Museum matters

Here is what is happening at museums around Southern Maryland this week.

Charles

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Cindy Bliss, who will give a lecture titled “Veterans Bloom — Assist Veterans and Improve Health with Therapeutic Experience” 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc.

The Fairytale Museum is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 2935 Festival Way in Waldorf. The museum has interactive exhibits, birthday celebrations, literacy programs and etiquette activities. Admission is $12, free for adults with paid child. Call 844-722-4642 or go to www.fairytalemuseum.org.

The La Plata Firehouse Museum is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on selected dates. The museum is located at 3 Firehouse Alley in La Plata. For group visits, call Danielle Mandley at 301-934-8421 or historiclaplata@townoflaplata.org.

The La Plata Train Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on scheduled dates. The museum is located at 101 Kent Ave. in La Plata. Go to www.loc8nearme.com/maryland/la-plata/la-plata-train-station-museum/7300495/, or for group tours, call Danielle Mandley at 301-934-8421.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park is open noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday and by appointment, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Admission is $5, $2 for children, free for veterans and members. An individual membership is $25 while a family membership four 4 is $35. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays at 3725 Dr. Samuel Mudd Road in Waldorf. Admission is $10 for a house/farm tour. Call 301-645-6870 or go to https://drmudd.org/ or call 301-645-6870.

The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 36 is offering free assistance for claims support 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays at the Maryland Veteran’s Museum at Patriot’s Park, 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Appointments required. Call 202-531-0271.

The Historic McConchie One-School, which originally served African-American students exclusively, now serves as a living museum and is open for tours and periodically throughout the year to the public. The schoolhouse is located inside the Charles County Fairgrounds, 8440 Fairground Road in La Plata. Contact Edward Holland at 301-848-3476 or HistoricMcConchieSchool@gmail.com.

General William Smallwood’s Retreat House and Ground will be open on selected dates. The house is located inside Smallwood State Park, 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury. Call 301-743-3048 or 301-743-7613.

The Mount Carmel Monastery, which was established for the purpose of preserving the site of the first convent of religious women in the Thirteen Original Colonies is open 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 5678 Mt. Carmel Road in La Plata. There is also a gift shop. Go to www.restorersmtcarmelmd.org.

The Historic McConchie One-School committee is looking for school alumni and friends and relatives of alumni who are willing to be interviewed. The school is looking for experiences and plans to make a collection of videos after the rehabilitation to the school is completed. Contact Delores Walls at 301-932-5416 or akapc71@verizon.net.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host John Peter Thompson, who will give a lecture titled “Power Women 2” 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Donna Patterson, who will give a lecture titled “Snippets of Abraham Lincoln” 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Chuck Morrison, who will give a lecture titled “The Story of the Airplane on Display at Patriot Park” 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Gen. Mike Williams, who will give a lecture titled “The Command of Refugees Sent to Guantanamo Bay From Cuba and Haiti” 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host capt. Tom Frosh, who will give a lecture on “His Navy Career and Tour as Commander of the Blue Angels” 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Robert Sherretta, who will give a lecture titled “The American Revolution’s Critical Support Structure: Subterfuge, Shell Games, and Smuggling” 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Christopher T. George, who will give a lecture titled “Lt. Banastre Tarleton and the Battle of Cowpens, 1781” 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

St. Mary’s

Historic Sotterley is looking for helpers for its annual Growing for Good Volunteer Planting Days 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, March 23, March 30 and April 6, at 44300 Sotterley Lane in Hollywood. Help get seeds planted or cut and prep potatoes for planting. Hats, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray recommended. For ages 5 and older. Registration encouraged. Go to www.sotterley.org/events.

St. Clement’s Island Museum will host Maryland Day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at 38370 Point Breeze Road in Colton’s Point. Activities, exhibits, food truck and free admission and free water taxi rides. Go to www.Facebook.com/SCIMuseum.

The Patuxent Naval Air Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays at 22156 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park. The museum has exhibits, aircraft and a flight simulator. Call 301-863-1900 or go to www.paxmuseum.com.

The U.S. Colored Troops Interpretive Center is located in Lexington Manor Passive Park at 21675 S. Coral Drive in Lexington Park. The center explores the profound and significant contributions of African Americans in St. Mary’s Count including the two medal of honor winners who served in the 38th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops and fought for the Union during the Civil War. Another exhibit has information on the segregated school system in St. Mary’s County, including details on the Drayden African American Schoolhouse. On the trail between the Interpretive Center and John G. Lancaster Park, learn about African American troops and the Civil War era in St. Mary’s County on informational panels leading to the U.S. Colored Troops Memorial Statue. The center is open by appointment only. Go to www.Facebook.com/SCIMuseum.

The St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation & Parks’ Museum Division reminds visitors that the St. Clements Island Museum, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Old Jail Museum are open year-round 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The St. Clements water taxi runs March 24 through Oct. 31. The Old Jail Museum is open to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Leonardtown’s First Fridays and has no admission. Museums are closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Call 240-925-3427 or go to www.Museums.StMarysMD.com.

Calvert

Calvert Marine Museum will host its Society Otter Trot 5K at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 23. The cost is $40. Proceeds will go toward building a new enclosure for the otters. The run is part of the Ottermania! celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Hang out with the otter mascots, discover how otters stay warm, explore other adaptations that help otters survive, and complete an “otterly” awesome craft. Included with museum admission. Free for members. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center will hold show its Swirl and Swoosh: Celebrating the Work of Mary Blumberg exhibit through March 30, at 13470 Dowell Road in Solomons. Blumberg, who taught art at Annmarie Gardens, died in 2019 of ALS. The exhibit will run through March 30. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Go to www.annmariegarden.org.

Calvert Marine Museum will host Spring Break programming: Chesapeake Ospreys 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 27. Discover fun facts and create a kite while supplies last. For ages 5 to 10. Included with museum admission. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host Spring Break programming: Chesapeake Blue crabs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 28. Discover fun facts and create a kite while supplies last. For ages 5 to 10. Included with museum admission. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host Spring Break programming: Chesapeake Watershed 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 29. Watch a demonstration about rainfall runoff and learn how to keep the waters of the bay healthy. For ages 5 to 10. Included with museum admission. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host Spring Break programming: Fossil egg hunt 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 30. Look for eggs with real fossils hidden around the museum and receive fossil identification guides. For ages 3 to 10. Registration required. Included with museum admission. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum will hold Horticulture Helpers 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. Work with the horticulture staff on different projects. Tools provided and no experience needed. For ages 16 and older, ages 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Go to https://jefpat.maryland.gov/.

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum will host MAC Lab Tours 1 to 2 p.m. Thursdays. See Maryland’s archaeological curation, conservation and research lab, which is home to more than 10 million archaeological artifacts from across the state. Drop-ins are welcome but registration is encouraged. Go to jefpat.maryland.gov.

The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum is open 1 to 4 p.m. daily. The museum is located at 4155 Mears Ave. In Chesapeake Beach. Call 410-257-3892 or go to www.chesapeakebeachrailwaymuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host an exhibit titled “Backyard Ballads” through December 2024. The micro exhibit will inspire visitors to engage in citizen science by learning how to create a welcoming bird habitat in their own yard, as well as learning how to identify our native bird species. Included with museum admission. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host guided bird walks at 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., noon and 12:45 p.m. Monday, March 25. See different species of birds. Space is limited. Included with museum admission. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.