St Marys CityOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

Maryland's Founding and Religious Tolerance

St. Mary's City was established in March 1634 by English colonists under Leonard Calvert. It became Maryland's first capital and the fourth permanent English settlement in the United States. George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, initiated the colony as a place for people of all Christian faiths to practice freely, a contrast to the religious conflicts in 17th-century Europe. His son, Cecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, sent the expedition, which included English and Irish settlers, along with Jesuit missionaries.

The settlers first landed on St. Clement's Island in March 1634, where the first Roman Catholic Mass in English America was celebrated. They then moved to the site of St. Mary's City, purchasing land from the Yoacomaco (Yaocomaco) Native Americans. The Yoacomaco, preparing to move north, allowed the colonists to use their existing homes, known as witchotts or longhouses, for their first winter. This early cooperation helped the colony survive.

Capital Relocation and Rediscovery

St. Mary's City developed into a tobacco colony and served as Maryland's capital for 61 years, until 1695. In 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act was passed here, ensuring religious freedom and equality for Trinitarian Christians. The town was planned in the 1660s with a Baroque-inspired layout, placing the State House and the principal chapel at opposite ends of two intersecting triangles, symbolizing the separation of church and state. However, the town developed as a mix of dwellings and taverns.

After political and sectarian tensions increased, the capital moved to Annapolis in 1695. St. Mary's City declined, its buildings were dismantled, and the land became farmland, primarily for tobacco. For over two centuries, the site was largely forgotten, its history buried under agricultural fields. Artifacts routinely surfaced under farmers' plows, indicating the lost city. In the 1960s, St. Mary's City was recognized as a part of Maryland's and the nation's history, leading to its designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1969. Archaeological excavations began in 1971 and continue today, revealing the original city's layout and the lives of its early inhabitants.

• —St. Mary's Fort Site — This area marks the location of the original colonial fort established in 1634. Archaeological work here has uncovered evidence of the early settlement, including defensive structures and daily life items.
• —The Maryland Dove Landing — See a replica of the Maryland Dove, one of the two ships that brought the first English settlers to Maryland in 1634. Visitors can board the ship to experience a 17th-century tall ship and learn about the Atlantic journey.
• —Town Center Archaeological Site — This area was the center of St. Mary's City. Ongoing archaeological digs reveal the foundations of early buildings, including Leonard Calvert's House, Smith's Ordinary (an inn), and William Nuthead's Print House. Visitors can see the results of decades of research.
• —St. John's Site — This site preserves the foundation of a 17th-century building and shows how researchers use historical and archaeological evidence to reconstruct the past. The St. John's Site Museum offers exhibits on these findings.
• —The Old State House (replica) — This reconstruction stands on or near the original site of Maryland's first capitol building, built in 1676. It housed the colonial assembly and provincial courts, reflecting the administrative center of the early colony.
• —The Brick Chapel of 1667 (replica) — This reconstruction stands on the original foundation of Maryland's first major all-brick Catholic church. It represents the religious freedom sought by the early colonists and shows 17th-century ecclesiastical architecture.
• —Monument to Religious Freedom — This monument commemorates the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, a piece of legislation that granted religious freedom to Trinitarian Christians in the colony.
• —Archaeology Lab (exterior) — The exterior provides a view into the ongoing archaeological work that informs much of what is known about Historic St. Mary's City. Over 200 archaeological digs have taken place here over the last 30 years.

For outdoor activities, visit St. Mary's City from late June to early September. Temperatures are warm, with July highs around 88°F (31°C) and lows around 74°F (23°C). Summers are partly cloudy and humid.

Spring (April-May) and Fall (September-October) offer milder temperatures and less humidity, suitable for exploring the outdoor museum. Rainfall is consistent year-round, with June typically being the wettest month.

Avoid visiting in winter (December-March) if you plan to spend time outdoors. Winters are cold, snowy, and mostly cloudy, with January lows averaging 18°F (-8°C) and highs of 31°F (-1°C). Many attractions are open-air.

St. Mary's City is in St. Mary's County, Maryland, on a peninsula bordered by the St. Mary's River and the Chesapeake Bay. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the closest major airport. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) are also within driving distance. A car is necessary to reach St. Mary's City and explore the area, as public transportation is limited. Driving from Washington D.C. or Baltimore takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Within Historic St. Mary's City, the site is an open-air museum with walking trails connecting exhibits and reconstructions. Main pathways are paved, and some buildings have wheelchair access; other areas may be dirt or grass. Parking is available at the Visitor Center, State House, St. John's Museum, and Plantation lots, with spaces for visitors with disabilities. There are no commercial or industrial enterprises within the historic city.