryland, Anne Arundel County, the City of Annapolis, the town of Highland Beach, and local historic sites, heritage organizations, and heritage-related businesses, to encourage economic vitality through historic preservation and heritage tourism. For more information, please contact Executive Director Carol Benson at the Four Rivers Heritage Area office, 410-627-6018.