Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum facts for kids

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum (JPPM) is a huge state park and museum in St. Leonard, Calvert County, Maryland. It covers 560 acres right next to the Patuxent River.

This amazing park was given to Maryland in 1983 by Mary Marvin Patterson. She wanted to honor her husband, Jefferson Patterson, who was a U.S. diplomat. Many of the park's buildings were designed by Gertrude Sawyer starting in the 1930s. The beautiful gardens were planned by Rose Greely and Cary Milholland Parker.

The park visitor center, a former barn

JPPM is a special place because it has over 70 known archaeological sites. This means people have lived here for a very long time. In fact, there is proof of humans living on this land for 9,000 years! Scientists are still digging and learning new things here.

The park offers many fun activities for visitors. You can explore hiking, walking, and bike trails. There's also a place to launch canoes and kayaks. Inside the park, you'll find a visitor center with cool exhibits and a gift shop. There's also an exhibit barn, a pavilion for events, and a historic house. One of the most popular spots is a recreated Indian village. JPPM also hosts many annual events, educational programs, and summer camps. The best part is, admission is free!

Exploring the Visitor Center and Exhibits

The main visitor center at JPPM used to be a cattle barn. Now, it has interesting displays about the Patterson family. You can also learn about archaeology, which is the study of human history through digging up old things. The center shows you the important work being done right there at the park.

The Exhibit Barn: History and Farming

Near the visitor center, you'll find the exhibit barn. This barn has a special display about the War of 1812. This was a big war between the United States and Great Britain. The barn also shows off old farm equipment. It helps you imagine what farming was like a long time ago.

Discovering the Recreated Indian Village

The Indian Village at JPPM was built in 2007. It was created to celebrate 400 years since John Smith explored the Chesapeake Bay. This village helps us imagine what life was like for the Native people who lived along the Patuxent River when John Smith visited.

Life in the Village

The village has four longhouses, which were traditional homes. There's a central fire pit where people would gather. You can also see racks used for smoking fish and meat. Outside the village fence, there's a working garden. This garden grows many plants that Native people used to farm. It shows how they lived off the land.

Archaeology at JPPM: Uncovering the Past

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum is also home to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab). This lab is a very important place. It stores over 8 million artifacts! These are items found from archaeological digs all over Maryland.

What the MAC Lab Does

The MAC Lab collects and cares for archaeological finds. These come from projects on land and underwater. Students, scholars, and museum experts can use these collections for research. They also help create exhibits and educational programs. A special area called Patterson's Archeological District is part of the park's land. This district is very important for understanding the past.