Museums
Local GemAnnmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
Under $25A wooded sculpture garden and arts center in Solomons, Maryland, with a walking trail past rotating outdoor artworks.
MuseumsHistory BuffFamily FavoriteOutdoor Adventure
Historic St. Mary's City
18751 Hogaboom Lane, St. Mary's City, MD 20686 · St. Mary's City, MD
Why you should go…
Historic St. Mary's City is an outdoor museum of history and archaeology on the site of Maryland's first permanent English settlement, founded in 1634. Reconstructed exhibits include a 17th-century tobacco plantation, a Woodland Indian hamlet, a square-rigged tall ship replica and the 1676 State House. The site has been a National Historic Landmark since 1969 and sits alongside an active archaeological dig.
- #history
- #museum
- #living history
- #archaeology
- #family
Good to know
General museums guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
Check the special exhibition separately
Touring shows usually carry their own ticket and their own opening hours, listed apart from general admission.
Look for the free window
Many museums run community days, member evenings, or discounted late openings. It is worth a look before you pay full price.
Travel light through the door
Large bags and backpacks often have to go to a coat check, and lines for it move slowly at opening.
Weekday mornings beat weekend afternoons
School groups clear out by early afternoon midweek, while weekends stay busy from late morning on.
What's around here?
The closest stops to Historic St. Mary's City, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.
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St. Mary's County Museums
Under $25County-run network of four Southern Maryland heritage sites, including a lighthouse museum and a historic schoolhouse.
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Northern Neck of Virginia
FreeA rural Virginia peninsula between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, birthplace of George Washington.
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Calvert County
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Charles County
FreeA Southern Maryland county on the Potomac River known for Underground Railroad history and waterfront trails.
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Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
FreeTouch a moon rock and stand under the Spirit of St. Louis at the world's most-visited aviation museum, always free.
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