St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Framing the Past
Discovering
As a colonial capital, St. Mary's City once boasted several hundred structures. It welcomed trading visiting traders, trappers, planters, and lawmakers who did business with the city's innkeepers, lawyers, merchants, and printer.
Here you can see several wooden skeletons that represent original Town Center buildings. These modern "ghost frames" are located over actual building foundations discovered during archaeology. The frames with chimneys represent houses. Those without chimneys were probably barns, outbuildings, or stables.
Historic St. Mary's City continues to do archaeological research on these ghost frame sites. Over time, more of the original structures will be recreated. Until then, the ghost frames help to remind us that St. Mary's City really was a city where people lived, worked, and established a government.
[Captions:]
Archaeologists analyze postholes, brickwork, trash pits, and other in-ground evidence to determine what a structure may have looked like and how it was used. Shown here is a progression of archaeological discovery from test pit to reconstructed building.
"His Lordfh, therefore intends, that all his Planters, fhall dwell together at the first, at or as neere as may be vnto St. Maries Towne "
The Conditions of Plantation,
this page online
Erected by Historic St. Mary's City.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 15, 1634.
Location. 38° 11.015′ N, 76° 25.922′ W. Marker is in St. Mary's City, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It can be reached from Middle Street Path east of Aldermanbury Street Footpath, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Marys City MD 20686, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: " once the Metropolis" (within shouting distance of this marker); Horse High, Pig Tight, and Bull Strong (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Signs of Industry (within shouting distance of this marker); From Slavery to Freedom (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Dwell here, live plentifully, and be rich" (about 300 feet away); A Time of Troubles (about 400 feet away); Fear of War, People of Peace (about 400 feet away); Witness to History (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Mary's City.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Fear of War, People of Peace (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 30, 2019
2. Framing the Past Marker
This is an earlier iteration of the marker. While the inscription is identical, there are slight differences in formatting.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 672 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on September 2, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
