Discover Rich Heritage & Natural Beauty
Discover Rich Heritage & Natural Beauty
Did you know that you might find a 23-million-year-old Megalodon tooth on a Southern Maryland Beach? Calvert Cliffs State Park, Chesapeake Beach, Purse State Park, and Flag Ponds Nature Park are only a few of the many Southern Maryland locations that boast amazing fossil hunting.
Learn about the native peoples of Maryland. The Piscataway Conoy Tribe and the Piscataway Indian Nation are still a vital part of the Southern Maryland community, recognized by the State of Maryland, and holding events throughout the year!
Southern Maryland is where Maryland began! On March 25, 1634 the English ships, the Ark and Dove arrived with settlers (a carefully selected group of Catholics and Protestants) and landed at St. Clements Island in St. Mary’s County, marking Maryland’s beginning.
Maryland’s early years were fraught with tension over the differing religious beliefs of its founders, its colonists, and the English government. In an effort to maintain the peace and attract colonists of differing religious beliefs Lord Baltimore adopted a policy of freedom of belief and worship for all who settled in the colony.
Southern Maryland is the home of the first person of African descent to be elected to and serve in a legislature in America. His name was Mathias de Sousa and he was one of the original colonists to arrive on the Ark in 1634. Southern Maryland is also the place where Josiah Henson was enslaved, and the place of brutality he wrote about in his later autobiography, which became the basis for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”
Southern Maryland was one of the most affected regions of the country during the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, which lasted from 1812 to 1815. This was not the only war to affect the region. Southern Maryland was greatly affected by the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I and World War II.
Agriculture and maritime culture shape the cultural landscape of Southern Maryland. The importance of the land and sea is everywhere in this region. You can explore farms that go back to the foundation of Maryland, take a ride on a historic skipjack, or eat oysters or a crab fresh from the morning’s catch. This region has a natural beauty that will stay with you long after your visit.