Family Fun with St. Clement's Island Heritage

St. Clement’s Island Heritage Day is this Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.! Take a free boat ride on the St. Clement’s Island Museum’s water taxi or the Mildred Belle, an historic oyster buy boat used by the Living Classrooms of the National Capital region.

Discover St. Clement’s Island State Park and its history as the site of Maryland’s first colonial landing in 1634. Kids will enjoy playing heritage games and listening to the folk tunes of Joe Norris from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Other participants include Frank Maio with information and gear of the colonial militia, Cathy Gallagher from Historic St. Mary’s City with hands-on learning about the Native Americans, and reenactors portraying the island’s first colonial owner Dr. Thomas Gerard and his little daughter, Elizabeth.

Enjoy the scenic and natural beauty of the island, Potomac River, and waterfowl with a walk along the hiking trail with Greg Kerns from Patuxent River Park in Upper Marlboro, an Osprey expert. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the pavilion or any of the tables dotting the island shore. The recreated Blackistone Lighthouse will be open and available for tours. Wear comfortable walking shoes, sun screen, and bring the camera, binoculars and plenty of water (available for sale on the island and in the museum store). Children may enjoy making sandcastles on the beach area, but no swimming is allowed.

In addition, the St. Clement's Island Museum will be open with free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is handicap accessible (the island is not handicap accessible). A 13-minute orientation film gives the visitor a comprehensive history of the island and the building of the Blackistone Lighthouse replica. Local photographer Bill Conway will offer an exhibit of St. Clement’s Island photos. The Crab Claw Museum Store will be open with an array of unique gifts, souvenirs, home decor, clothing, jewelry, books, and so much more.

Located on the museum grounds will be the St. Mary’s County Master Gardeners with free Black-eyed Susan seed packets and abundant information about how to raise and maintain Maryland’s official state flower.

The St. Clement’s Island Museum is located at 38370 Point Breeze Road in Colton’s Point, MD. For more information please call the St. Mary's County Museum Division at 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums. In the event of rain or high wind boat service will be canceled and exhibitors and elements of the program will be moved inside the museum.

Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Tickets Now On Sale

The Friends of the St. Clement’s Island and Piney Point Museums announce that tickets are now on sale for their annual interactive murder mystery dinner, a fundraiser to benefit the St. Mary’s County Museum Division. The event will take place at Lenny’s Restaurant in California on Saturday, September 18. Tickets are $60 per person for Friends members and $65 per person for non members. Only 140 tickets will be sold.

The murder mystery is entitled “Murder at the Yacht Club” and attendees are encouraged to dress in their most stylish and flamboyant nautical outfits.

The event begins at 6 p.m. with a cash bar and silent auction and live auction at 6:45 p.m. conducted by local, and lively, auctioneer A.J. Bussler. A delicious buffet dinner will be served at 7:15 with the murder mystery performance.

Parts will be offered to amenable dinner guests who will then read from a provided script. All participants are encouraged to ham it up for a hilarious and unrehearsed “whodunit.” The evening will conclude with coffee, dessert, crime solving and announcement of silent auction winners.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the St. Clement’s Island Museum at 301-769-2222. Ticket reservations must be made in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Children’s Day Offers Fun, Food, and Festivity

The Museum Division of St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks is proud to present its annual Children’s Day event at the St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point on Saturday, August 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.


Museum staff and volunteers will provide kids with heritage games, face painting, crafts and free sno-cones. Enjoy music and magic by Reggie Rice, known as the SuperMagicMan, throughout the event. The museum’s water taxi to St. Clement’s Island will begin at 11 a.m., weather permitting, with the fee for children waived for this special event. Adults are $7 each. This is a great opportunity to take your kids to see the replica of the Blackistone Lighthouse!

Representatives from the St. Mary’s County Library will offer story time and the St. Mary’s Hospital Health Connections van will offer a Teddy Bear Clinic. Kids are encouraged to bring in their teddy bears for some expert care and parents can get screenings for high blood pressure. Ladies from The Delicados will give away free balloons! The Optimist Club of the 7th District will offer a boy’s and girl’s bike giveaway (need not be present to win), a kiddie tractor pull, and 50-cent per item lunch menu! Bring your camera for pictures with Pinch, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball mascot from noon to 1 p.m.

Free t-shirts will be available for the first 100 kids thanks to the following generous event sponsors: Chesapeake Custom Embroidery, Cullins Pool Water, Combs Drury Reeves Insurance Agency, Avenue Flags & Flagpoles, Delegate John F. Wood, Jr., Tidewater Dental Associates, Checkers Restaurant, Colton’s Point Marina, GTMR, Inc., and PNC Bank.

The St. Clement’s Island Museum is located in Colton’s Point at the end of Route 242, nine miles south of Clements intersection at Routes 234 and 242. The museum and grounds are handicap accessible. For more information, please call 301-769-2222 or log onto the Museum Division website at www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

Celebrate St. Mary's County's Heritage!

Mark your calendar now for St. Clement’s Island Heritage Day on Saturday, June 12.  St. Clement’s Island is the site of Maryland’s first colonial landing in 1634 and during Heritage Day, visitors will learn more about the founding colonists through fun interactive activities! 

Take a free boat ride aboard the historic wooden oyster buy boat to St. Clement’s Island, Birthplace of Maryland. Departures from the St. Clement’s Island Museum pier begin at10 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.  On the island, see the reconstructed Blackistone Lighthouse, a replica of the original built by John Donahoo in 1851, and the 40-foot commemorative cross dedicated by Governor Albert Richie in 1934 in honor of Maryland's 300th birthday, which recognizes St. Clement's Island as the birthplace of religious toleration in America.

Enjoy the scenic and natural beauty of the island, Potomac River, and waterfowl with a walk along the hiking trail or picnic at the pavilion or any of the tables dotting the island shore. The recreated Blackistone Lighthouse will be open and available for tours from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wear comfortable walking shoes, sun screen, and bring plenty of water (available for sale on the island and in the museum store). Pack a picnic lunch and bring the camera for some scenic and relaxing island fun!

The kids will enjoy playing heritage games and listening to the folk tunes of Joe Norris from noon to 2 p.m. Other participants include Frank Maio with information and gear of the colonial militia, Coby Treadway from Historic St. Mary’s City with hands-on learning about the Native Americans, and colonial reenactors portraying the island’s first owner Dr. Thomas Gerard and his daughter Elizabeth. Don’t miss author Pete Imirie signing his book “Touch the Wind” and sharing his fond childhood memories of St. Clement’s. Books are available for purchase in the museum store.

In addition, the St. Clement's Island Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is handicap accessible (the island is not handicap accessible). A 13-minute orientation film will give you a comprehensive history of the island and the building of the Blackistone Lighthouse replica. Admission to the museum is free for this event. Meet Maureen Appleby, an artist whose artwork depicts life near St. Clement’s Island. The Crab Claw Museum Store offers an array of unique gifts, souvenirs, home decor, clothing, jewelry, books, and so much more. 

Located on the museum grounds will be the St. Mary’s County Master Gardeners with free Black-eyed Susan seed packets and abundant information about how to raise and maintain Maryland’s official state flower.

The St. Clement’s Island Museum is located at 38370 Point Breeze Road in Colton’s Point, MD. For more information please call the St. Mary's County Museum Division at 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

St. Clement's Island Museum's 24th Annual Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit Celebrates Maryland's 375th!

The St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point, MD will present the 24th annual Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit beginning December 2nd for a month-long exhibit to feature antique and collectible dolls and toys, and working miniature trains to delight children from one to 101!


The theme of this year’s exhibit is “Christmas in Maryland” which continues the year-long celebration of Maryland’s 375th birthday. Visitors will see and learn the official symbols of Maryland and many other interesting facts about the Old Line State.

A favorite feature of this exhibit is found in the c. 1820 Charlotte Hall School, a one-room schoolhouse transformed into a holiday train station. Children can take the controls of a working miniature train that chugs and toots its way around an endless track offering a fun and interactive experience.


Visitors can also enjoy browsing through the Crab Claw Museum Store which features a myriad of unique gifts, children’s books and toys, clothing, jewelry, Maryland flags, lighthouses, souvenirs, and much more! All gift shop proceeds benefit museum programs, projects and exhibits.

The exhibit opens December 2nd and will be available through January 3, 2010 during the Museum’s winter hours of operation, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Museum hours for this exhibit will be extended to 7 days a week - the week after the Christmas holiday.

For more information, contact the St. Clement's Island Museum at 301-769-2222 for more information or log on to www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

Celebrate 375 Events Still Going Strong!

Even as colder winter weather sets in, the Celebrate 375 events are still going strong!  Coming up this winter, enjoy great events such as the Veterans Day Parade, Christmas on the Square, and the 23rd Annual Christmas Doll and Train Exhibit.

Veterans Day Parade

On November 11, head down to Leonardtown Square for the Veterans Day Parade!  Starting at 10 a.m., veterans, dignitaries, military units, drill teams, marching bands, floats, beauty queens, Native American dancers, bagpipers, and more will parade through Leonardtown in honor of America's veterans.  Following the parade, a Memorial Ceremony with the placing of wreaths to honor our veterans will be held in the Town Square accompanied by patriotic music.  After the parade, use your Discover St. Mary's County Card at participating businesses to receive great deals and special offers on dining, shopping, and more!

The annual parade is sponsored by the St. Mary's County Commissioners and the Commissioners of Leonardtown, in cooperation with VFW Post 2632.  For more information, call 301-863-5868 or 301-475-9791.

Christmas on the Square
Leonardtown will hold its Christmas on the Square and Annual Tree Lighting on November 27 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.  Enjoy holiday music and entertainment, a live Nativity, costumed characters, horse-drawn carriage rides, sleigh and hay rides, and more!  The Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. and the tree will be lit by Santa Claus.  Then, bring the kids to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus on the Town Square.  While you're in town, be sure to use your Discover St. Mary's County Card to get great deals from participating businesses throughout Leonardtown. 

This is also a good opportunity to get raffle tickets to enter to win the Fuji Crosstown Bike!  Raffle tickets are free.  Just ask for one at participating businesses throughout Leonardtown.  The winner will be chosen during the Leonardtown First Friday on December 4.

For more information, contact the Town of Leonardtown at 301-475-9791 or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

23rd Annual Christmas Doll and Train Exhibit

The St. Clement's Island Museum will hold its 23rd Annual Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit from December 2, 2009 through January 3, 2010.  In honor of Maryland's 375th Birthday, the theme of the exhibit will be "Christmas in Maryland" and will showcase the official symbols of Maryland!  Get into the spirit of the holidays by visiting this exciting exhibit of antique and collectible dolls, toys, and miniature working trains.

For more information, contact the St. Clement's Island Museum at 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

Blessing of the Fleet

On October 3 and 4, come out to the St. Clement's Island Museum for the Blessing of the Fleet! The Blessing of the Fleet is a religious celebration of Maryland's birthplace, the landmark of St. Clement's Island, and a blessing of the boats, or fleet, as October 1 generally begins the oyster harvesting season in Maryland.

This is the 42nd year that the Blessing of the Fleet has been held. During the festival, enjoy a classic car show on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, Catholic mass on Sunday, arts and crafts, livestock and a petting zoo, an oyster tonging demonstration, hourly $100 cash giveaways, wine tastings, boxing robots, and pony rides. Plus, on Saturday night, watch as beautiful fireworks light up the sky over the Potomac River! The 2009 Blessing of the Fleet will also feature music by local bands, a parade on Sunday, and lots of fun childrens activities.

In honor of Maryland's 375th birthday, the 2009 Blessing of the Fleet will include a special cover on the event program that features Maryland's 375th birthday along with a picture of the cross and the Blackistone Lighthouse. There will also be a short story in the book that will describe the connection between St. Clement's Island and the founding of Maryland.

On Saturday, October 3, the event will run from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. and on Sunday, October 4, the event will run from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information about the event, please contact the 7th District Optimist's Club at 301-769-2763 or rspogue@aol.com. To visit their website, click here. To download the event flyer, click here.

Maryland Day Celebrations!

Maryland officially turns 375 years old on March 25 and our local attractions will be celebrating!

On March 25, the St. Clement's Island Museum will be holding it's Maryland Day celebration starting at 11 AM. It was on this historic date in 1634 that the first colonists landed on St. Clement's Island and in honor of Maryland's 375th birthday, the St. Clement's Island Museum has a few special additions to this year's event. The festivities will include a keynote address by Dr. Julia King, Associate Professor of Anthropology at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and a special birthday cake created by Chef Duff Goldman and the cake artists of Charm City Cakes of Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, please contact the St. Clement's Island Museum at 301- 769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

Then, the celebration continues at Historic St. Mary's City on March 29! As the first capital of Maryland, Historic St. Mary's City is holding its own Maryland Day from 10 AM to 5 PM on March 29. Enjoy pomp, pageantry, music, and free visitation to all museum sites! The celebration also includes a keynote address by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and students representing each Maryland jurisdiction will parade their home county's colors in the "Flag Ceremony." For more information, please contact Historic St. Mary's City at 240-895-4960 or visit http://www.stmaryscity.org/.

This Week in St. Mary's County (Jan. 5 - Jan. 12)

Between January 5 and January 12, you won't want to miss:

• Opening of Maryland Geocache Trail
• Genticorum Concert - Playing January 10 at St. Mary's Ryken High School
• Leonardtown First Fridays
• Political Memorabilia Exhibit at Piney Point Lighthouse, Museum and Historic Park

Geocache Trail
January marks the opening of a geocache trail that will take cachers on a journey throughout the state of Maryland. Sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League, the trail's theme is Maryland's Cities and Towns. The trail is comprised of all participating cities and towns in the 11 Maryland Municipal League Districts, which includes a total of 78 city/town caches. One of the participating towns is Leonardtown. Stop by the St. Mary's County Welcome Center to pick up your Geocache Trail passport and embark on your journey! For more information, please visit www.geocaching.com, www.mdmunicipal.org or call 410-268-5514.

Genticorum Concert
The Celtic Society of Southern Maryland, in collaboration with St. Mary's Ryken High School, will present afternoon workshops and an evening concert with the Montreal-based Quebecois trio, Genticorum. Genticorum is known for its energetic, uplifting and even soulful music, which is all sung in the Quebecois language. Don't worry if you don't know the Quebecois language though. All of Genticorum's songs are prefaced with an English translation. For more information, please visit http://www.cssm.org/ or call 301-904-7303.

Leonardtown First Fridays
Great deals and an emphasis on local culture are at the forefront of Leonardtown First Fridays. Every month, Leonardtown businesses stay open late and offer their patrons special offers and experiences. Stroll the quaint streets of Leonardtown this Friday and discover the town's art galleries, restaurants, cafes, gift shops, antique stores and more! For more information, please visit http://www.leonardtownfirstfridays.com./

Political Memorabilia Exhibit
With the Presidential Inauguration approaching and the hope of change in the air, there's no better time to look back into America's political past! Visit the Piney Point Lighthouse, Museum and Historic Park on weekends through January 19 to see political relics ranging from Abraham Lincoln to our president elect, Barrack Obama. The exhibit includes posters, buttons, magazines, photographs, newspapers, White House Christmas cards, and more. For more information, please visit http://www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums/ or call 301-994-1471.