This Maryland Town Is Older Than the State Itself

Nearly 400 years ago, 140 colonists set off across the Atlantic Ocean on board the Ark and her sister ship, the Dove. Their three-month journey brought them to southern Maryland, where they established the fourth permanent English settlement in America — Maryland’s first city and colonial capital, St Mary’s City. Centuries later, the town is now one of Maryland’s top tourist attractions. Painstakingly restored, the settler village is a living history museum and archaeological research area. It’s also home to the liberal arts college, St Mary’s College of Maryland.

A truly unique destination, St Mary’s City gives visitors the chance to immerse themselves in 17th-century life. They can explore the ships that ferried passengers to the New World, learn the plantation skills that kept them alive, and explore historic landmarks like the first state capitol building. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind vacation in this historic town that preserves and brings to life a key era in the nation’s founding.

The Early Years of St Mary’s City

Present-day Maryland has its roots in 17th-century England, the home of aristocrat George Calvert. A devout Catholic, Calvert became disenchanted with his home country following the Protestant Reformation. Seeking a haven of religious freedom, he gained a land grant from King Charles I in 1631 to establish a new colony overseas.

Calvert died before he could see his dream come to life, but his son, Leonard, was among the colonists on the Dove and the Ark, which landed on St Clement’s Island in 1634. The expedition eventually settled south in the area now known as St Mary’s City, initially cohabiting with the Yaocomaco Indians who traded with the new residents. This early cooperation was crucial, and the Yaocomaco agreed to let the colonists build temporary shelters while they cleared their own land, an act that helped the settlement survive its first difficult years.

St. Mary's City was the seat of the colonial government until 1708, when it was moved to Annapolis. While life at the time was difficult, the colony thrived thanks to its lucrative tobacco plantations. The town also became one of the first places in English America where religious toleration was formally practiced, following the 1649 Maryland Toleration Act. By the time the Revolutionary War broke out, the settlement was well established, and many men helped defend the area from attacks by the British Navy, which was assaulting the coastline.

No Civil War battles took place in St Mary’s County, but the area wasn’t unaffected by the conflict. During the war years, smugglers often used the area as a safe passage from south to north, and, later, a military hospital and prisoner of war camp were established nearby. The war also brought economic hardship, prompting many to leave and forcing the remaining residents to diversify into fishing and other industries.

Restoring St Mary’s City

As people moved from the site of the original colony into the surrounding areas of St Mary’s County, the settlement itself became largely abandoned until the late 1960s, when historians set about creating a museum on the site, which covers over 800 acres and is now known as Historic St Mary’s City. In 1969, St Mary’s City was officially declared a National Historic Landmark, and, in 1971, a formal archaeology program was launched to uncover the foundations of original buildings that were left to decay.

From there, St Mary’s City steadily expanded to become a fully equipped 17th-century village with a mix of reconstructed and recreated period buildings, including a chapel, print house, hamlet, plantation, and state house, as well as a replica of the colonist’s sailing ship called The Maryland Dove. Archaeologists have uncovered more than one million artifacts here, from pottery shards to tools, making it one of the richest colonial-era dig sites in the country.

Things to Do in St Mary’s City

Beyond its remarkable history and carefully restored village, St Mary’s City is also a place where visitors can actively explore and experience the past through hands-on exhibits, living history programs, and unique attractions scattered across its grounds. St Mary’s City Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from March through November, but you can walk the grounds year-round. Entry costs $10 for adults, while children under five years old enter for free.

Start your visit at the Visitor Center, where you can view a short, introductory video and pick up a guide and map. The property is very pedestrian-friendly with accessible walkways between exhibits so you can wander around and enjoy the sights. Be sure to stop at the reconstructed State House, modelled on the 1676 original. The building is often used for special events such as mock trials and demonstrations. Marking St Mary’s history as a safe haven for religious freedom, the 1667 Brick Chapel is another must-see. The church’s Lead Coffin Exhibit allows visitors to see the original lead coffin coverings of three 17th-century colonists.

Get a taste of life on the farm at the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation, where you can meet the farm animals, browse the heirloom gardens, and see the working homestead brought to life by actors in period dress. Regular plantation demonstrations include hearth cooking, woodworking, and herb gardening. Head to the scenic waterfront to climb aboard The Maryland Dove. This stunning replica is a tall working ship built by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is open to the public to explore above and below decks. Get the true 17th-century sailing experience on one of the trips the Dove offers each year when it takes to the water for living history tours.

St Mary’s City Events and Festivals

St Mary’s City is a busy place with events happening regularly throughout the season and during holidays. On Maryland Day on 25th March, there is free admission to the museum, which hosts a full schedule of demonstrations and workshops celebrating the history and heritage of the state. Shakespeare comes to town in the summer with Shakespeare in the City, an annual event that sees one of the bard’s plays performed by local troupe the Newtowne Players. The play, which was The Taming of the Shrew for the 2025 season, is performed on the lawn of the reconstructed State House.

The museum celebrates Indigenous Heritage Day in September, honouring Native American culture with demonstrations at the Woodland Indian Hamlet. Visitors can watch music and dance performances, participate in traditional skills workshops, and see a dramatic canoe burning. Several Halloween events take place in October, including a trick or treat costume parade in the town centre and a Halloween workshop for preschoolers that involves making spooky-themed crafts, songs, and stories.

In December, the village plays host to ‘Frost Fair’. This holiday market commemorates the long-standing tradition, begun in London in the 17th century, of setting up a market on London’s River Thames when it froze for the winter. The event features local vendors, entertainment, food, and holiday light displays.

Maryland Memories

Birthplace of Maryland, the fourth English settlement in America, and a vision of religious freedom, St Mary’s City is a very special place. It’s easy to see why Calvert and his group decided to settle here, finding an idyllic setting framed by the calm waters of the St Mary’s River and the rugged cliffs of Church Point. Steeped in history, heritage, and natural charms, St Mary’s City is a Maryland must-see. Today, it stands not only as a reminder of the state’s beginnings but also as a vibrant place where history continues to be discovered and shared with every visitor.