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St. Mary’s County Museum Division

St. Clements Island – picture by Conni Leigh James at Unique Designz

The St. Mary’s County Museum Division was established by the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County to collect, preserve, research and interpret the historic sites and artifacts which illustrate the natural and cultural histories of St. Mary’s County and the Potomac River. These sites include St. Clement’s Island Museum, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, the Old Jail Museum and the Drayden African American Schoolhouse. With this as its charter, the Museum Division serves as a resource, liaison and community advocate for all St. Mary’s County public and private cultural assets.

This organization provides information and resources regarding the history of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color through exhibits and interpretive panels at the Museum Division sites.

Contact/Location

38370 Point Breeze Rd. Colton’s Point, MD 20626
: 240-925-0293

https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/recreate/Museums/

Hours of Operation

Visitor Center

Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm

Offices and MAC

Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm

Park Grounds

7 days a week, dawn to dusk

Open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Highlights

Provides information and resources regarding the history of Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color in a variety of formats:

The Friends of the St. Clement's Island and Piney Point Museums raise funds to support historical interpretation, education programs and special needs of the sites managed by the Museum Division of St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks. The Friends organization is a 501(c) 3 organization sponsoring events, assisting with acquisitions and supporting efforts to broaden the understanding of our culture and community's heritage.

Archaeological sites with interpretive panels. These sites and panels are accessible on Park trails.

FAQ Archaeology Exhibit in the Visitor’s Center includes segments on pre-contact period sites and on Sukeek’s Cabin site.

JPPM Library has over 15,000 titles relating to all aspects of Maryland’s history. Books do not circulate, but an online catalog is available. Southern Maryland Regional Files are also housed in the MAC Lab.

Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab has over 10 million artifacts spanning from 10,000 years ago until the early-mid 20th century. Portions available online; physical access upon request during MAC Lab hours. Qualifying institutions can borrow artifacts for display or study.

Audio and transcripts of oral histories of local Black families. Available upon request.

Portraits, daguerreotypes, and primary documents of local Black families. Available to view upon request.

Through Ebony Eyes digital exhibit can be viewed on large screendisplay.

Field trip programs for school age children on rural life and sharecropping are scheduled through the Education Department.

Park-wide special events like Discovering Archaeology Day and American Indian Heritage Day are free and open to the public.

Educators, docents, and archaeologists give tours, talks, and participate in outreach programs upon request.

JPPM hosts Calvert County’s NAACP Family and Community Day each June

Explore Resources

Imprisonment of Abolitionist Milly Cooper

Description:
Milly Cooper was charged with harboring a freedom seeker and convicted on September 1, 1828.
Read More
Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action

Lynching of Benjamin Hance

Description:
Benjamin Hance, a young African American, was arrested May 27, 1887, taken to jail in Leonardtown and lynched on the night of June 17th.
Read More
Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action

English settlers negotiated for a permanent settlement

Description:
The settlers landed on St. Clement's Island on March 25,1634, and then met with the Piscataway for a permanent settlement area.
Read More
Themes:
Civic Ideas and Action, Indigenous People and Culture

First Meeting Exhibit

Description:
Exhibits – First meeting of the English settlers and the Indigenous People.
Read More
Themes:
Indigenous People and Culture
Access:

The museums are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. The Museum Division Collections are available to the public by appointment with the Museum Collections Manager and St. Clement’s Island Museum Site Supervisor, Christina Barbour (301) 769-4723

St. Clements Island Museum

38370 Point Breeze Rd.

Colton’s Point, MD 20626

More information at

 

Contact Us – St. Mary’s County, MD (stmaryscountymd.gov)

Golden’s Hotel Photos

Description:
Photos – Golden’s Hotel an African American hotel in Colton’s Point, MD. Photos were taken by African American photographer Robert H. McNeill.
Read More
Themes:
African American People and Culture
Access:

The museums are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. The Museum Division Collections are available to the public by appointment with the Museum Collections Manager and St. Clement’s Island Museum Site Supervisor, Christina Barbour (301) 769-4723

St. Clements Island Museum

38370 Point Breeze Rd.

Colton’s Point, MD 20626

More information at

Contact Us – St. Mary’s County, MD (stmaryscountymd.gov)

Drayden One-Room Schoolhouse

Description:
Historical Structure - Drayden African American Schoolhouse in Drayden Maryland. 
Read More
Themes:
African American People and Culture
Access:
18287 Cherryfield Road, Drayden, MD 20630
The schoolhouse is open by appointment – Site Supervisor, Ken Burke (301) 997-3751

A print of Cathay Williams Female Buffalo Soldier

Description:
Archives – A print of Cathay Williams Female Buffalo Soldier by the noted African American artist, John Will Davis. 
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Women’s History
Access:

The museums are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. The Museum Division Collections are available to the public by appointment with the Museum Collections Manager and St. Clement’s Island Museum Site Supervisor, Christina Barbour (301) 769-4723

St. Clements Island Museum

38370 Point Breeze Rd.

Colton’s Point, MD 20626

More information at

Contact Us – St. Mary’s County, MD (stmaryscountymd.gov)

 

 

Archives – Graves Hotel in Colton’s Point, MD

Description:
A postcard of the hotel and items from the Graves Hotel, an African American hotel in Colton Point.
Read More
Themes:
African American People and Culture

Archaeology – Newtown Archaeological Collection

Description:
Archaeology – Newtown Archaeological Collection representing Indigenous people and culture from the archaic and woodland period.
Read More
Themes:
Indigenous People and Culture
Access:

The museums are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. The Museum Division Collections are available to the public by appointment with the Museum Collections Manager and St. Clement’s Island Museum Site Supervisor, Christina Barbour  (301) 769-4723

St. Clements Island Museum

38370 Point Breeze Rd.

Colton’s Point, MD 20626

Contact Us – St. Mary’s County, MD (stmaryscountymd.gov)

Archaeology – Abell’s Wharf Archaeological Collection

Description:
Archaeology – Abell’s Wharf Archaeological Collection at the St. Clements Island Museum.  Indigenous people and culture from the archaic and woodland period.
Read More
Themes:
Indigenous People and Culture
Access:

The museums are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. The Museum Division Collections are available to the public by appointment with the Museum Collections Manager and St. Clement’s Island Museum Site Supervisor, Christina Barbour  (301) 769-4723

St. Clements Island Museum

38370 Point Breeze Rd.

Colton’s Point, MD 20626

Contact Us – St. Mary’s County, MD (stmaryscountymd.gov)

Timeframe:

Early to mid-20th century

Themes:

African American People and Culture, Indigenous People and Culture, Diversity in Southern Maryland, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Women’s History

Access:

During open hours for JPPM Visitor Center: Wed-Sunday, 10am-4pm. Contact Visitor Center at [email protected] or 410-586-8538.

Description:

Located at the Visitor Center, this exhibit shows a number of archaeological artifacts from across the state of Maryland, with detailed panels on a pre-contact period site (and its environment) and on the Sukeek’s Cabin site.

Visit Website

faq archaeology

Item #1

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Equity in History Coalition

The Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition is a transformative collaboration of local organizations and educational institutions, committed to elevating the history of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in our region.

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Maryland Heritage Areas Authority
This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
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