Winter Lecture: The Ben Ross Homeplace: Archaeology at Harriet Tubman’s Birthsite
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Speaker: Dr. Julie Schablitsky, Chief Archaeologist, Maryland Department of Transportation
In 2020, archaeologists began searching the Eastern Shore wetlands for the home of Ben Ross, Harriet Tubman’s father. Their work uncovered the remains of Ross’s homeplace and a second dwelling used by enslaved people. Drawing on documentary evidence and hundreds of artifacts, Dr. Schablitsky is reconstructing the lives of those who lived and labored there—offering new insight into how Tubman, her family, and her community endured and ultimately escaped slavery.
Dr. Julie Schablitsky serves as MDOT’s chief archaeologist and adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on sites of enslavement in Maryland, including Harriet Tubman’s birthplace. Her recent book, Belvoir: An Archaeology of Maryland Slavery, was published by the University of Alabama Press.

In-Person Tickets

virtual tickets

Winter Lecture: Columbia Beach: “Gem of the Bay”
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second st., Annapolis, 21403, United States
Speakers:
Mimi Giguère, Principal Investigator & Historic Architect
Faye Belt, Former President, Columbia Beach Improvement Association
Founded in 1940, Columbia Beach was one of several thriving African American waterfront communities established in Anne Arundel County during segregation. Now the first African American community in Maryland approved for submission to the National Historic Register, Columbia Beach stands as a vital part of the broader “Black Coast” story.
This presentation shares the groundbreaking research, interviews, documentation, and community engagement that supported the nomination. Historic architect Mimi Giguère—an expert in preservation and architectural documentation—led the project’s technical and archival research. She is joined by Faye Belt, a longtime resident whose family has lived in Columbia Beach for three generations and who has dedicated her career to preserving African American heritage across the region, including the historic Crownsville Hospital.
Together, they will offer a deeply informed look at the history, significance, and enduring legacy of this remarkable community.

in-person tickets

virtual tickets

Winter Lecture: Ospreys on the Patuxent
2026-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second st., Annapolis, 21403, United States
Speaker: Alex Pellegrini, Avian Ecologist
Discover the fascinating world of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), the iconic “fish hawk” of the Chesapeake Bay. Avian ecologist Alex Pellegrini will explore Osprey biology, banding, reintroduction efforts, and the remarkable conservation journey that brought this once-imperiled species back to thriving numbers.
Alex Pellegrini is an avian ecologist based in Maryland and a 2022 graduate of Towson University, where he studied Conservation Biology and Animal Behavior. As the Farmland Raptor Program Coordinator for the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership, he oversees statewide efforts to support American Kestrels and Barn Owls. He also works at Patuxent River Park conducting Osprey monitoring, Sora migration research, and MAPS songbird banding.
His work extends to Operation Osprey data management, the Maryland/D.C. Records Committee, Project Owlnet, and international collaborations including the Global Owl Project and the International Short-Eared Owl Working Group.

In-Person Tickets

Virtual tickets

AMM Volunteer Open House
2026-02-28 10:00 - 12:30 | Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second st., Annapolis, 21403, United States
Please join us for our annual Volunteer Open House and see all of the wonderful opportunities available to help support the Annapolis Maritime Museum (AMM). Whether you are interested in history, continuing education, visitor engagement, gardening, woodworking or crewing on the skipjack Wilma Lee, you will find great options for involvement with various levels of commitment.
Learn how volunteers play a vital role in advancing AMM’s mission to educate youth and adults about the rich maritime heritage of Annapolis and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay.
The Open House if free and open to the community. RSVP is encouraged but not required. Email the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@amaritime.org.

Winter Lecture: The Winter Visitors: From Scapa Flow to Annapolis to Bletchley Park
2026-03-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second st., Annapolis, 21403, United States
Speaker: David Gendell, Author, Sailor, and AMM Board Member
In January 1941, a state-of-the-art British battleship charges up the Chesapeake Bay on a secret mission. With no fanfare or entourage, the president travels to Annapolis for the rendezvous. Meanwhile, a team of American codebreakers pack their equipment and board a boat at Annapolis, on a secret mission of their own. Annapolis sailor David Gendell is the author of three non-fiction history books. His 2024 book. “The Last Days of the Schooner America,” was awarded the 2025 Brewington Book prize for maritime history. He is a member of the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s Board of Directors.

in-person tickets

virtual tickets

Celebrate Maryland Day: Oysters on the Bay!
2026-03-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second st., Annapolis, 21403, United States
🎉 Celebrate Maryland Day at the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park!
Join us on March 20, 10am–2pm, for a family-friendly celebration spotlighting one of Maryland’s most iconic species—the Chesapeake Bay oyster!
Enjoy hands-on activities, creative crafts, and interactive exhibit experiences that bring Bay ecology and maritime heritage to life.
We’re excited to welcome our community partners: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Watermark, and Magothy River Association.
🦪 Explore. Learn. Celebrate Maryland’s heritage—right on the waterfront.
