From City to Plantation
Slavery to Freedom at St. Mary's Manor
Slavery at St. Mary’s Manor
Until 1864, most African Americans in St. Mary’s County were enslaved in some form or an other. For those who were not, they labored and lived only one step removed from bondage. These panels examine a number of components of African American life at St. Mary’s Manor, one of the largest plantations in the County’s […]
Civil War and Emancipation
The Civil War radically changed almost all components of American society. For African Americans, the change was clear: the War resulted in the ending of slavery and opened a door for new opportunities. For many African Americans, this was not something that was given to them. Many participated in taking their own freedom through escape […]
Post-Slavery in St. Mary’s City
After the Civil War, white planters and black laborers had to renegotiate their relationship without slavery. For many planters, this meant reestablishing positions of dominance over black laborers to maintain agricultural production and social power. For black farmers, this meant reconstituting their families broken during slavery and the War, and establishing community spaces to practice […]
Archaeology and Preservation at Historic St. Mary’s City
Click the images below to read more about the various historical, archaeological and preservation projects conducted at HSMC.
