What to do in Charles County

webadmin — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 11:00:36 +0000

Greetings! Perhaps you are new to the area, or maybe you have lived in Charles County your entire life. You have friends or family coming to visit, and you find yourself wondering, “What’s there to do around here?” Of course, there is Washington, but maybe you are looking for something a little closer to home. Keep reading to find information on historical places of interest, as well as parks and trails for hiking, biking, or paddling.

Southern Maryland’s Historic Landmarks (Images of America) by Christopher Eck

This book provides pictures and a thumbnail sketch of places of historical interest in Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert Counties. It does not give information on hours or addresses but is a great way to find places to look up online.

You can also check out the National Register of Historic sites in Charles county or other sites about places of cultural and historical interest in the county.

If you’re in the mood for a ghost story, the most famous Charles County ghost story is that of the Blue Dog. Check it out at the library or online:

The Blue Dog Legend by Joan Sutton and Arthur Wooddy.
A Halloween tale: The legend of the Blue Dog – The BayNet

Speaking of Ghosts, for a true story of hundreds of ghosts, turn the pages of Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay.

Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay by Donald G. Shomette

If you are interested in history and kayaking or canoeing, part three of this book talks about the wooden steamships built during WWI to protect the US coast from German submarines. Much of the fleet now lies at the bottom of Mallows Bay and can be toured by personal kayaks or canoes.

In July 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) designated Mallows Bay as a National Marine Sanctuary. Kayak tours and rentals can also be purchased. Check out the following websites for more information:

For other places to paddle in the greater Charles County area, try:

Paddle Maryland: a guide to Rivers, Creeks and Water Trails by Bryan McKay

A guide for kayakers and canoers through the rivers, creeks, marshes, and waterways across the state of Maryland, Paddle Maryland is the book designed for recreational paddlers interested in scenery, wildlife, flora, and fauna. The nearly two dozen water trails Bryan MacKay details in this book cover both tidal and non-tidal paddling trips. All of them feature a particular aspect of Maryland wildlife and environmental conservation.

If you’d rather stay on solid ground and enjoy hiking, here are some resources to keep you on the right path:

Hike Maryland: A Guide to the Scenic Trails of the Free State by Bryan Mackay

Maryland offers its residents and tourists a wealth of natural settings across the Chesapeake basin, through expansive farmland, and to the edge of the Allegheny mountains. Lifelong Marylander, naturalist, and avid hiker Bryan MacKay takes you on 25 hikes through the best and most serene settings across the Free State in Hike Maryland. Each guided trail includes a map, background on the natural history and ecology of the park, forest, or preserve, and a brief essay featuring a local plant, animal, or environmental issue of special interest. Take this book with you as you hike the Appalachian Trail, through Patapsco Valley State Park, along Assateague Island, and across many more settings representing Maryland’s natural heritage.

50 Hikes In Maryland: Walks, Hikes, & Backpacks From The Allegheny Plateau To The Atlantic Ocean by Leonard Atkins

For shorter walks that will keep you in Charles County, try the Charles County Parks and Recreation website for a list of county parks with walking trails:

Charles County Park Trails

Perhaps neither boats or boots are your favorite ways to see the sites. Why not try cycling?

Cycle Maryland: A Guide to Bike Paths and Rail Trails by Brian Mackay

As cities across America improve bicycle lanes and infrastructure for two-wheel commuters, Bryan MacKay wants to take Marylanders and visitors to the Free State along recreational trails that provide a way to enjoy varied natural beauty while exercising. MacKay, an ecologist and avid cyclist, illuminates plants, animals, and environmental facts that fellow cyclists will encounter on paved and unpaved paths through the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and stretching further out into less populated regions. While you will likely rely on a GPS tracker to keep you on route, this slim volume will fit easily into a pannier. Pull Cycle Maryland out on a break and use the maps, trail descriptions, and short nature essays as a reference to these 23 trails suitable for road and mountain bikes alike.

Indian Head Rail Trail | Facility Directory Table List | Charles County, MD

The Indian Head Rail Trail is a 13-mile trail from Indian Head to Crain Highway in White Plains.

Playgrounds | Charles County Rec & Parks

And who doesn’t like to play? Whether you are young in age, young in spirit, or counting your age in dog years, Charles County Parks has something for you. Frisbee golf, fishing, ball fields, dog parks, and playgrounds can all be found nearby. Check out the Charles County Parks and Recreation site for playgrounds, pavilions, and places for kids (and dogs) of all ages.

Charles County Tourism

Finally, everyone needs to know about places to eat, and not everyone is ready for hours of outdoor fun, so the Charles County tourism site is the perfect place for you!

Whatever your adventure, grab a friend, family member, dog, or just a good book and get out and explore the attractions around us. Have fun!

History of Charles County, MD: Where Eagles Soar & History Abounds!

webadmin — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 12:00:42 +0000

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Here in Charles County, we have history going back as far as the early seventeenth century. Captain John Smith explored the Potomac River way back in 1608 and stopped at what is now Port Tobacco (which was officially established in 1634, making it one of the oldest towns on the east coast). Charles County was established in 1658 and named after the third Baron Baltimore, Charles Calvert. Benedict was established in 1683 and became one of the first ports on the Patuxent River (and later during the War of 1812 the British landed there on their way to burn the White House and Capitol). The town of La Plata was incorporated in 1888 by Colonel Samuel Chapman and named after the La Plata River. Waldorf was originally called Beantown and began as a rural crossroads until the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad built a train station there in 1872.

Want to learn more about the history of Charles County? Check out the links below to explore more historic landmarks and sites!

Here are a few historic sites and landmarks with photos:

Port Tobacco Courthouse (A reconstruction of the third courthouse since the exact location of the first one built in 1729 is unknown and the third one built in 1892 burned down).

St. Ignatius Catholic Church (established in 1662 and the Nation’s oldest continually active parish).

Christ Episcopal Church (established in 1683 with the current building constructed in 1884 in Port Tobacco and then disassembled and moved by oxen and wagon to its current La Plata location in 1904).

Thomas Stone’s House at the Thomas Stone National Historic Site (called Habre de Venture and built around 1773).

La Plata Train Station (the only surviving passenger station on the Pope’s Creek line of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad).

Mt. Carmel Monastery (site of the first Carmelite Monastery in the U.S. and contains the restored buildings of the first convent of religious women established in the 13 colonies).

General Smallwood’s home at Smallwood State Park (built around 1760).

Here are a few notable dates in our county’s early history:

1715, April 3. John Hanson (1715-1783), first President of the United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of Confederation (1781-1782), born near Port Tobacco.
1723. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer (1723-1790), signer of the U.S. Constitution, born near Port Tobacco.
1732. William Smallwood (1732-1792), Governor of Maryland, born at “Smallwood’s Retreat” near Marbury.
1743. Thomas Stone (1743-1787), signer of the Declaration of Independence, born at “Poynton Manor.”
1789, June 15. Josiah Henson, author, abolitionist, and minister, born in Charles County.
1849. Josiah Henson (1789-1883), former Charles County slave, published his Life.
1865, April 14. John Wilkes Booth (1838-1865) assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC and escaped with accomplice David E. Herold through Prince George’s and Charles counties en route to Virginia.
1909, April 6. Matthew Hensen(1866-1955), of Charles County, reached the North Pole with Commander Robert E. Peary.

And if you would like to find out more about our rich history, check out the Southern Maryland Studies Center Web site!

charles-county – Charles County Public Library