Calendar of Events

Join Historic Annapolis in our beloved Paca Garden for special guided garden tours on Friday mornings throughout the summer.  Take a stroll through our beautifully restored two-acre 18th century English garden. Painstakingly restored to its original splendor using details drawn from historic artwork and archaeological excavations, the colonial William Paca Garden is a picturesque retreat… Continue reading Guided Garden Stroll at William Paca Garden

The first Africans had been brought to Virginia as slaves in 1619 but it wasn’t until the 1670s that slavery began to dominate parts of the American economy. That process continued apace in the 18th century transforming every aspect of most southern colonies, from Virginia to South Carolina and Georgia. How did American law transform to… Continue reading Virtual Lecture – Southern Slavery in Colonial America presented by Dr. Richard Bell

This event is currently at capacity. To be added to the waiting list, please email kaelynn.bedsworth@annapolis.org.  Introductory statements from all candidates (mayoral and Ward 1) participating in the forum will be shared on our website next week. We will also post questionnaire responses for all other aldermanic candidates, so that you will have the opportunity… Continue reading Annapolis Candidates Preservation Forum

Join us on the Paca Terrace and meet furniture maker Bob Van Dyke. Visitors will learn about Federal period furniture with a focus on Annapolis cabinet maker, John Shaw. Bob will demonstrate some of the techniques used to create basic inlays. As Director of the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking and a Contributing Editor for… Continue reading Federal Furniture Demonstration with Bob Van Dyke

Loyalist Ladies of Annapolis – the King is ever our Sovereign! Stop by Hogshead Milliner’s Shop and meet Mrs. Calvert and Mrs.Dulaney. The year is 1775, and these refined women would never publicly express their loyalist opinions, but you might be able to hear their actual sentiments after the merchant steps out of the shop… Continue reading Loyalist Ladies of Annapolis

Step back in time to the early summer of 1775, as visitors are invited into a gathering of Annapolis’ Patriot ladies who are discussing rising tensions with the British Crown across the American colonies. As they share news from Lexington and Concord, the fall of Fort Ticonderoga, and local whispers of militia mustering, you’ll see… Continue reading Liberty at the Tea Table: Patriot Ladies of Annapolis

Presented by Daniel J. Sieh The United States, or “Gold Mountain” as it was known in Asia, was often seen as a very distant but promising destination for many in the East looking for opportunity. New research puts the beginnings of Asian immigration much earlier than expected, with some even making their way to the American Revolution… Continue reading Virtual Lecture – : “In Pursuit of Gold Mountain”: Asian Immigration and History in the United States

Discover the essential maritime craft of rope making as it was practiced in colonial Annapolis. Drop by Hogshead Trades Museum and see a skilled ropemaker create cording using traditional tools and techniques. See how this vital trade supported shipbuilding and daily life in a bustling colonial port. Admission Cost: $5 suggested donation   Accessibility: Accessing… Continue reading Learning the Ropes

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime is a fun hour full of reading and activities in the William Paca Garden, a secret treasure in the Historic District of Annapolis. Each program is designed for little ones, 3-7 years, with a book reading, song, and craft/art project, plus time to explore the Paca Garden following the story hour.… Continue reading Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime Summer Series – “How to Read to a Grandma or Grandpa” by Jean Reagan

Who made and sold instruments? Which ones were popular? Where was music played? Join us at Hogshead Trades Museum and meet fiddler Squire Tomas and local herbalist Mercy as they share with visitors the importance of music in early Annapolis. Discover how music brought people together—from taverns and parlors to ballrooms and backyards. Visitors can… Continue reading Tunes Through Time: The Sounds of Early Annapolis

Pull up a chair at Mrs. Howard’s Coffee House and hear the conversations and customs around coffee culture in colonial Annapolis. Admission Cost: $5 suggested donation   Accessibility: Accessing this program requires ascending a flight of stairs. Cancellation and Refund Policy: Historic Annapolis reserves the right to cancel or alter any programs. Unless otherwise stated,… Continue reading Mrs. Howard’s Coffee House at Hogshead Trades Museum

HA is pleased to be a Foundational Friend of the Maryland Council for Social Studies and are partnering with them to present programs focusing on the United States Constitution. The first program is on Constitution Day, Wednesday, September 17th at 7:30 pm. Joey Landgraf, President of MDCSS will share the educational role and goals of… Continue reading Virtual Lecture – The Constitution: Promises and Challenges

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime is a fun hour full of reading and activities in the William Paca Garden, a secret treasure in the Historic District of Annapolis. Each program is designed for little ones, 3-7 years, with a book reading, song, and craft/art project, plus time to explore the Paca Garden following the story hour.… Continue reading Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: “Library Girl” by Nancy Pearl

It’s the fall of 1775 and General George Washington now commands a revolutionary army. In the northern colonies, open conflict with the British Crown has begun—but what about here in Annapolis? Stroll down Pinkney Street and discover the hopes and fears of the local townspeople. Listen to the fierce debates shaping this pivotal moment. Will… Continue reading Living History on Pinkney Street: March to Revolution

Join Historic Annapolis at the 12th annual Blazers . Bourbon . Cigars!  Connect with a wide network of influential community members – the region’s top business leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and visionaries representing our diverse community – in the picturesque William Paca Garden. While you network, enjoy bourbon, whiskey, and other fine liquor tastings, premium cigars,… Continue reading Blazers . Bourbon . Cigars

Step back in time with living historian Antoine Watts and explore the legacy of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. Formed in 1775, this groundbreaking regiment was the first in the Continental Army to include African American, Native American, and white soldiers serving side by side. Discover how these brave men fought for freedom and helped… Continue reading First Rhode Island Regiment – with Living Historian Antoine Watts

The United States Constitution was ratified in 1789; however, the document’s meaning has not always been clear. This is because many debates over constitutional interpretation were settled during the Constitutional Convention. Sometimes our nation’s founders did not agree on constitutional meaning. Other ties, the Constitution’s ambiguity comes from our country facing contemporary issues that the… Continue reading Virtual Lecture – Major Developments in American Constitutional History

Storyteller Jefferson Holland presents a delightful program of original tall tales and songs inspired by the people and places of the Bay, from the Native Americans who feasted on oysters along her shores to the modern-day sailors who ply her waters. Food/drink suggestion: Chesapeake oyster stew with Fordham Copperhead Ale The Historic Annapolis 2025 Virtual… Continue reading Virtual Lecture – Despicable Pirates, 3,000-Year-Old Oyster Shells & Cannibal Crabs! Tall Tales of Annapolis & the Chesapeake Bay

Historic Annapolis, Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, & Maryland Hall Present: Abby Phillip   Join a conversation with Abby Phillip, CNN’s host of News Night, as she shares thoughts on her lived experience from her Maryland childhood to her noteworthy career as a journalist. The conversation will be led by WHUR radio news host Harold T. Fisher.  Event… Continue reading A Conversation with Abby Phillip

Step into the magic of the season with a special Nutcracker Storytime at the  William Paca House and Garden, in partnership with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland! Join us for a whimsical afternoon where the beloved story of The Nutcracker comes to life in a truly enchanting setting. Costumed dancers from the Ballet Theatre of… Continue reading Nutcracker Storytime at the William Paca Garden Featuring the Ballet Theatre of Maryland

We tend to think of slavery as a labor system that was confined to the American South. But it turns out that that’s not the full story. Slavery was also a fact of life in many northern colonies before the American Revolution. Northern slavery was never as widespread or as essential to the economy as… Continue reading Virtual Lecture – Northern Slavery in Colonial America with Dr. Richard Bell

Step back to the turbulent days of 1775 and meet the newly formed Maryland State Marines as they recruit for the fight against Great Britain. Discover how Maryland prepared to defend its shores, waterways, and people at the start of the American Revolution. Admission Cost: $5 suggested donation Accessibility: Accessing this program requires ascending a… Continue reading Defenders of the Chesapeake: Maryland State Marines

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime is a fun hour full of reading and activities in the William Paca Garden, a secret treasure in the Historic District of Annapolis. Each program is designed for little ones, 3-7 years, with a book reading, song, and craft/art project, plus time to explore the Paca Garden following the story hour.… Continue reading Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: “Trick or Treat on Scary Street” by Lance Bass

The American colonies were full of strangers—new arrivals born far away. Among the white population, those colonies teemed with immigrants from all across western Europe and elsewhere. Why did they come? Where did they settle? How did they live? To answer these questions, we’ll examine the demographic makeup of the British colonies in 1700 and… Continue reading Virtual Lecture – Strangers in the Realm: Immigration to Colonial America with Dr. Richard Bell

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime is a fun hour full of reading and activities in the William Paca Garden, a secret treasure in the Historic District of Annapolis. Each program is designed for little ones, 3-7 years, with a book reading, song, and craft/art project, plus time to explore the Paca Garden following the story hour.… Continue reading Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: “Happy All-idays” by Cindy Jin

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime is a fun hour full of reading and activities in the William Paca Garden, a secret treasure in the Historic District of Annapolis. Each program is designed for little ones, 3-7 years, with a book reading, song, and craft/art project, plus time to explore the Paca Garden following the story hour.… Continue reading Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: “Federico and the Wolf” by Rebecca J. Gomez

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime is a fun hour full of reading and activities in the William Paca Garden, a secret treasure in the Historic District of Annapolis. Each program is designed for little ones, 3-7 years, with a book reading, song, and craft/art project, plus time to explore the Paca Garden following the story hour.… Continue reading Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: “Duck or Turkey” by Jacqueline Jules