Southern Maryland - Part 2

After the lighthouse, we went to St. Mary's City, Maryland's first colonial settlement and capitol. It is the fourth oldest permanent English settlement in the United States and  now a large, state-run historic area, reconstruction of the original colonial settlement, living history area and museum complex. St. Mary's City is also considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America, being the first North American colonial settlement ever established with the specific mandate of being a haven for both Catholic and Protestant Christian faiths. It is also an internationally recognized archeological  research area and training center for archaeologists. There have been over 200 archeological digs in St. Mary's city over the last 30 years.  Archaeological research continues in the city.  We went on a day when it was closed, so no tours, or living history, which for us was a bonus, but the pictures look a little lonely.