Little Pirates (Ages 3-4)
Jun
17
10:00 AM10:00

Little Pirates (Ages 3-4)

Ahoy, little mateys! Set sail on a pirate adventure made just for the youngest buccaneers. Hunt for hidden treasure, follow mysterious clues, and keep a sharp eye out—you just might spot a pirate ship along the way!

⚓ $10 per child / $8 for members
📌 Space is limited. Preregistration with full payment required.
📅 Registration opens May 12
📧 Register at hsmcc.groups@maryland.gov or call 301-994-4372


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Little Pirates (Ages 5-6)
Jun
18
10:00 AM10:00

Little Pirates (Ages 5-6)

Ahoy, little mateys! Set sail on a pirate adventure made just for the youngest buccaneers. Hunt for hidden treasure, follow mysterious clues, and keep a sharp eye out—you just might spot a pirate ship along the way!

⚓ $10 per child / $8 for members
📌 Space is limited. Preregistration with full payment required.
📅 Registration opens May 12
📧 Register at hsmcc.groups@maryland.gov or call 301-994-4372


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Sail into STEM
Jun
21
10:30 AM10:30

Sail into STEM

Ages 10-14.

Join the waterfront staff for a morning full of fun, hands-on activities that demonstrate the science, mechanics, and mathematics involved in sailing ships and boats, big and small. Participants will experiment with concepts such as buoyancy, draught, windage, and more! They may even find themselves setting and maneuvering one of Maryland Dove’s sails while she remains dockside (weather permitting). 

$20/$15 for members (one adult receives free admission). 

Space is limited- preregistration required with full payment. Registration opens May 19.

Register:  hsmcc.groups@maryland.gov or call 301-994-4372


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Sunny Science: Summer Workshop
Jul
9
10:00 AM10:00

Sunny Science: Summer Workshop

Ages 12–16

Explore how the power of the sun shaped 17th-century science! From sun dials and navigation tools to the story of astronomer Arthur Storer, this hands-on workshop is perfect for curious teens. Build your own sun dial, try out maritime tools, and uncover the secrets of colonial stargazing.

📌 $20 nonmembers / $15 members. One adult free per registration.

🌞 Weather dependent.

📅 Registration opens June 9. Space is limited—sign up early!


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Governor's Cup
Aug
1
to Aug 3

Governor's Cup

  • Historic St. Mary's City (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Maryland Dove will be anchored in the St. Mary's River off Church Point on August 2, acting as the finish line for the annual Governor's Cup Yacht Race, which begins in Annapolis and ends at St. Mary's City—tracing the route from present-day capital to colonial capital. It is the oldest and longest-running overnight sailboat race on the Chesapeake Bay

The ship will be back on exhibit at Historic St. Mary's City on August 5.

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Lost City
Oct
18
5:00 PM17:00
HSMC event

Lost City

Historic St. Mary’s City will host its popular free trick-or-treating event, Lost City on October 18, 2025. Spreading out over the museum grounds, the event will be spooktacular! Families are invited to meet “lost” sailors, go trick-or-treating, play games, or enjoy stories. Maryland Dove will be open and dressed for the occasion as a haunted ship!

Families are invited to walk the grounds after hours to see the museum decorated with period-appropriate fall décor and more present-day “Halloween” items. The evening includes stepping aboard the “haunted ship” Maryland Dove, dancing to music with the “Monster Mash Disco Ball” at the Margaret Brent gazebo, fortune telling and broomstick lessons in the Town Center area, Halloween-themed crafts, and family-friendly fall games, giving guests a full evening of enjoyment and…candy!

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Sultana Downrigging Festival
Oct
31
to Nov 6

Sultana Downrigging Festival

  • Sultana Education Foundation (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

From the Festival, “Now in its 24rd year, the Sultana Education Foundation’s Downrigging Weekend Festival is one of the largest annual tall ship gatherings in North America. The festival features a long-weekend of Tall Ship sails, tours, incredible live bluegrass music, lectures, exhibits, family activities, regional food and more. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s environmental literacy programs and the other nonprofits participating in the festival.”

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Homeschool Workshops, June 4
Jun
4
10:30 AM10:30

Homeschool Workshops, June 4

A program specifically tailored for homeschool families, featuring interpretive discussions, demonstrations, and interactive activities.

Workshop sessions: 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

$10/$8 for members. Additional workshops $7/$5 for members.

Space is limited- preregistration is required with full payment. Registration opens on March 10.

Workshop offerings:

Numbers in Navigation, 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. (ages 10 and oldler)

Join the Maryland Dove crew for a mathematical morning on the waterfront as you learn how sailors use math to determine location. Students will work with Maryland Dove crew members to make their own “quadrant”, a historical navigation tool that uses celestial bodies or nearby objects to determine place within space. End your morning by trying it out! Will you be able to determine where you are standing in relation to the nautical objects around you? 


Don’t Bite the Hen That Feeds You, 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. (ages 5 and older)

Animal husbandry was an incredibly important job in 17th-century Maryland, and also is for our staff at the Tobacco Plantation today! This animal-focused workshop will have students learning how to feed and care for the heritage breed animals at HSMC, as well as collecting eggs and cooking poultry meals over an open hearth. This is truly a “farm to table” colonial program! 


Eastern Woodland “Clay-tivity,” 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. (ages 8 and older)

Practice your pottery skills with staff at the Woodland Indian Hamlet! From purifying and tempering to shaping and firing, students will have a hands-on opportunity to take part in every step of the process using natural resources and experimental archaeology. 


Root, Leaf and STEM, 1:00 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. ( ages 5 - 9 )

This workshop is an opportunity for little learners to discover and experience the life cycle of plants from seed through planting, growth, cultivation, and finally seeding.  With plenty of dirty hands-on activities, they will compare and contrast plants, pull up plants to see and study their roots, and even plant some seeds of their own to bring home.  A perfect play lesson for the budding gardener! 


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