4th of July Celebration
2026-07-04 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join Historic Annapolis for our Fourth of July Festival! Experience a full day of history, celebration, and family-friendly fun as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence!
One ticket gives you access to three sites: the William Paca House and Garden, Hogshead Trades Museum, and the Museum of Historic Annapolis.
William Paca House and Garden:
Visitors can enjoy 30-minute guided tours of the William Paca House, featuring the Annapolis Living Historians. Hear what William Paca and his contemporaries might have thought about the bold decision to declare independence.
The festivities continue in the Paca Garden with face painting, refreshments and patriotic crafts for all ages. Cool off in our Colonial Beer Garden and enjoy live music from Peter Brice and the New Century Irish-Arts Company.
Get hands-on at the Revolutionary Trades Showcase, where we highlight the everyday skills that helped fuel independence. Try printing pamphlets that spread revolutionary ideas, learn about healing herbs, sew stars, and practice writing colonial-style letters. Have your silhouette created in the Summer House for a unique keepsake!
Special Feature: Meet Frederick Douglass and hear an excerpt from his speech, “For What to a Slave is the Fourth of July”.  Nathan Richardson, renowned Frederick Douglass reenactor will give a FREE presentation at 1:00 pm on the Front Steps of the Paca House.
Accessibility Considerations: Accessing the interior of the William Paca House requires ascending and descending several flights of stairs. Visitors with limited mobility can access the brick Paca Garden Terrace via the driveway of the Paca House. A single-use accessible restroom can be accessed by a ramp. The upper portion of the garden can be accessed via a ramp with handrails, but please note that garden pathways are loose pea gravel and steps must be traversed to access the lower levels of the garden.

Museum of Historic Annapolis:
Step into our American Story at the Museum of Historic Annapolis. Enjoy an inspiring film and explore three floors of interactive exhibits where you’ll discover diverse stories and amazing objects that represent over 400 years of our shared history!
Meet Frederick Douglass and hear an excerpt from his speech, “For What to a Slave is the Fourth of July”.  Nathan Richardson, renowned Frederick Douglass reenactor, will speak to Frederick Douglass’s life, share his beliefs, and recall his travels and his books.
Presentations of Meet Frederick Douglass offered at 2 pm and 3 pm.
Accessibility Considerations: An accessible entrance is available, located to the right of the building’s main entrance. All levels of the Museum, including the restrooms, are accessible via the elevator.

Hogshead Trades Museum
Celebrate America 250 with the lively sounds of the Revolutionary era! Stop by Hogshead Trades Museum and enjoy traditional fiddle music and discover how music was used during the American Revolution for entertainment, marching, and morale. Dance and sing along to “Yankee Doodle” as you learn the surprising origins of this beloved patriotic tune.
Accessibility Considerations: Access to Hogshead requires ascending and descending two flights of stairs.

Paca Garden Guided Tour
2026-06-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-23 11:00 - 12:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join us for a guided garden tour of the Paca Garden, a beautifully restored colonial English garden. A knowledgeable docent will share its history from its Revolutionary beginnings during the time of William Paca, signer of the Declaration of Independence, to today.
Explore the two-acre terraced landscape and formal parterres, as well as the wilderness garden, kitchen and medicinal gardens, and orchard. Along the way, you’ll see features such as the fishpond and the Summerhouse folly and learn about the garden plants, wildlife, and ongoing care.
Advance registration recommended, space is limited. Walk-ins will be accommodated only as space permits.

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: Rafa Counts on Papa
2026-06-23 10:00 - 11:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
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.
Rafa Counts on Papa by Joe Cepeda
What do you like to do with your father? Rafa and his papá love to count and measure together. They know how many branches they climb to their favorite spot, they know how high their dog Euclid can jump, and they know how far they can run. But there’s one thing Rafa can’t count or measure because it is infinite: the love that he and his papá share.
Join us in celebrating Father’s Day with song, dance, and a fun craft!
Advance registration required, space is limited.

Race and Rights Tour at the Museum of Historic Annapolis
2026-06-19 11:00 - 15:00 | Museum of Historic Annapolis, 99 Main Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join presenter Briayna Cuffie on this 50-minute guided tour of the Museum that highlights the powerful contributions of African American community leaders in shaping the city’s history. Explore their impact on local life, landmark court cases, and pivotal legislation that advanced civil rights in Annapolis and beyond.
Advance registration recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated only as space permits. Tour fee includes museum admission.
Cost: $7 General Admission (8+); Free for HA Members and Children under 8
This event is offered from 11:0am-12:00pm and 2:00pm-3:00pm.
11:00-12:00 Link: Race and Rights Tour at the Museum of Historic Annapolis | Historic Annapolis
2:00-3:00 Link: Race and Rights Tour at the Museum of Historic Annapolis | Historic Annapolis

Flag Day at Hogshead Trades Museum
2026-06-14 11:00 - 15:00 | Hogshead, 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
What on earth is a vexillologist? Here’s a hint: Flag Day is their favorite day!
Join us at the Hogshead Trades Museum for Flag Day to explore the Stars and Stripes, the Flag of Maryland, the John Shaw Flag, and more… a great way to celebrate America 250!
Guests can sew a star, design a flag, and try becoming a vexillologist for the day!
Answer: A vexillologist studies flags; their history, symbols, and design
This is a drop-in style program. Visitors may join at any time during program hours and explore at their own pace through informal interaction and demonstrations. Advance registration recommended, but not required.
Cost: FREE (suggested donation: $5)

Queer Annapolis: A Historical Walking Tour of Love, Resistance, and Community
2026-06-13 15:00 - 16:30 | Museum of Historic Annapolis, 99 Main Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Long before the Stonewall Uprising, and far beyond New York and California, queer people have lived, loved, and shaped American history. From the nation’s earliest days, LGBTQ+ individuals have been part of Maryland’s story, even when their lives were pushed into the shadows. This guided walking tour explores over three hundred years of LGBTQ+ history, pairing familiar landmarks with often-overlooked stories: from a Revolutionary War general to an African American schoolteacher. Join historian Dr. Chris Mielke as we honor those who challenged norms, built community, and were brave enough to be themselves.
The tour will begin at The People’s Park at 44 Calvert Street and end at the Museum of Historic Annapolis at 99 Main Street. At the conclusion of the tour, a small reception will be held at the Museum, featuring light refreshments and an opportunity to continue the conversation.
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as the tour is held rain or shine. The tour route is approximately 1.25 miles long and includes elevation changes and uneven walking surfaces.
Advance registration required; space is limited. Recommended for ages 13+.

Paca Girlfriends Party
2026-06-10 18:00 - 21:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join us for the 18th annual Paca Girlfriends Party!
Wander the picturesque William Paca Garden as you enjoy a glass of bubbly and indulge in culinary creations prepared by the area’s premier chefs. Shop in our festive marketplace, meet and greet with local designers, and connect with a wide network of influential women. This popular annual fundraiser supports Historic Annapolis and our mission to Preserve. Protect. Connect.
VIP tickets will go on sale at 10 am on Friday, April 3. General Admission tickets will go on sale at 10 am on Friday, May 1.
21+ only. The event is held rain or shine.

Virtual Lecture – Citizen Science in the Chesapeake on the Eve of the American Revolution
2026-06-09 19:30 - 21:00
Beginning with the first European settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, until the 1775 battles at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, the Chesapeake region inspired interest among soldiers, merchants, and gentleman scholars in the Old World. Self-trained, amateur scientists like Thomas Jefferson fed that interest by committing their observations to paper. They sent letters and samples to correspondents in the Old World, most of whom held university degrees, at a time when education focused on classical literature and philosophy, theology, and the law.
These early Chesapeake scholars—whether roaming the countryside or making observations in their own gardens—are the intellectual ancestors of today’s citizen scientists, amateurs of all ages and backgrounds engaged in the advancement of knowledge through observation, measurement, analysis, and reporting of the world around them. This presentation explores that history from the vantage of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s Citizen Science in Archaeology program, participation in which is open to you.
The Historic Annapolis Virtual Lecture Series is offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. If you enjoy this program, we hope you will consider becoming a member or making a donation today to support Historic Annapolis and our mission to connect all people with our shared history.
Can’t watch live? All lectures will be recorded. Please register and you’ll receive the link to watch the recording after the event.
Advance registration required; registration closes on half-hour prior to lecture.
Cost: FREE

Expressions of Love: Annapolis Opera in the Paca Garden
2026-06-07 15:00 - 16:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join us in the Paca Garden as Annapolis Opera explores the many expressions of love in Opera! Featuring music by Gluck, Mozart, Verdi, and more, this program moves gracefully between sparkling comic moments and deeply felt lyricism. Through a blend of solos and duets, this musical jouney unfolds as in a celebration of connection, storytelling, and the joy of voices coming together in song.
Doors open at 2:30pm. Come early and enjoy the Paca Garden before the performance! Cash wine bar available for those age 21+
Advance registration required; space is limited. All are welcome.
Cost: $30 General Admission; $25 for HA Members, HA Volunteers, Military; $10 for Children age 3-17; Free for Children age 2 and under.

Linen and Liberty: Meet Catharine Futier
2026-06-06 11:00 - 15:00 | Hogshead, 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
It’s the spring of 1776 and the American Revolution is underway. British occupation of several colonies, combined with Congress’s non-importation policy on British goods, makes essential supplies increasingly scarce for tradespeople.
Catharine Futier, a free Black woman who earns her living as a laundress and seamstress, is among those deeply affected by these restrictions. Step into her shop and journey into the past to discover how everyday people endured hardship, adapted, and made sacrifices in support of the revolutionary cause.
This is a drop-in style program. Visitors may join at any time during program hours and explore at their own pace through informal interaction and demonstrations. Advance registration recommended, but not required.

When the Call Came: Civilians and the Maryland Flying Camp
2026-05-30 11:00 - 16:00 | Hogshead, 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Marylanders organized a rapid-response militia to defend liberty during the early days of the American Revolution. Known as the Maryland Flying Camp, this force was more than a military unit; it was a civilian experience that transformed daily life in 1776.
Stop by Pinkney Street to meet living historians and experience how Marylanders lived, worked, and served during a pivotal moment in the fight for independence. The war was fought not only on battlefields, but in homes, shops, taverns, and fields!
Visitors of all ages can take part in period games and a hands-on activity from the Revolutionary era.
This is a drop-in style program. Visitors may join at any time during program hours and explore at their own pace through informal interaction and demonstrations. Advance registration recommended, but not required.

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: Mommy Time
2026-05-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-16 10:00 - 11:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
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.
Mommy Time by Monique James-Duncan
Rollicking rhyme and playful illustrations record a day in the life of two rambunctious children and their stay-at-home mother. As fun as it is being a kid, it can be hard work being a mom. When Dad heads to his job, the joyful chaos of getting ready for the day begins. To the children, that day is a happy blur of school and playdates, singing and dancing, supermarket walks and library stops, bath time, story time, bedtime. But Mommy’s time is filled with a whole lot more sweeping, laundry, stinky diapers—tiring work achieved with love in her eyes and care in her smiles. An authentic catalog of precious moments in the life of an ordinary family, this warm, revealing story builds a bridge of empathy between parent and child and celebrates the value of “Mommy time.”
Celebrate Mother’s Day in the garden! Join us for a song and a unique craft!
Advance registration required, space is limited.

Colonial Garden Party
2026-05-17 12:00 - 15:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Drop in and visit the Paca Garden, a charming respite in the heart of bustling Annapolis. On this day, you’ll encounter the colonial gentry of Annapolis enjoying a garden party at the Summer House, portrayed by the Annapolis Living Historians.
Interact with finely-dressed ladies and gentlemen as they delight in this idyllic garden setting.
Advance registration recommended; program included with admission to the Paca Garden. Please Note: This event is a living history program; food is not included, and outside food is not permitted.

African Americans in the Revolutionary War
2026-05-16 11:00 - 15:00 | Hogshead, 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Step onto Pinkney Street and meet soldiers, camp followers, and musicians and experience the Revolutionary War through living history.
Learn how African Americans served on both sides of the conflict and explore the military equipment they used.
Discover the essential roles women played in military camps and hear fife and drum music that guided troops on the battlefield.
This program highlights service in integrated units such as the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, who shaped the fight for independence.
This is a drop-in style program. Visitors may join at any time during program hours and explore at their own pace through informal interaction and demonstrations. Advance registration recommended, but not required.

Virtual Lecture – Crafting the Golden Age: The Architectural World of Pre-Revolutionary Annapolis
2026-05-12 19:30 - 21:30
Annapolis today stands as a testament to its many layers of history, with four centuries of buildings standing side by side throughout the city. In honor of preservation month, this talk highlights Annapolis’ architectural landscape in the 1700s.
The years prior to the Revolutionary War were a time of vast economic growth and opportunity encompassing all levels of Annapolis society. The changing urban landscape reflected the dramatic rise of new buildings creating distinct areas of commercial, speculative, and private spheres. In her richly illustrated lecture, Marcia Miller explores the many connections between the built environment and those who lived, worked, and labored in pre-Revolutionary Annapolis.
The Historic Annapolis Virtual Lecture Series is offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. If you enjoy this program, we hope you will consider becoming a member or making a donation today to support Historic Annapolis and our mission to connect all people with our shared history.
Can’t watch live? All lectures will be recorded. Please register and you’ll receive the link to watch the recording after the event.
Advance registration required; registration closes on half-hour prior to lecture.

William Paca Garden Plant Sale
2026-05-10 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-09 10:00 - 16:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
A tradition for over 50 years, the William Paca Garden Plant Sale provides the opportunity to take home a piece of history. HA volunteers personally raise over 8,000 plants – perennials, annuals, trees, vines, and vegetable starts – that represent the best of the old and the new.

Certified as a Maryland’s Best Native Plants retailer, HA is proud to be recognized by the Maryland Department of Agriculture as a retailer offering at least 20 percent of its plants that are native to our state. If you are keen to support bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other native wildlife in your garden, you will find plants that delight them here.
Staff and volunteers are on hand to answer your gardening questions. Proceeds of this beloved annual tradition support the mission and programs of the William Paca House & Garden and Historic Annapolis.
Registration not required. The Plant Sale is held rain or shine. Pets are not permitted at the event.

Asian Americans in the Revolutionary War
2026-05-09 11:00 - 15:00 | Hogshead, 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Meet living historian Daniel Sieh to explore the lives of Asian people in the American colonies in the 1700’s and discover some of the under told stories of the American Revolution.
Through documents, activities, and objects, Daniel shares how global trade connected the lives of sailors, soldiers, traders, and enslaved people from Asia as they navigated American society.
This is a drop-in style program. Visitors may join at any time during program hours and explore at their own pace through informal interaction and demonstrations. Advance registration recommended, but not required.

Brewer Hill Cemetery Tour with Historic Annapolis
2026-05-02 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for a guided walking tour of Brewer Hill Cemetery. Learn the origins of this historic African American burial site. Hear stories of those interred here including military veterans, activists and local luminaries. Learn about current preservation and documentation projects at the Cemetery today and how you can get involved!
The net proceeds from this tour will be donated to Brewer Hill Cemetery.
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as the tour is held rain or shine. The tour route is approximately 1/2 miles long and includes elevation changes and uneven walking surfaces.
Recommended for ages 13+.

Visit Winterthur – A Bus Tour with Historic Annapolis
2026-04-29 07:30 - 17:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join Historic Annapolis for a delightful day trip to Winterthur!
Nestled in the heart of Delaware’s picturesque Brandywine Valley, Winterthur is a premier museum of American decorative arts, renowned for its extraordinary museum, garden, and library. Once the grand home of founder Henry Francis du Pont, the magnificent 175-room house showcases nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America since 1640—displayed much as the du Pont family lived among them. Beyond the house, Winterthur’s 1,000 acres of protected meadows, woodlands, ponds, and waterways create a setting of remarkable beauty, anchored by a nationally celebrated 60-acre garden.
Trip Highlights include two private group experiences:

Library Collections Tour led by Allie Alvis, Curator of Special Collections, featuring rare books, manuscripts, works on paper, photographs, and Winterthur’s archival collections, and
The new Architecture of Independence: America at 250 Tour that explores the founding of the nation through the architecture of the original thirteen colonies.

Following our group tours, enjoy a gourmet boxed lunch & free time to explore Winterthur’s renowned naturalistic garden on foot or via narrated tram ride, or enjoy a self-paced house tour, discovering American history through decorative arts, architecture, and the transformation of a private estate into a national museum.
Your admission fee includes:

Motorcoach transportation from Annapolis to Winterthur
Private Group Guided Tour of the Library & Mansion
Gourmet boxed lunch
Free time to explore!

Spaces are limited – reserve your spot today and enjoy a day filled with beauty, history, and inspiration as we explore one of America’s most remarkable cultural treasures.
Advance registration required; space is limited. Recommended for ages 16+. All participants must sign a liability waiver to attend the trip.

Pollinator-Friendly Gardening Workshop with Homestead Gardens
2026-04-26 13:00 - 14:30 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join us for a special Spring afternoon workshop on the Paca House Terrace, presented in partnership with our friends at Homestead Gardens.
Pollinators such as bees and butterflies play a vital role in our ecosystems and food supply, but they need our help!
At this workshop, a Homestead Gardens expert will discuss pollinator-friendly gardening and simple ways anyone can support local pollinators, even with limited space. Learn how to choose pollinator-friendly plants and easy gardening tips for balconies, porches, patios, and small yards.
Participants will create their own Bee & Butterfly Starter Garden Porch Pot to take home, along with a Guide to Growing Pollinator Friendly Gardens and a coupon for Homestead Gardens.
Advance registration required, space is limited. Recommended for ages 13+.

Revolutionary Annapolis Walking Tour
2026-04-25 11:00 - 12:30 | Museum of Historic Annapolis, 99 Main Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Celebrate America 250! Walk in the footsteps of patriot leader William Paca as you follow his dramatic personal and political story through the revolutionary era. Learn how a promising young lawyer became a rebel, a revolutionary, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the Governor of Maryland through the course of less than 20 years.
Guided by Glenn E. Campbell, HA’s retired Senior Historian, this 90-minute, 1.5-mile walking tour begins at the Museum of Historic Annapolis (99 Main Street) and ends at the Maryland State House, with stops at eleven other sites along the way.
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as the tour is held rain or shine. The tour route is approximately 1.5 miles long and includes elevation changes and uneven walking surfaces.

Loyalty and Zeal: Algonkians of the Revolution (1774-1783)
2026-04-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Hogshead, 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join Drew Shuptar-Rayvis, citizen of the Pocomoke Indian Nation, to honor the sacrifices and contributions of Algonkian peoples during the American Revolution.
Learn about Algonkian and Iroquoian material culture, trade, and daily life. Explore the difficult choices between patriotism, loyalty, and neutrality as Native communities struggled to protect their ways of life.
Analyze the destruction caused by the Sullivan Campaign and evaluate the lasting historical impact of Algonkian peoples on both the Patriots and Loyalists.

Paca Garden Guided Tour
2026-04-18 11:00 - 12:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Join us for a guided garden tour of the Paca Garden, a beautifully restored colonial English garden. A knowledgeable docent will share its history from its Revolutionary beginnings during the time of William Paca, signer of the Declaration of Independence, to today.
Explore the two-acre terraced landscape and formal parterres, as well as the wilderness garden, kitchen, and medicinal gardens, and orchard. Along the way, you’ll see features such as the fishpond and the Summerhouse folly and learn about the garden plants, wildlife, and ongoing care.

Virtual Lecture – Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America
2026-04-14 19:00 - 20:30
Genealogy is everywhere– online, on screens, through organizations and conferences and more. But technologies aside, genealogy was everywhere in the 1700s, too. And while we may think of Americans living in the 1700s as largely the subject of genealogy research, they were active participants in what was a foundational interest and practice in their own time. Family histories were deeply meaningful for diverse early Americans, but it was also baked into the very structures of their society through law, politics, and religion. From deep research across 18th-century British America, Karin Wulf’s new book, Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America, examines how we can understand the role of genealogy then, and its impact now.

Mr. Paca’s Garden Storytime: My Friend Earth
2026-04-14 10:00 - 11:00 | William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
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.
My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan
Perfect for Earth Day—and every day!—My Friend Earth is an homage to our wonderful planet. Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring.
Join us in celebrating Earth Day in the garden with a song, a craft, and a scavenger hunt!
Advance registration required, space is limited.

The American Experiment: Democracy at 250 A Conversation with Historian and Philanthropist David Rubenstein and NBC News Correspondent Andrea Mitchell
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
The American Experiment: Democracy at 250
A Conversation with Historian and Philanthropist David Rubenstein and NBC News Correspondent Andrea Mitchell
Maryland Hall and Historic Annapolis are pleased to present a distinctive afternoon of reflection on America’s founding principles and their enduring preservation.
Annapolis, MD – January 28, 2026 – Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and Historic Annapolis are proud to present The American Experiment: Democracy at 250, an afternoon conversation offering historical perspective on our nation’s founding principles, featuring historian, investor, and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein alongside award-winning broadcast journalist and NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 3 PM at Maryland Hall.
The program is presented as part of the nation’s observance of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Drawing on history, storytelling, and firsthand experiences, Rubenstein and Mitchell will reflect on how our nation’s foundational ideals have been documented and interpreted, and how they remain essential and relevant today.

David M. Rubenstein is widely recognized for his leadership in philanthropy and historic preservation, as well as his background in finance as co-founder of The Carlyle Group, where he helped build one of the world’s leading global investment firms. His philanthropic work has supported the restoration and public access to nationally significant historic sites and founding documents.

Andrea Mitchell is an award-winning NBC News national and foreign affairs correspondent whose distinguished career includes covering eight administrations, twelve presidential races, the Congress, and the State Department. She has reported from around the globe, covering major world leaders and events that have shaped the nation’s narrative.

“It is a great privilege to welcome David Rubenstein and Andrea Mitchell to Annapolis,” states Karen Brown, President & CEO of Historic Annapolis. “As we begin our celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, we are honored to partner with Maryland Hall to present this unique conversation that explores the resilience of our founding ideals and celebrates the true spirit of the American experiment.”

“Maryland Hall is proud to partner with Historic Annapolis to present The American Experiment: Democracy at 250, featuring David Rubenstein and Andrea Mitchell,” said Jackie Coleman, Executive Director of Maryland Hall. “Together, their perspectives remind us that democracy is not static—it is an ongoing experiment requiring curiosity, dialogue, and civic imagination. This program affirms Maryland Hall’s belief that the arts help sustain a healthy democracy by fostering reflection and a deeper understanding of the principles on which our nation was founded.”
The event highlights the ongoing collaboration between Maryland Hall and Historic Annapolis, bringing together arts, education, and preservation to deepen public understanding of the history and civic life rooted in Annapolis and the region through community engagement.
This event is ticketed, and advance purchase is required. Seats can be reserved through Maryland Hall’s website at marylandhall.org/maryland-hall-presents.
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About Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
At Maryland Hall, visitors can enjoy the arts in countless ways whether signing up for a class, attending a performance, visiting the on-site galleries, meeting artists-in-residence, volunteering, or spending time on the campus. Maryland Hall is proud to welcome more than 100,000 people to enjoy the arts each year. This campaign is a reinforcement of the organization’s continual commitment to Art for All.
About Historic Annapolis
Established in 1952, Historic Annapolis is the leading nonprofit preservation and history organization in Annapolis, Maryland. Our mission is to Preserve and Protect the historic places, objects, and stories of Maryland’s capital city, and provide engaging experiences that Connect people to the area’s diverse heritage.Historic Annapolis is one of six Smithsonian Affiliates in Maryland, and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. For more information or to get involved with Historic Annapolis, visit annapolis.org.

Hand and Hearth – Women’s Work in the Colonial Home
2026-04-11 11:00 - 15:00 | Hogshead, 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Step back into the past and explore the vital role of sewing and laundry in the daily life of a colonial household.
Discover how women and girls kept their families clothed, warm, and respectable. Learn about “plain sewing,” the making and mending of essential garments, bedding, and linens. Experience a period-accurate laundry demonstration. See how clothes and linens were boiled, scrubbed, blued, and dried using tools and techniques of the past.
