St Michaels Museum

The historic town of St Michaels dates back to the mid-1600s when it served as a trading post for area tobacco farmers and trappers. In 1677 the Christ Episcopal Church of St Michael Archangel parish was founded in present day St. Michaels. In 1778 a British land agent, James Braddock, purchased 20 acres and deeded 58 lots. This created St. Mary's Square, the historic center of St. Michaels. To this day, this charming seaside resort town reflects its colonial past, as many of the area's homes date from the late 1700s to the late 1800s. In conjunction with this exhibit three docent led historic walking tours will be offered on a rotating basis. Two tours, “St. Michaels During the War of 1812” and “Historic St. Michaels Waterfront,” will couple with this exhibit and make life in St Michaels in 1813 and in the 19th century come alive. The third tour, “Frederick Douglass, a slave, in St. Michaels 1833-1836,” will focus on the early life of St. Michaels’ most famous 19th century resident and probably the most important African American Abolitionist in the Civil War Era. These tours have been very highly regarded and involved more than 500 participants in 2012.   The new “St. Michaels During the War of 1812” tour will highlight the British attacks on St. Michaels on August 10 and 26, 1813, and the impact on the St. Michaels community. Starting at the Museum one will see the “St. Michaels in 1813” exhibit to set the stage and then leisurely walk though St. Mary’s Square to Muskrat Park and then on to Navy Point. Along the way one will see the cannon involved in the battle and the Cannonball House that was struck by a cannon ball that rolled down the interior stairs and frightened a woman holding her baby. At Muskrat Park see replicas of the cannons from 1813. The originals were removed by Union forces prior to the Civil War and are currently in storage at Fort McHenry. From there see the locations of the defending batteries in the harbor, in particular Parrott's Point. Continuing down Locust Street at the foot of Carpenter Street is the Higgins Boatyard, the oldest continuously operated boat yard in town and one of several in operation in 1812. Following on to Navy Point, get a good view of St. Michaels Harbor and hear about 19th Century activities in the harbor.