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Historic Sotterley

Historic Sotterley Slave Cabin with mansion in the background

Historic Sotterley welcomes visitors to access and enjoy its grounds, gardens, trails, museum store and guided tours. 

Just a short drive from Washington, DC and Alexandria, Historic Sotterley boasts 94 acres of pristine farmland and over 20 authentic structures including an expansive Manor House and original slave dwelling, providing a stunning backdrop for our stories.

Through various methods and formats, visitors can engage and connect with the history of Historic Sotterley, Inc. On site, visitors can choose either a self-guided grounds tour or a guided one led by a docent; both of which will incorporate the histories of all the people of Sotterley – including land acknowledgement honoring the indigenous peoples, and stories of strength and resilience of the enslaved and African-Americans after emancipation. Virtual programming, available online, highlights the stories and work of Sotterley’s descendants and our Speaker Series videos.

Contact/Location

44300 Sotterley Lane Hollywood, MD 20636
38.376088, -76.5445881

https://sotterley.org/

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

Grounds are open Sunday-Saturday all year; Guided tours are available Thursday-Sunday starting the first weekend in May through October 31st.

 

Historic Sotterley is a UNESCO Middle Passage site.

 

Highlights

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

SOTTERLEY'S VISION: To foster a better understanding of our world today by providing a living link to America’s complex history and legacy of slavery.
SOTTERLEY'S MISSION: To preserve our historic structures and natural environment and use the powerful stories of our land, lives, and labor to bring American history to life while serving as an educational and cultural resource.

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

Sotterley’s Buildings

Description:
Sotterley's buildings include the manor house - The oldest parts of the manor house date back to 1703. The slave cabin was build in the 1830's and serves as a powerful reminder as to the reality of the history that took place at Sotterley and other plantations....
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action, Rural Life in Southern Maryland

Sotterley Social Media

Description:
Factoid Friday is an example of how Sotterley uses Social Media. Check out what factoid is being shared by going to their facebook page each Friday.
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action, Diversity in Southern Maryland, Indigenous People and Culture, Maritime Culture and History, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland, Science and Technology, Women’s History
Access:

Find Factoid Friday on Sotterley’s facebook page –

 

Sotterley’s Common Ground Symposia

Description:
Common Ground programming includes conversations with panels of Sotterley descendants and guest speakers and emphasizes Historic Sotterley’s Common Ground Initiative, whose mission is dedicated to uncovering and eradicating racism and discrimination in all forms....
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action, Diversity in Southern Maryland, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland
Access:

Common Ground programs are provided online and in person throughout the year.  Check the Sotterley website for upcoming events – Historic Sotterley Home – Sotterley

Sotterley Educational Programs

Description:
Sotterley provides extensive educational programming with more in development. See their website for more information on programming now being offered. At https://sotterley.org/?s=educationalprogrammingl+...
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action, Diversity in Southern Maryland, Maritime Culture and History, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland, Science and Technology, Women’s History
Access:

Educational Programming offered on site with advanced registration

Historic Sotterley Trails

Description:
Trails in and through Sotterley are part of many trail organizations, such as the Underground Railroad to Freedom Site. Informational signage can be found throughout the historic core and trails.  Contains information pertaining to the history and landscape of Sotterley.  Will soon expand to includ...
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Maritime Culture and History, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland, Women’s History
Access:

The Sotterley campus and its trails are open all of the time.

Sotterley Bitmoji

Description:
A Sotterley Bitmoji - Sites and organizations around St. Mary's County have created Bitmoji classrooms to showcase the local history resources they have available. Content aligns with 4th and 5th grade curriculum, but the sites have resources for students of all ages! (from St. Mary's County Local R...
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Themes:
People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland, Science and Technology
Access:

The Sotterley Bitmoji is online at

https://sites.google.com/view/smcbitmoji/st-marys-county-local-history-resources

Historic Sotterley Book: “Images of America: Sotterley Plantation”

Description:
Book: “Images of America: Sotterley Plantation” by Jeanne Pirtle former Director of Education at Historic Sotterley, tells the story of the plantation from the colonial period - 1699 - through 1961.
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland, Women’s History

Historic Sotterley Book: “George Plater of Sotterley”

Description:
The book "George Plater of Sotterley" tells the story of Plater, who lived at the same time as George Washington.  During the Revolution, he fought for the Patriot cause and became the 6th governor of Maryland. He was born at Sotterley and is buried there....
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Themes:
Civic Ideas and Action, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Women’s History
Access:

Book on sale at Sotterley and on Amazon.

Historic Sotterley Book: : “Sotterley: Her People and Their Worlds”

Description:
This book: “Sotterley: Her People and Their Worlds” provides a view of Sotterley from 1699 to 1961.
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Themes:
People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment
Access:

Available in Historic Sotterley’s gift shop and online on Amazon

Historic Sotterley

Description:
Historic Sotterley is a treasure. with a manor house, a slave cabin and 18 other buildings. More than just buildings and a beautiful setting, Sotterley and its staff and volunteers are committed to sharing their history from a fully inclusive perspective....
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action, Indigenous People and Culture, Maritime Culture and History, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland, Women’s History
Access:

Grounds are open year round;  Guided tours of the manor house and slave quarters available from the first weekend in May- October 31st on Thursdays-Sundays

Through various methods and formats, visitors can engage and connect with the history of Historic Sotterley, Inc. On site, visitors can choose either a self-guided grounds tour or a guided one led by a docent; both of which will incorporate the histories of all the people of Sotterley- including  land acknowledgement honoring the indigenous peoples, and stories of strength and resilience of the enslaved and African-Americans after emancipation.  Virtual programming, available online, highlights the stories and work of Sotterley’s descendants and our Speaker Series videos.

Website: https://sotterley.org/

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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Southern Maryland
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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