Dear Dr. Debbie,
We’ve lived in Annapolis for several years and with our children now 5, 7, and 9 years-old it’s high time we take advantage of the history this area has to offer. Any recommendations of child-friendly sites to explore this spring?
Tourists at Home
Dear TaH,
Perfect timing. It’s almost Maryland Day Weekend! The establishment of the first English colony in Maryland on March 25, 1633 is cause for reflection and celebration each year. Local museums, historic homes, parks, and other sites will welcome visitors for $1 or free for special activities this coming weekend. Don’t worry about trying to take it all in at once, these sites have been around for a long time and will still be around after the weekend is over.
Natural History
Does your family enjoy spending time in nature? Besides the Chesapeake Bay, this area has plenty to offer for a family outing in the great outdoors. Take a guided hike at Bacon Ridge in Crownsville or just explore the trail on your own. The Marsh Boardwalk at Jug Bay Wetlands offers an easy walk through the forest to the open water where osprey dive for fish. The Magothy Greenway Natural Area in Pasadena and the Patuxent River Greenway Oxbow Natural Area in Laurel are also good for hiking. Pack a lunch so you don’t have to rush.
Southern Anne Arundel County is home to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center which has miles of hiking trails and as well as exhibits in the Woodlawn History Center that share the site’s history through the eyes of indigenous, enslaved and free people.
A Scavenger Hunt is being sponsored by Unity Gardens, a nonprofit that funds native plants in public green spaces. Play the ‘I Spy’ Scavenger Hunt Photo Contest by tagging UNITY GARDENS on your Maryland Day Facebook photos of yourselves next to Unity Gardens signs at any of the 11 Maryland Day locations that have them. On Instagram tag your photo with #NativesofAnneArundel. The winner of the contest will receive 4 tickets for an Annapolis Maritime Cruise aboard the Wilma Lee skipjack.
Native American History
The Museum of Historic Annapolis in downtown Annapolis shares the story of the earliest people in this region before the arrival of Europeans in the 1600s. Algonquian-speaking Native American people made seasonal camps along the Severn River. For thousands of years fishing and hunting were basic components of human life. Artifacts exhibited here include projectile points, a grooved axe, and pottery sherds, some dating as far back as 3000 BCE.
An exhibit at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has artifacts that tell the story of Native American use of this site as hunting and fishing grounds along with the broader history of Native Americans in Maryland from prehistory through colonial contact and up to the present.
A lift-the-flap sign and a field guide at Chesapeake Children’s Museum honor the first human inhabitants by detailing the plant foods they depended on for survival and that can still be found in the park. Museum admission is just $1 per person this weekend.
A new exhibit at Historic London Town and Gardens describes the native people living in the area when the colonists arrived. The Kuethe Library in Glen Burnie will have research assistants on hand this weekend to help you further explore Native American history.
Colonial and Revolutionary History
If you’re interested in the history that created our country, you’ll find several sites in downtown Annapolis: the Charles Carroll House, the Hammond-Harwood House, the Chase-Lloyd House, the William Paca House and Garden, Hogshead and the Waterfront Warehouse.
Learn a bit about how government works at the Maryland State House on State Circle, first under construction in 1772. This building is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use with many exhibits, memorials, and historic documents.
Annearrundell Free School in Davidsonville gives a glimpse into education from 300 years ago. Paper was scarce so students used slates and chalk. The site houses artifacts found on the property and toys that children might have played with long ago. Nearby in Gambrills, authentically costumed guides will give you a tour of Historic Linthicum Walks. And costumed historic interpreters at Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater will give you insights into this once bustling port and share their pride in the restored gardens.
Maritime History
Hop aboard Pride of Baltimore (built to resemble an 1812-era clipper) at Annapolis City Dock for a tour by its crew. While you’re at City Dock stop in at the Visit Annapolis kiosk to make the most of your time taking in local places of interest. Visit the Annapolis Maritime Museum in Eastport to learn about the Annapolis area’s maritime heritage and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. The Seafarers Yacht Club, also in Eastport, opens its doors to all this weekend to share its role in supporting African Americans on the water.
African American History
We have the state’s African American History museum right in downtown Annapolis. The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum is open Friday and Saturday, with a children’s activity planned for Saturday afternoon. Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman are important Marylanders to know. The Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center is open on Sunday afternoon so you have a chance to learn why we have a middle school by this name. Stick around for a concert at 2 pm featuring a song from 1860 that celebrates emancipation from slavery.
Also in Annapolis, Chesapeake Children’s Museum presents speakers on Saturday from the family members of the Annapolis Five who bravely protested discrimination back in 1964 with a lunch counter Sit-In. Visitors can make their own protest signs with materials provided.
How about some sports history? Check out Wilson Park and the Hot Sox Field to learn about Henry Wilson, a formerly enslaved man, and his family. This property served Negro League Baseball as the home field for the renowned Galesville Hot Sox from the early to mid-20th century. While you’re in the neighborhood, stop at the Historic Galesville Community Center for more local African American history.
Find more details, and more sites to visit now or in the future, at the official website for Maryland Day 2025.
Dr. Debbie
Write your question to Dr. Debbie! Please include age(s) of your child(ren) and other details about the situation or concern.
Deborah Wood, Ph.D. is a child development specialist and founding director of Chesapeake Children’s Museum, located at 25 Silopanna Road in Annapolis.
The museum is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Online reservations are available or call: 410-990-1993. Each Thursday there is a guided nature walk at 10:30 am. Art and Story Times with Mrs. Spears and Puppy the Puppet are on Monday mornings at 10:30 am.
