An interesting and unique historical landmark, just a few minutes from RT 4 in Saint Leonard, Md…read more This polling house was built in 1926 and residents voted here until 1974. The Garden of Remembrance honors all those held dear in the hearts of area residents. It also honors First Ladies Mrs. John Quincy Adams and Mrs. Zachary Taylor, who were related by birth or family ties to St. Leonard. Calvert County has, remarkably, retained four of its historic polling houses - Utilitarian in nature, these one-room structures served the county from the late 19th through the mid-20th century. Most had two doors so that voters could move easily in one door, cast their vote, and exit out the other. These structures have an important story to tell as the center of civic life. "These polling houses weren't segregated - Calvert County's black and white residents cast their votes together here. Following school integration in the 1960s, the polling houses were abandoned and voting often took place in schools." Oral histories document that these sites served as important centers of social as well as political activity, with oysters, crabcakes, and fried chicken being sold to hungry voters here on election day. Although the way in which we cast our vote may have changed, our responsibility has not. As you make your way to the polls this Election Day, remember the story of these humble landmarks....and then go get a crabcake! Location. 38° 28.266′ N, 76° 30.285′ W. Marker is in Saint Leonard, Maryland, in Calvert County. Marker is on St. Leonard Road (Maryland Route 765) 0.1 miles south of Calvert Beach Road, on the right when traveling south.

Since I live in Solomons, I should probably give it one star so as not to encourage tourists, who…read morebring traffic and noise and otherwise detract from my lifestyle. But that would not be honest, and if nothing else, I'm honest. Solomons, also known as Solomons Island, is an unincorporated community in Calvert County, Maryland. The population was 2,368 at the 2010 census, up from 1,536 at the 2000 census. Solomons is a popular weekend destination spot in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. It includes the mainland on the north side of the mouth of Patuxent River, where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. It is just across from the U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River (on the south side of the mouth of the Patuxent River). Originally called Bourne's Island (1680), then Somervell's Island (1740), Solomons takes its name from 19th century Baltimore businessman Isaac Solomon, who established a cannery there shortly after the Civil War. Solomon's home still stands on the front of the island. The area has been inhabited since colonial times. Solomons was a rather isolated boat-building town housing the University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, until 1977 when the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge was built. The bridge leads from just off Solomons Island proper to St. Mary's County and the Patuxent Naval Air Station. The town now welcomes tourists with numerous marinas, seafood restaurants, gift shops, a boardwalk, a sculpture garden, the Calvert Marine Museum where visitors can climb atop a former lighthouse, board harbor cruises, and hear occasional outdoor concerts by famous performers. Solomons also has three major hotels, a U.S. Navy family recreation center, and Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Chruch. The Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons is a Smithsonian-affiliated forested sculpture park where creations of Kenneth Snelson, George Rickey, Arnaldo Pomodoro and other major sculptors are on exhibit.

Picturesque inlet that's good for a nice waterfront stroll. Petty homes denote upscalia but besides…read morea summer concert series, dining and recreational options are limited which if you live here is music to your ears as swarming tourists are kept to a minimum. Five stars for the stroll.

I love "The Watch" statute. Very expressive, majestic, historical. When I was staying at Calvert…read moreMarina I came down every morning to say hello. And also enjoy the beautiful water surroundings.

The On Watch Monument is a little-known historical landmark at the end of the Dowell peninsula in…read moreSolomon's Maryland. It commemorates the highly important US Naval Amphibious training base that was located here between 1942 and 1945. Many Americans don't realize that our success in amphibious operations was directly attributable to all of those servicemen who were trained here at Solomon's Island. There is really no trace left of the base, but you can stop by and see the statue of the Sailor by sculptor Antonio Mendez. It's also a very beautiful location near where Back Creek joins the Patuxent River.

**As of February 2018** This place is not easily accessible anymore. First off, you cannot LEGALLY…read morepark under the railroad tracks/bridge area. It is clearly marked "No Standing Fire Lane". You can get a ticket or probably towed. There is no other parking for miles. We drove to the Patapsco State Park Avalon Entrance ($4 entry fee), then to "Lost Lake", where there is a trail called Grist Mill Trail. This trail will take you 2.5 miles into the park where it eventually meets Ilchester Rd (right near the hidden staircase to the ruins). After walking 2.5 miles there, we ran into construction signs and a closure near the Bloede's Dam. Because of the closure blocking the rest of the trail, the only way to get across is to travel down the steep woods and walk across the railroad bridge (cross at your own risk- there are active trains passing through that could kill you) to the other side where the ruins are. There is a scenic overlook in the trails near the Dam where you can get a better idea of how steep the woods are to get to the road. Other options may include crossing at the suspension walking bridge (called the Grist Mill Walking Bridge) which is about a mile from the ruins. I haven't seen anyone go this route, but the hiking is more difficult on the other side of the suspension bridge. It appears until the Dam construction is over, this place is going to continue to be very difficult to get to (unless you want to risk getting ticketed or towed). I hope once the construction clears up I will have another opportunity to see this place!

This is my favorite area in Patapsco state park, I've brought many friends and family here over the…read moreyears. It's beautiful, you can find the ruins of an old mining camp and religious boarding school here. There's even a decent spot to jump off the train tracks into the water below, although take care because the water can be shallow in spots.

Yes, the grounds are pretty. But a really important reason to visit is the story this place tells…read moreof enslaved people and their captors. Growing up in the South as a white person, I have been accustomed to historic plantations that allow visitors to share a romantic view of the "Old South." A view that ignores the ravages of slavery. In contrast, Sotterley has invested in presenting artifacts of its history with enslaved Africans, primarily through renovating a slave cabin. What is chilling is that a ship carrying people kidnapped from West Africa docked on the shores of Sotterley. The UN has designated it as a special cultural site because of this history. Learn more about the effort to present a true picture of life at the plantation in this article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/07/18/descendants-slaves-slave-owners-discover-legacy-marylands-sotterley-planation/

Historic Sotterley is a preserved plantation near the water in Hollywood, Maryland. Pre-pandemic,…read morethey offered ours, hosted weddings inside the historic home and taught classes for all ages. During the pandemic, these have been suspended, but you can still visit. There's a small parking lot and signs that guide you to the historic home, gardens and slave house. Like many plantations in this area, people were enslaved here. It's a tragic fact to know when you visit so you can mourn and grieve. It would be inappropriate to visit this place without knowing the tragedy of it and how it led to the systemic racism that sadly still exists today. May we all fight for justice for all!

i never knew this place existed, until i came here with my family to view the sunset. on a cold,…read morewinter day, where the winds gusted to at least 20-25 mph, my mother suggested that we all come here a little before sunset so that we could watch the sun drop into the bay together. i thought she was crazy...i mean, i live on the west coast, where a winter day is about 50-55 and generally clear, so i would have no issues standing outside for half an hour gazing into the horizon. but since this was our family reunion and we wanted to spend quality time together, all 6 members of my immediate family packed into the family van and drove 45 minutes to st. michael's to honour my mother's wish. this trip did not disappoint. even though we arrived about 20 minutes before the sunset, and it was even windier along this jetty, the sunset on this clear day was absolutely gorgeous. we took turns standing outside and staring at the sun and hiding inside the warm van to shield us from the cold and wind, but just a few minutes before the official sunset time, we all went outside, to the very edge of the jetty and watched an absolutely gorgeous sun drop into the bay. it was absolutely breathtaking watching the sky change from blue to yellow-orange to orange to red. even though it was a trek, and it was very cold and very windy, it was totally worth the trip to see this gorgeous sunset. so mom, i don't think you're crazy anymore, you are absolutely right, and i will keep in mind that the next time you ask me to do something to remember that "mother is always right."

Super cool landmark…read more As per the plaque: Constructed in 1860, the Gatehouse was designed by the Baltimore firm of Thomas and James M. Dixon. Built in Tudor Revival Style, it provided for two living units, one on each side of the archway. The Gatehouse resembled a Swiss chalet and became a trademark of the Sheppard. The neighborhood children viewed it as the home of Hansel and Gretel. A tenant alwavs lived in the Gatehouse until 2005. The beautiful Rhododendron Drive was historically entered by driving through the Gatehouse. In 2002 the entire Charles Street entrance was reconstructed and cars no longer entered through the Archway.

To start the young man at the front desk was very welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable. The…read moregrounds outside were well kept and extremely clean. Closed toed shoes for walking around the park is a must, I went unprepared with flip flops. The restrooms inside were also clean. There's a gift shop and a library as well. The exhibit was very well done and I absolutely loved how interactive it was, it's also handicap accessible and self guided! I definitely recommend checking out the wildlife drive across the street at blackwater refuge, we saw the statue of Harriet Tubman catching a muskrat to then seeing one at the refuge!

Beautifully done. This National Historical Park is well maintained and full of interactive…read moreexhibits. The space is handicap accessible and most exhibits include easy to read fonts and braille. I would definitely recommend this educational experience to learners of all ages.

the staff is friendly and really supportive. We only had pictures done here for our wedding but I…read morecan completely understand the appeal of hosting a special event/meal here. It's a wonderful location and just made for some great memories!

From the owner: Poplar Hill Mansion is a beautiful historic home. Salisbury, Maryland"s oldest home and first…read morehospital is now an historic house museum open to the public for free tours every Friday & Sunday 12-4 or by appointment any other day. Come learn about the first surgeon in Salisbury, Dr. John Huston, his family, and the enslaved people. See furnishings of the early 1800s, learn about medicine of the time period, and see the exhibits about life in the period of the nation's early history. It also provides affordable rates for private event rentals, and makes a beautiful setting for a wedding, birthday party, anniversary party, baby shower, and more!