Tour some of St. Mary's County's great historical houses and gardens.
The Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to help preserve and restore architecturally and historically significant properties in the State of Maryland.
For tickets and info on where the tour will visit, see website.
Lunch during the Tour
Delicious boxed lunches may be purchased for $15.00. Lunches will be served (or available to go) at St. Francis Xavier Church Hall (4th stop; 21370 Newtowne Neck Rd.) from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Lunch choices are Chicken Salad sandwich, Portobello Mushroom sandwich, St. Mary’s County Stuffed Ham sandwich, or a gluten-free Caesar Salad with Chicken; a side salad, chips, dessert and a bottle of water are included. Additional beverages and desserts are available for purchase at the Church Hall. The Church Hall has seating and restrooms.
Box lunches are available by pre-paid reservations made by May 12, 2018. Mail a check payable to SMCGC for $15.00 along with your lunch choice to: Judy Moe, 41720 Knight Road, Leonardtown, MD. 20650. For additional information, please contact Judy at 301-475-7974 or email jemoe@earthlink.net. If you wish, please include your e-mail address or phone number for confirmation of receipt. Your check is your reservation. Visitors may also find several dining options in the Town of Leonardtown
Proceeds from the tours are awarded to each participating county's designated projects. Read more about St. Mary's County's special project below:
Special Project in St. Mary's County: Newtowne Manor House Restoration
Proceeds from the St. Mary’s County Tour will benefit the restoration of the Newtowne Manor House.
The Catholic religious order the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, began missionary activities in the Newtowne Neck area in 1640. In 1662, the first chapel was built in Newtowne Neck (predecessor to the St. Francis Xavier Church, tour stop 4). The Jesuits purchased additional acreage around the original chapel, and despite the renewed anti-Catholic environment in the colonies in the early 1700’s, a new church was constructed to replace the original chapel. In 1789, a one and one-half story manor house was constructed next to the church to house the Jesuit community that had taken root in Newtowne Neck. In 1816, the second story of the manor house was raised to its present-day height. When the Jesuits moved their headquarters to Leonardtown in 1868, the manor retained its function as a working farm and house for the farm manager.
In 1967, St. Francis Xavier Church, Newtowne Manor House and the seven and one-half acres surrounding them were conveyed to the Archdiocese of Washington. Recognizing the religious, historical and archeological significance of these buildings, both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places, Cardinal James Hickey, then Archbishop of Washington, approved the restoration of both the church and manor house. The church restoration was the primary goal in order to pastorally and spiritually minister to the thriving Catholic community in Newtowne Neck. Prior to beginning restoration work, several studies were commissioned in order to obtain a more complete and accurate understanding of the history and development of the site and its historic structures. An archaeological survey of the site unearthed the foundation of an original manor house dating from the 1720’s, as well as thousands of artifacts relating to the Indian and colonial inhabitants of Newtowne Neck. The scientific method of dendrochronology was employed to obtain exact dates of construction for the church nave and sanctuary (1731) and the subsequent manor house (1789). Paint analysis has provided a detailed history of the structures from their construction through their subsequent restorations and modifications. A thorough architectural study of the church structure was carried out prior to its restoration to the 18th century style.
The Newtowne Manor House was placed in 2010 on the Endangered Maryland list by Preservation Maryland. To support continuation of the Newtowne Manor House restoration efforts, the Friends of Newtowne Manor House, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring and preserving this 18th century structure, will be the beneficiary of the proceeds from the St. Mary’s County 2018 Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Tour.
Click Here to Learn More About St. Mary's County
Directions
ROUTE FROM BALTIMORE/ANNAPOLIS : Take any route to get to MD-4 and head south toward Solomon’s Island. Stay on MD-4 and take the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge toward Lexington Park. Continue on MD-4 (past the intersection with MD-235) until it ends at MD-5. Turn right onto MD-5 heading north toward Leonardtown. Drive 2.6 miles and turn left onto Newtowne Neck Road/ MD-243 (CVS is on right side of road and McDonald’s catty corner). Proceed with directions below to first tour stop.
ROUTE FROM WASHINGTON, DC : Take the Beltway (I-495) to MD-5 (exit 7) and head south. Stay on MD-5 to the intersection of Newtowne Neck Road/ MD-243 in Leonardtown (McDonald’s on right side). Turn right onto Newtowne Neck Road and proceed with directions below to first tour stop. Alternatively, on MD-5 stay straight onto MD-235 toward Lexington Park. Turn right onto MD-245/ Hollywood-Leonardtown Rd and proceed about 5 miles to MD-5. Turn right onto MD-5 heading north. In 1.4 miles turn left onto Newtowne Neck Road /MD-243 (CVS on right side of road and McDonald’s catty corner). Proceed with directions below to first tour stop.
ROUTE FROM VIRGINIA : Cross the MD-301/ Harry Nice Bridge, drive 6 miles and turn right onto MD-234 Budd’s Creek Rd. Turn right (heading south) onto MD-5 and proceed a short distance to Newtowne Neck Road/ MD-243 (McDonald’s on right side). Turn right onto Newtowne Neck Road and proceed with directions below to first tour stop.
FOLLOW PILGRIMAGE ARROWS AND SIGNS
Directions to Tour Stop 1 : From MD-5, proceed south on Newtowne Neck Road about 1.5 miles and then bend left onto Bull Rd. After 1.2 miles, the road changes names to Society Hill Rd (as the road bends to the right). Drive another 1.2 miles past the golf course and turn right onto Breton View Drive. Drive 0.3 miles and take the second left onto Pebble Beach Court. Stop 1: 21669 Pebble Beach Ct, Leonardtown, MD 20650
NOTE: The Exxon Station at Newtowne Neck and MD-5 is the only service station on the tour route. It is also the last restroom prior to the lunch location.
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