African-American History & Heritage

African-American history in Maryland begins in 1634 with the arrival of indentured servant Mathias de Sousa, one of the 140 settlers who first traveled here and established Maryland.

While de Sousa’s story is inspiring - he voted in the early legislature - as tobacco became the basis of Southern Maryland’s economy, slavery became entrenched.

Explore African-American Heritage Sites

Our historic sites and museums such as Sotterley Plantation, the United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument, and Drayden African-American Schoolhouse, tell the story of our rich African-American history while mirroring the larger struggles of our nation. Visit an 1830s slave cabin, a Segregation Era schoolhouse, Civil War-related sites and AME churches.

African-American History and Community, St. Mary's County

View a video produced as a student independent study project within the St. Mary's College of Maryland Theater, Film, and Media Studies Department, in conjunction with the Spring 2015 Anthropology of Tourism class.

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Underground Railroad Sites

St. Mary's County has several National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom sites that played a part in the Underground Railroad in Maryland....

Museums & Historic Sites

Drayden African-American Schoolhouse

One of the best-preserved African-American schoolhouses in the country, the one-room schoolhouse still occupies its original site and has not been...

St. Mary's Heritage

United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument

During the Civil War 180,000 African Americans comprising 170 regiments served in the Union Army and 29,511 served in the Union Navy. Army regiments composed...