2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS CHARLESVol. 1 COUNTY Maryland Brochures Provided by the Charles County Office of Tourism www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/Tourism elcome to Charles County! Prince George’s W County 227 301 228 210 229 Waldorf 227 5 Indian Head Bryantown 225 488 231 425 Port La Plata 231 Benedict Tobacco Hughesville 301 224 6 6 St. Mary’s County 425 Potomac River 232 234 Potomac River Nanjemoy 301 Newburg King George County The gateway to historic Virginia Southern Maryland and a short 257 Issue drive from our nation’s capital, Charles County offers a great Potomac River variety of things to see and do. Whether you are a history buff, Cobb nature lover, biker, kayaker, Island baseball fan, shopaholic, foodie, or just plain curious, we have something for you here. So go right ahead and … This map is provided as a visual aid and is not intended for directional signage. OUR TOWNS www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/Tourism Benedict Neale Sound (Cobb Island) Once a bustling Patuxent River port on Charles County’s eastern border, Benedict was one of the first designated colonial ports in Maryland established by the 1683 Act for Advancement Trade. Storehouses flourished near the wharves, and ship building began in earnest during the late 1600’s. Between 1817 and 1937, steamboats carrying freight and passengers stopped at Benedict en route to Baltimore and ports south. Benedict is also an important site on the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail (www.nps.gov/stsp/index.htm). During the War of 1812, 4,500 British troops came ashore in Benedict in August 1814 on their way to Washington, D.C. After burning the White House and the Washington Navy Yard, the troops returned to Benedict carrying their wounded and sup- plies. Two British soldiers who died on this return march were buried at Old Fields Chapel cemetery in Hughesville. Benedict is also home to Camp Stanton, a Civil War train- ing facility for African American soldiers. Today, this sleepy waterfront community offers visitors a fine variety of fresh Cobb Island seafood at its riverside At the junction of the Potomac and Wicomico Rivers on restaurants. If arriving Farm in Benedict the southern tip of Charles County, Cobb Island offers visi- by boat, you can tie tors who come by land or water friendly marinas and great your boat alongside meals at local crab houses and family restaurants. The is- the pier. If you are land’s family oriented atmosphere is reflected in the an- traveling by car, the nual Cobb Island Day held in the community every June. journey offers a rural Just up the road from Cobb Island is Swan Point Country landscape peppered & Yacht Club, an 18-hole championship golf course. with tobacco barns Reminiscent of the great courses found in the Carolinas, and farms, antique golfers share the fairways with deer, eagles, and osprey. stores, and fresh pro- duce stands. Indian Head Town of Indian Head – Village Green, 100 Walter Thomas Rd, Bryantown Historic District Indian Head • 301-743-5511, www.townofindianhead.org Located along the Zekiah Swamp, Bryantown was bustling Incorporated in 1920, the town of Indian Head is home to with federal troops searching for John Wilkes Booth after the U.S. Naval Support Facility Indian Head. The town’s he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Sites name may have come from an Algonquin Indian legend to visit include the Old Bryantown Tavern and St. Mary’s or perhaps to a perceived resemblance of an Indian’s head Catholic Church and Cemetery, where the grave of Dr. from the air. Over time, both the base and the village grew. Samuel A. Mudd can be viewed. You might want to follow Today, Indian Head hosts an array of annual events on the the Maryland Civil War Trail Of An Assassin for the entire village green and serves as the western trailhead for the Booth escape route. 13-mile Indian Head Rail Trail. p.4 Calendar of Events: January-September 2016 Please call ahead to confirm event. OUR TOWNS www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/Tourism La Plata Port Tobacco Historic District Town of La Plata – Town Hall, 305 Queen Anne St, La Plata Port Tobacco is one of the 301-934-8421, www.townoflaplata.org oldest communities on the Port Tobacco Court House The town of La Plata is the county seat and was originally East Coast and the first incor- founded in the 1870’s when the Pennsylvania Railroad porated town in Maryland. was granted a right of way to build its tracks and station. It first existed as the Indian According to local legend, the town was given its name by settlement of Potopaco, was Colonel Samuel Chapman, whose family owned the land visited by Captain John Smith, that would become the areas of La Plata and Port Tobacco. and then colonized by the In his travels, the Colonel was so impressed with the La English as early as 1634. Port Plata River in Argentina that he decided to name a por- Tobacco became a major sea- tion of his own property “La Plata” after the river. Today, La port during the late 1600’s and an early seat of county Plata is home to nearly 9,000 people, as well as shopping, government. The town and port declined in the 19th cen- restaurants and rich Maryland culture. tury, and the county seat relocated to the growing town of La Plata in 1895. Recent archeological excavations have Pope’s Creek revealed more of this site’s long history. Visit the recon- structed 1892 Port Tobacco Courthouse and the restored Pope’s Creek, named for tobacco plantation owner One-Room Schoolhouse nearby that was used between Francis Pope, was once home to a large Native American 1876-1953, as well as the Thomas Stone National Historic Population. During the Civil War, Pope’s Creek was a favor- Site, the plantation home of one of Maryland’s four signers ite spot for crossing the Potomac River into Virginia. John of the Declaration of Independence. Wilkes Booth crossed the Potomac and landed here after assassinating President Lincoln. Now, Pope’s Creek holds waterfront crab houses for your dining delight, offering Waldorf mouthwatering seafood daily. In 1872, the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad established a station in the fledgling farming community of Waldorf. The community grew considerably after completion of Popes Creek the Potomac River bridge. Slot machine establishments lined Rtes 301 and 5, attracting travelers to the restau- rants and motels in Waldorf. Nightly entertainment resem- bling Las Vegas was prominent. Today, the vacant Wall’s Bakery WigWam recalls the days of old. Thankfully, Wall’s has reopened nearby, where you can still get the biggest and best éclairs you’ve ever seen! When gambling was outlawed, businesses converted their establishments to office buildings, retail shopping centers, technical parks, and spas. Today, Waldorf is a retail-dining-lodging hub and site of St. Charles Towne Center, the largest shop- ping mall in Southern Maryland. The Waldorf area is also home to the planned community of St. Charles AND the new award-winning, Regency Furniture Stadium and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, our independent league baseball team. p.6 Calendar of Events: January-September 2016 Please call ahead to confirm event. CALENDAR OF EVENTS www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/Tourism January Jan 3 Bluegrass Concert — Remington Ryde American Legion Post 238, 6265 Brandywine Rd, Hughesville, Noon, 301-737-3004, www.americanlegionbluegrass.com, $ Fee Jan 9 Cecil Ray Comedy Club Black Box Theatre – Indian Head Center for the Arts, 7 p.m., $ Fee Jan 29-30 “The Little Prince” Presented by CSM Children’s Theatre, College of Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, $ Fee Jan 29–Feb 14 “See How They Run” Russell Moore and iii Presented by Port Tobacco Players, $ Fee rd Tyme Out February Feb 1–Mar 11 Art Exhibit — “Fractured View” Featuring March Margaret Noel Mar 11-12 “Spirit of Hispania: Hispanic Tales” Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery, College of Presented by CSM Children’s Theatre, College of Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, Free Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, $ Fee Feb 4-6 “My First Time” Mar 17-19 “The Walls” Presented by CSM Cause Theatre, College of Presented by CSM Cause Theatre, College of Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, $ Fee Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, $ Fee Feb 13 Cecil Ray Comedy Club Mar 20 Bluegrass Concert — The Boxcars Black Box Theatre – Indian Head Center for the Arts, American Legion Post 238, 6265 Brandywine Rd, 7 p.m., $ Fee Hughesville, Noon, 301-737-3004, Feb 15 Bluegrass Concert — Russell Moore & www.americanlegionbluegrass.com, $ Fee iiird Tyme Out American Legion Post 238, 6265 Brandywine Rd, April Hughesville, Noon, 301-737-3004, www.americanlegionbluegrass.com, $ Fee Apr–Oct Mount Aventine Open House Chapman State Park, Sundays, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., $ Fee Feb 25-27 “Before It Hits Home” Presented by CSM Cause Theatre, College of Apr 1-24 “Hairspray” Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, $ Fee Presented by Port Tobacco Players, $ Fee Feb 27 Portraits of Progress Apr 8-9 Jazz Festival James E. Richmond Science Center, $ Fee College of Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, $ Fee Feb 27 The Vagina Monologues Black Box Theatre – Indian Head Center for the Arts, Apr 9 St. Charles Running Festival 7 p.m., $ Fee Regency Furniture Stadium, Registration required, 8 a.m., www.stcharlesrunfest.com, $ Fee p.8 Calendar of Events: January-September 2016 Please call ahead to confirm event. www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/Tourism Mount Aventine May May 2 Dance Performance College of Southern Maryland – Fine Arts Center, $ Fee May 6-8 SoMD Blue Crabs vs.