Historic St. Mary’s City, located in St. Mary’s County, stands as the fourth permanent English settlement in North America. The settlement was the colonial capital for sixty-one years, and holds a significant place in history.

Founded in 1634, the Maryland colony was created as a way for English Catholics to seek refuge from religious persecution. Historic St. Mary’s City is one place that strives to preserve and showcase the county’s vast history.

The Historic St. Mary’s City Commission was established in 1966 and built a museum to memorialize and preserve early Maryland history. It is located on the site of the colony’s fist capital.

Historic St. Mary’s City was recognized as a National Historic Landmark back in 1969 in recognition of the uniquely well-preserved archaeological record of more than 10,000 years of human occupation.

HSMC is responsible for the preservation of more than 800 acres of land and three miles of shoreline. The museum continues to make new archaeological discoveries and train future archaeologists with its annual Field School in Historical Archaeology, the longest-running historical archaeological field school in the country.

Today visitors to St. Mary’s County are immersed in the past through a variety of engaging activities such as a living history museum, historical reenactments, live archaeological sites, demonstrations, and numerous exhibits. These diverse experiences offer insight into why St. Mary’s City has remained an ideal destination, appealing not only to todays visitors but also to those dating back to before the county’s founding.

For the different activities, demonstrations and exhibits you can explore see the Historic St. Mary’s City to learn more.

If you would like your county featured in Fun Facts, please get in touch with Amanda Grosskrueger at agrosskrueger@mdcounties.org.