The Old Jail and Museum is one of four sites in St. Mary’s County on the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Learn about the plight of freedom seekers and their sometimes unsuccessful efforts to escape bondage.
Benjamin Hance was a young Black man who was killed by a white mob in Leonardtown before having the chance to stand trial for an alleged crime he was never convicted of. He is the only documented lynching victim in St. Mary’s County history. An exhibit about his account can be seen inside the museum in the very cell he was held before being killed, and a memorial marker stands on the ground outside of the jail memorializes his story and life. (Account from the St. Mary’s County Museum website)
The Old Jail Museum is also home to the official Leonardtown Visitor Center, where guests can find information regarding what there is to see, do, where to eat and stay in Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County and the wider Southern Maryland region. Brochures, pamphlets and more information is available. (Account from the St. Mary’s County Museum website)
