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At the Crossroads of Conflict In the spring of 1861, as the Civil War broke out and divided the nation, Maryland braced itself for battle. Living near the Potomac River, the conflict’s pivotal border between North and South, Maryland’s citizens would witness the brutality of the war firsthand. The long clash engulfed homes, towns and livelihoods, leaving its mark here and in the area’s many battlefields. Local citizens, though divided by conviction, were united by[...]

Find key locations where freedom stories began throughout Southern Maryland’s scenic, rural landscape, and embark on a self-guided walking tour of the Annapolis Historic District.

In September 1862, General Robert E. Lee moved his Confederate army into Maryland, hoping that a military victory on Union soil would gain foreign support for the Southern cause. Lee’s ensuing campaign came to a head with the Battle of Antietam. White’s Ferry to Frederick Including MD 107, MD 109, MD 28, MD 355, MD 85, MD 80 & I-70 Confederate soldiers forded the Potomac River and entered Maryland near White’s Ferry. Cavalries then clashed[...]

Food just tastes better when you dine on the water! Whether you are arriving via sailboat, powerboat or car, there’s something special about dining on the water. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries provide endless options ranging from urban dining in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and hip and historic Annapolis to waterside dining along the many rivers, creeks and inlets that make up the Chesapeake Bay. Here a few options to make your mouth water. Baltimore[...]

The experience of outdoor movies allows viewers to enjoy food, drink and good company in a variety of casual settings while seeing the stars "under the stars." Here are locations in Maryland that offer outdoor movies, many of them are free. In some instances, viewers can purchase food and drink on-site. Please check individual location websites before heading out for the most up-to-date information. EASTERN SHORE Movies on the Beach Families can gather for a[...]

Journey back to the pivotal days of the War of 1812, also called “America’s Second War of Independence.” Visit charming Southern Maryland towns, the thriving and scenic Baltimore Harbor, and sites surrounding the nation’s capital that were critical in defending America’s fledgling independence. As fighting continued throughout the summer of 1814, Maryland’s brave defenders not only stood strong against British invaders up and down the Chesapeake Bay, but also inspired the poem that would become[...]

Travel along tree-lined backroads and through the rolling farmland of Southern Maryland—the cradle of American religious liberty—where historic churches stand as powerful reminders of the nation's earliest quest for freedom of worship. Along the way, take in the charm of red-brick colonial homes and historic estates, punctuated by the backdrop of the Potomac River. To board a tiny ship and set sail across the broad unknown of the Atlantic, Maryland’s first English colonists must surely[...]

The Maryland Folk Festival Make your plans now to join us in Salisbury, Maryland, for the Maryland Folk Festival— a diverse celebration of arts, culture, and heritage. This large-scale multi-day outdoor event, celebrates the roots, richness and variety of American culture. It features hundreds of the nation’s finest musicians, dancers, craftspeople and other keepers of culture in performances, workshops, and demonstrations, plus children’s activities, non-stop participatory dancing, storytelling, parades, and more. Best of all, it’s[...]