Snow Hill Site facts for kids

The Snow Hill Site is a special place where archaeologists found old things. It is located near Port Deposit, Maryland in Cecil County, Maryland. This site was once home to a community of free African Americans. They lived here in the middle of the 1800s.

Archaeologists found parts of old buildings and other items here. These discoveries help us learn about the people who lived there. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it is an important historical place.

Discovering the Snow Hill Site

The Snow Hill Site is an archaeological site. This means it is a place where people study human history. They do this by digging up old things. These things can be tools, buildings, or even trash. The Snow Hill Site helps us understand how people lived long ago.

A Special Community's History

The most important part of the Snow Hill Site is its history. It was home to a community of free African Americans. In the 1800s, many African Americans were enslaved. But some were free. These free people built their lives and homes in places like Snow Hill. This community started around the mid-1800s. It was a place where people could live and work freely.

What Archaeologists Found

When archaeologists explored the Snow Hill Site, they found many clues. They found the remains of several structures. These were parts of old buildings. They also found a foundation and pieces of walls or floors.

Two cast iron stoves were found in situ. This means they were found exactly where they were left. It's like finding a toy exactly where a child dropped it. These stoves show us how people cooked and kept warm. Archaeologists also found groups of old trash. This "refuse" can tell us a lot about daily life. It shows what people ate, what tools they used, and how they lived.

Only a part of the site has been fully studied. This part is on the United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge property. More discoveries might still be waiting.

The Last Standing Building

Most of the old community buildings are gone. But one building from that time is still standing. It is a two-story duplex. A duplex is a house that has two separate homes inside. This building was built in the late 1800s. It is located close to the main archaeological site. It helps us imagine what the community looked like.

Why is the Snow Hill Site Important?

The Snow Hill Site is important for several reasons. It helps us learn about the lives of free African Americans. Their stories are a key part of American history. The site shows how they built communities and lived their lives.

Being on the National Register of Historic Places means the site is protected. It is recognized as a place with special historical value. This helps make sure that future generations can also learn from it. It reminds us of the people who lived there and their contributions.