St. Mary's County Maryland Visitor Guide 2025 - Magazine - Page 19
PAG
H I SET O
T IRY
TLE
Learning
F ROM O U R PA ST
HISTORIC SOTTERLEY
H
ear the echoes of 300 years of stories at Sotterley, the only
former Tidewater plantation in Maryland open to the public.
Designated as a UNESCO Site of Memory for the Routes of Enslaved
Peoples, this National Historic Landmark overlooking the Patuxent
River invites visitors to step back in time to truly understand America’s
complex history. The well-preserved historic structures and grounds
tell powerful accounts of the land, lives, and labor of Sotterley’s past.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE:
Tour the expansive 18th-century Manor
House before walking down the hill to
the 1830s Slave Cabin exhibit. Duck your
head as you enter the small structure and
learn about the families who lived there.
Take a moment to gaze up the hill and
consider the stark comparison between
the two living quarters.
18
VISIT ST. MARY’S MARYLAND
Consider views of life at Sotterley from
the perspective of the workers, both
enslaved and free, in the "Land, Lives,
and Labor" exhibit in and around the
Corn Crib. The exhibit includes written
accounts, oral histories, and interactive
hands-on features as well as a display
of historic tools and equipment used to
work the grounds at Sotterley.
Reflect on what you’ve learned during
your visit while admiring the lush Colonial
Revival Gardens maintained by the
Historic Sotterley Garden Guild or while
exploring over six miles of trails offering a
mix of woodland and water views.
