An interesting and unique historical landmark, just a few minutes from RT 4 in Saint Leonard, Md…read more This polling house was built in 1926 and residents voted here until 1974. The Garden of Remembrance honors all those held dear in the hearts of area residents. It also honors First Ladies Mrs. John Quincy Adams and Mrs. Zachary Taylor, who were related by birth or family ties to St. Leonard. Calvert County has, remarkably, retained four of its historic polling houses - Utilitarian in nature, these one-room structures served the county from the late 19th through the mid-20th century. Most had two doors so that voters could move easily in one door, cast their vote, and exit out the other. These structures have an important story to tell as the center of civic life. "These polling houses weren't segregated - Calvert County's black and white residents cast their votes together here. Following school integration in the 1960s, the polling houses were abandoned and voting often took place in schools." Oral histories document that these sites served as important centers of social as well as political activity, with oysters, crabcakes, and fried chicken being sold to hungry voters here on election day. Although the way in which we cast our vote may have changed, our responsibility has not. As you make your way to the polls this Election Day, remember the story of these humble landmarks....and then go get a crabcake! Location. 38° 28.266′ N, 76° 30.285′ W. Marker is in Saint Leonard, Maryland, in Calvert County. Marker is on St. Leonard Road (Maryland Route 765) 0.1 miles south of Calvert Beach Road, on the right when traveling south.

Confederate Memorial Park: A Place of Respect and Awe. The Confederate Memorial Park in Scotland,…read moreMaryland, was a deeply reflective experience. The grounds hold a quiet reverence, honoring history while evoking a sense of awe at the stories they represent. Now it was very cold and I wish I had taken more pictures!! An eerie event occurred, for you see - the park left an impression--BUT the ride up to the park - wow. As we drove up to the park, something unexpected happened. While recording a video during our approach, a voice--a clear voice that was not mine or my daughter's--suddenly made its eerie debut. I just heard it when I was going through my videos and wow! I kept rewinding it trying to explain it. It was as unsettling as it was intriguing. It added an unexplainable layer to the solemnity of the experience, as if history itself wanted to make its presence known. This park is not just a place to visit; it's a space to reflect, remember, and, perhaps, connect with echoes of the past. For those who feel drawn to history, reverence, or even a hint of the mysterious, Confederate Memorial Park offers a truly unforgettable experience. Have you ever felt the presence of history in an unexpected way? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

The Point Lookout Peninsula in Maryland juts south into the Potomac where the river meets the…read moreChesapeake Bay. During the Civil War, the Federal Government quickly converted a resort on the point into a military hospital. After the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, the Union established a prisoner-of-war camp at the site. By the end of the war, more than 50,000 Confederate prisoners had passed through Point Lookout's gates, making it the largest prisoner of war facility in the north. The soldiers who died at the prison camp are now buried at Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery located north of the historic prison. Two memorials stand commemorating the Confederate soldiers buried in a mass grave at the cemetery. In 1857, William Johnson purchased land on the point to create a resort at the very tip of the peninsula. Five years later, the Federal Government converted the resort buildings into a military hospital complex. The Hammond Hospital opened in August 1862. At the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, Union forces captured thousands of Confederate soldiers. Point Lookout was one of numerous military facilities hastily established as prisoner of war camps. Officially named Camp Hoffman, the 40-acre prison compound was established north of Hammond Hospital. A 15-foot tall wooden fence surrounded the compound, while guards kept watch from a gallery at the top of the fence. At the end of August 1863, Point Lookout's stockade held more than 1,700 Confederate soldiers. The prison population swelled to 9,000 by the end of the year. During the summer of 1864, the prison population grew to 15,500, well more than the stockade's designed capacity, and reached 20,000 in June 1865. Conditions for the prisoners severely worsened as the population exploded. The military did not construct barracks or other permanent housing; instead, tents provided inadequate shelter from the sweltering summer heat and brutal winters. Contaminated water, meager rations, malaria and typhoid fever, and exposure to the elements led to a high death rate in the camp. Approximately 4,000 of the total 50,000 Point Lookout prisoners died while incarcerated. Two cemeteries on the peninsula were established for the Confederate dead, a third cemetery contained Union soldiers who died while under care at Hammond Hospital. The prison closed shortly after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. In 1866, the U.S. Quartermaster General's office surveyed the peninsula to discern the appropriateness of establishing a national cemetery at Point Lookout. Eventually, the military transferred the Union remains to Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington, D.C. The Confederate cemeteries remained in place until 1870, when the state of Maryland transferred more than 3,000 remains to a new site further north along the peninsula near Tanner Creek, and now known as the Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery. Identification of individual remains was impossible, necessitating burial in a mass grave. The site was marked by a 25-foot white marble obelisk erected by the state of Maryland in 1876. In 1910, the state transferred ownership of the cemetery to the Federal Government. To mark the common grave of Confederate soldiers, the government erected an 80-foot-tall granite obelisk. The Van Amringe Granite Company of Boston constructed the Point Lookout Monument, completing the work in May 1911. Bronze tablets, both affixed to the monument and set around its earthen mound, carry the names of 3,382 known Confederate soldiers and sailors. At the time of the monument's erection, the Maryland obelisk was moved to the location of one of the original prison cemeteries, and a bronze plaque was affixed to the base of the monument, which provided a history of the move. The State Monument returned to the Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery in 1938 when the Federal Government sold the other properties

Beautiful place. It's a part of American history of which this area is full of. Excited to see…read moreother historical places such as George Washington's childhood home, down the road.

I had never been here before and didn't realize how close it was to Stratford Hall. It is free to…read moreenjoy on the outside grounds. It was very easy to find close to Colonial Beach VA in the same area where other famous people were born. Its close to George Wasington Birthplace also. The Visitors Center and actual House now museum was closed due to Covid-19 but the Grounds and park was open. There is plenty of signs and its a very very nice park to check out when visiting the area. Great to learn history with the kids and walk around the hiking trails!! Beautiful area! Highly recommend and impressed!

The Trust works hard to make school visits amazing from artwork with mud, to water testing. They…read moreare knowledgeable and professional. The kids enjoyed it, and learned a lot! Than you for keeping history alive!

Historic ruins of Francis Lightfoot Lee's home. It's easy to miss off a dusty country road, but…read moreanyone with an interest in American history, historic preservation, or landscape architecture will find it interesting. There are a few signs with extra background information but not particularly interactive...mostly on your own.

I purchased a home in this neighborhood this year. The fees are very low for all that you get. A…read morewell kept Marina, private lake with beach access and another beach on the river. The club house is also very well mantained as well as the pool. There are Tennis courts and a screened in Barbeque area as well. The staff are helpful and very friendly and especially welcoming to new neighbors/members. It is certainly the "Hidden gem" we were promised by our realtor when we were shopping for a vacation home.

Not many public rest rooms on the island, so this one is needed. Central location and usually…read moreclean. It's also heated. Close to the boardwalk and shops.

Most horrid, horrible service I've ever received from a post office was at this location. I was…read morecoming to check if my dad's death certificate was at this post office because I had been waiting for weeks for it to come and it never came even though it said it was at this location. I rung the bell to get someone's attention because there was no one at the front desk area. No one answered. I rung again. No answer. I rung again to be yelled at about ringing the bell even though she acted as if she couldn't answer the first time. When she finally came out and I was explaining my situation she was very rude and uncaring and just had an attitude for absolutely no reason at all just for her to pass me a ripped up death certificate and saying the other post office damaged it and it came to them like that. Even after informing her it was dad's death certificate who passed recently, she did not care to apologize, change her attitude or anything. It was like talking to a heartless alien. My husband went there recently to see about his tags for his car that once again was pending in transit for 2 weeks and he said she was extremely rude to him as well, telling him "they don't even get mail there anymore" and to "go to Lexington park post office" with his issues. I don't know what this lady problem is but she has a disgusting attitude and treats people coming in there horribly. If she does not like her job and there really isn't mail coming to that post office anymore then maybe it should be shut down to 1. Lessen the confusion between this post office and Lexington park and 2. So this lady can be home and not have to deal with the public.

I've used this location many times and it's one of my favorite PO in this area. A quick note: You…read moreneed Base access. I discovered that the best times to visit are before lunch or late afternoons. Saturday's before noon is a good time to visit for your postal needs. Inside they have packaging supplies, "Flat Rate" supplies, a selection of gift cards and Hallmark style cards. I'm thinking the normal things you would find at a post office. I collect modern stamps and they seem to be up to date with the new releases. In fact,, there is one lady employee that encourages me to purchase new stamps with friendly conversation. She will bring the storage binder out and turn the pages for me as to offer me something that I haven't collected yet. She will sometimes show me the new release before they are officially released and tell me to come back later. This is the treatment I absolutely love as a collector. Some POs are all about getting you out quickly, I try to visit during off peak times. I frequently send postcards internationally to collectors and having the counter workers hand cancel the stamps on them is not a hassle at all. (Desired by collectors) Some locations lack in this friendly service and roll their eyes. I've shipped boxes from this location Internationally and Stateside with no issues. The counter person will often suggest a cheaper method (ie: a different envelope, a different box) if available which I haven't experienced at other locations. I definitely go out of my way to use this location. Hopefully the USPS will keep this location active.

This is a great local library. The staff always make themselves available and are very helpful…read morewith any "needs", from making a photocopy to finding specific books. They've created an inviting space and I appreciate that the hours extend to 8pm most weeknights, making it easy to access day and evening.

Finally!! Book drop off and curbside pick-up is starting…read more Book drop open on 10 June. Curbside pick-up 22 June. Material will be quarantined for three days. You'll need to schedule the pick-up on the website starting 17 June.