Maryland begins here!  All are invited to participate in the annual Maryland Day observance at St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point, Maryland on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at 11 a.m.

Commemorate Maryland’s first colonial landing 375 years ago at St. Clement’s Island on March 25, 1634. There will be remarks by the St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners as well as a keynote address by Dr. Julia King, Associate Professor of Anthropology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.  Also enjoy an interpretive demonstration of a rowing wherry boat replica likely carried aboard “The Ark” and used to transport from ship to shore.  This exhibit will be manned by Capt. Will Gates who pilots the “The Dove” at Historic St. Mary’s City, a replica of one of the English ships that carried the first colonists to “Mary’s Land.”

St. Mary’s County will commemorate Maryland’s 375th birthday all year long through tourism initiatives, incentives, giveaways, weekend packages, etc. that celebrate and promote the county’s significant historical sites, attractions, and events.  All are invited to celebrate and participate by logging onto the official website www.Maryland375.com for great deals, giveaways and event information and more.  Maryland Day at the St. Clement’s Island Museum kicks off Celebrate 375 events for 2009.  This is the location where you “begin” at the “beginning,” at Maryland’s birthplace!

A special birthday calls for a special birthday cake.  The Maryland Day celebration will highlight a Celebrate 375 birthday cake designed by St. Mary’s County Museum Division Manager Debra Pence and hand crafted by Chef Duff Goldman and the cake artists of Charm City Cakes of Baltimore, Maryland.  Chef Duff and his staff are the stars of the popular Food Network television show “Ace of Cakes” known for their innovative and unconventional designs and entertaining and quirky on-air antics. The cake will be delivered by Charm City Cakes early on March 25 where it will be assembled and displayed inside the Little Red Schoolhouse on the grounds of the museum.

The event will take place on the lawn of the museum. As this is an outdoor event, please dress for the weather.  In the event of rain, high wind or an extreme low temperature the program will be moved inside the museum and space will be very limited.  The museum and grounds are handicap accessible and admission is free. This Maryland Day program is brought to you by the Museum Division of St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks, Friends of the St. Clement’s Island and Piney Point Museums, and the St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners.

For more information about the event call the St. Clement’s Island Museum at (301) 769-2222. For more information about the St. Clement’s Island Museum, Museum Division programs and events,  and Maryland history, log on to www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.