Whether you’re looking to brush up on your local history, or you’re searching for some new art to inspire you, Maryland has an array of museums to explore. Here are some of the best ones to check out across Southern Maryland and beyond:

Calvert Marine Museum and Drum Point Lighthouse

Where: 14200 Solomons Island Rd. S, Solomons, MD

 

The Calvert Marine Museum makes for a great afternoon in Solomons. This museum combines the prehistoric past, natural environments, and the maritime heritage of the area to give a true sense of the Chesapeake Bay’s story. With many activities and interactive exhibits to explore, there’s plenty to do here. You can also check out fossils and live animals at this family-friendly museum. Your museum admission ticket gets you access to the Drum Point Lighthouse as well, a furnished cottage-style lighthouse which was moved here from its original location in 1975. Be sure to check their calendar of events to get a chance to meet the light keeper.

Baltimore Museum of Art

Where: 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore, MD

 

It’s no secret that Baltimore is a great city with many exciting museums. One you won’t want to miss is the Baltimore Museum of Art, where you can feast your eyes on works from the greats like Picasso, Matisse, and Cezanne. The art you’ll find here is generally from the 19th century through today, with some special rotating exhibits as well. Best of all, admission to this museum is free. On pleasant days, be sure to wander through their Sculpture Garden open from 10AM until dusk.

Historic St. Mary’s City

Where: Saint Mary’s City, MD

 

In Southern Maryland, a visit to Historic St. Mary’s City will give you an immersive glimpse back in time to Maryland’s first capital. This city isn’t a typical museum with one building to explore but instead is full of living history exhibits. Some highlights are the Maryland Dove, a tall-ship exhibit that recreates the experience of settlers on their journey to the New World, as well as the Woodland Indian Hamlet, where you can learn about the Yaocomaco people and their way of life. People recommend spending at least 4 hours here in order to get a real sense of the early Chesapeake frontier.

 

U.S. Naval Academy

Where: 121 Blake Rd., Annapolis, MD

 

Also not a museum in the traditional sense, Annapolis’ U.S. Naval Academy is an educational and enjoyable experience you’ll want to make time for. What was once called the Navy School was established in 1845 to train naval officers with a four-year, college degree program. Today, it’s still home to ambitious students as well as “The Yard”, a campus which provides 340 acres of land and monuments to explore. Monuments here commemorate the U.S. military history, including the nation’s oldest military monument, the Tripoli monument. You can follow the Stribling Walk of 16,000 bricks to find other monuments like the Mexican monument. Make sure to venture into the academy itself where visitors can check out examples of American neoclassical architecture like the chapel and the rotunda leading to Memorial Hall.

 

Banneker-Douglass Museum

Where: 84 Franklin St., Annapolis, MD

 

Another standout in Annapolis is the Banneker-Douglass Museum which honors and preserves Maryland’s African-American heritage and culture. The museum was named for native Marylanders, Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass. This year marks the yearlong 50th Anniversary of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, and their theme is “We Rise, Preserving Maryland’s African American Heritage”. Be sure to check out their new interactive exhibit “Verda’s Place: An Homage to a Valiant Woman”. Verda Freeman Welcome became the first Black woman elected to a State Senate in 1962, and this cafe-themed exhibit is a response to the places she was unwelcome, with memorabilia and photographs to help immerse and involve visitors. The exhibit runs from March 8, 2019 through December 28, 2019.

 

 

The state of Maryland certainly has the history to deserve such an array of museums, and they’re all worth exploring. Whether you want to brush up on your early frontier history, or you’re just craving some inspiration, there’s a museum you’ll enjoy. Do you have a favorite museum in Maryland? Share it with us in the comments.