Museum matters

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

Charles

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 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 for four is $35. Go to www.mdvets.cc/.

The Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum is open 1 p.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.

St. Mary’s

Historic St. Mary’s City will hold its adult-only Sin & Scandal tours June 21-22. There are two tours each day. Space is limited. Must be 18 years of age or older. The cost is $20, $15 for members. Contact 301-994-4371 or hsmcc.groups@maryland.gov.

St. Mary’s County Museum Division will host a dinner cruise 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 23. The topic is Inside Blackistone Lighthouse. Part of the 2024 Dinner and Cruise Series. Tickets are $85, or $160 per couple and include boat ride, water tour, dessert reception and seafood dinner. Call 301-769-2222 or go to www.eventbrite.com.

Drayden African American Schoolhouse will host a free open house 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at 18287 Cherryfield Road in Drayden. Learn about one of the nation’s best-preserved one-room African American schoolhouses and its rich history and importance to education in St. Mary’s County. Go to www.Facebook.com/DraydenSchool.

St. Mary’s County Museum Division will host a dinner cruise 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 21. The topic is The Piscataway. Part of the 2024 Dinner and Cruise Series. Tickets are $85, or $160 per couple and include boat ride, water tour, dessert reception and seafood dinner. Call 301-769-2222 or go to www.eventbrite.com.

Piney Point Lighthouse Museum will host Beach Combing noon to 1:30 p.m. for families and 2 to 3:30 p.m. for adults Saturday, Aug. 10, at 44720 Lighthouse Road in Piney Point. Part of the Nature & Forest Play for All Ages Series encouraging discovery of nature through experiences. Included with museum admission. Registration encouraged. Go to www.museums.stmarysmd.com.

Historic St. Mary’s City is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 18751 Hogaboom Lane in St. Mary’s City. Learn about Maryland’s history while visiting the Woodland Indian Hamlet, the reconstructed Town Center, the Maryland Dove and the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation through the visitor center, historic interpreters, and walking paths. Admission is free for seniors ages 65 and older on the first Thursday of the month. Go to www.HSMCdigshistory.org.

Historic St. Mary’s City will hold Blue Star Museums through Labor Day. The program offers free admission to active duty personnel and their families. Go to https://www.arts.gov/.

St. John’s Site Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 47645 Margaret Brent Way in Historic St. Mary’s City. See an archaeological treasure trove of artifacts and information located on the original site of the home, which was built in 1638 by John Lewger, a close friend of Lord Baltimore. Also view a fully open excavated site, learn about the people who made their mark here and how archaeologists uncovered the mystery. A free exhibit of Historic St. Mary’s City. Go to www.hsmcdigshistory.org/exhibits/st-johns-site-museum/.

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.

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.

Calvert

Calvert Marine Museum will open Lore Oyster House on select dates through June. The 1934 seafood packing house offers exhibits that explore all aspects of oyster processing. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will open the grounds of the Cove Point Lighthouse 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays through June. The beach will not be open. No admission required. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will offer public cruises aboard the Wm. B. Tennison 2 p.m. June 21-23. Limited space. Tickets are $9, $5 for ages 12 and younger. Registration required. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host toy boat building 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 22, on a first-come, first-served basis. Space and materials are limited. For ages 5 and older. Requested donation is $2. Museum admission applies. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host Sunday Afternoons with Poppie 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 23. Visit with the museum’s Virginia Opossum, join the Poppie paparazzi in the museum lobby with an interpreters and learn possum facts. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will offer public cruises aboard the Wm. B. Tennison 2 p.m. June 26-30. Limited space. Tickets are $9, $5 for ages 12 and younger. Registration required. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.

Calvert Marine Museum will host a concert by Boyz II Men 7 p.m. Friday, June 28. will perform Friday, June 28. Tickets are $59-$99. Call 410-326-2042, Ext. 8063, or 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’s Cove Point Lighthouse will be open 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout May. Explore the base of the tower, and learn about the history of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.