PGParks History

09/06/2026

We have four more FREE Community Days to celebrate local history, community connections, special exhibitions, and family fun across Prince George's County.

Plus, enjoy free ice cream while supplies last at every event! 🍦

September 12 | College Park Aviation Museum (College Park)
• Helicopter fly-in (weather permitting)
• Robotics and aviation-themed activities
• Explore Reclaiming Our Space: The Story of Lakeland
• Contribute to the Community Collections Wall

📍 September 19 | Riversdale Historic Site (Riverdale Park) • Tour the historic mansion
• Watch open-hearth cooking demonstrations
• Explore the gardens
• Create in the art zone

📍 September 19 | Darnall's Chance Historic Site & Museum (Upper Marlboro)
• Tour the historic site
• Play lawn games
• Test your knowledge with 250th trivia
• Meet local community partners

📍 September 26 | Marietta Historic Site & Museum (Glenn Dale)
• Visit the 250th Community Portrait Gallery
• Shop the Farmers Market and food trucks
• Experience Yoruba drumming and dance
• Try Native American crafts

All events are FREE and open to all ages.

Learn more and find the event page for each Community Day: https://pgparks.com/event_list/history-community-day-series/2026-08-22

09/05/2026

Build community and learn about historic libations of colonial America as we explore the expansive world of fermented beverages during Montpelier's "Infusing Taste: Bottling Flavor in Bitters and Shrubs" program on Saturday, September 26. Leave with homemade shrubs and bitters, recipes, and ideas for elevating any drink into a true refreshment! A sampling of fermented non-alcoholic beverages will be served as we work. All materials provided.

Details:
Saturday, September 26, 3-5 PM
Montpelier Historic Site & Museum, 9650 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708
Ages 21+
$25 for Montpelier Members and Residents of PG County; $33 for Non-residents

Call 301-377-7817 or visit pgparks.com/montpeliermuseum to register today!

09/03/2026

Stop by for a day of family-friendly fun, hands-on activities, and local history at our free Community Day on September 12!

Check the website for the latest activity updates: https://pgparks.com/event_list/college-park-aviation-community-day

Current activities include:

🚁 Helicopter fly-in (weather permitting)
📖 Rosie Revere aviation story and craft
🤖 Ozobot robotic coding
🏘️ Reclaiming Our Space: The Story of Lakeland exhibition & activity
🖼️ Curating at the Community Collections Wall

We can't wait to see you there!

09/02/2026

https://pgparks.com/event_list/fall-concerts-series

🎶 Fall evenings are better with live music! 🍂

Grab your lawn chair, pack your favorite picnic dinner, and join us at Riversdale Historic Site & Museum for two unforgettable evenings of great music, fresh air, and community fun. Whether you're coming with family, friends, or neighbors, our 2026 Fall Concert Series is the perfect way to enjoy the season!

📅 Wednesdays, September 9 & 23, 2026
🕖 7–8 pm
📍 6005 48th Ave., Riverdale Park 20737
🎟️ You can reserve your FREE spot here: https://bit.ly/rhsm-festsandconcerts

Admission is free—just bring your picnic, your lawn chair, and your love of music!

🎵 Tag the friend you'd bring along, and we'll see you on the lawn! 🍁

Join us on the lawn at Riversdale Historic Site & Museum for our 2026 Fall Concert Series featuring a variety of bands throughout the season!

09/01/2026

Looking for your next great read? 📚

Join us at Marietta’s Farmers Market for a special celebration of local literature featuring authors from the Write Women Network. Browse a variety of books, chat with the writers who created them, and purchase autographed copies to add to your collection. Throughout the day, enjoy live readings and discover new stories, perspectives, and voices from talented local authors!

📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
🎟️ FREE
📍 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale, MD
🔗

Authors from the Write Women Network will join Marietta’s Farmer’s Market, where visitors will have the opportunity to chat with the authors and purchase autographed books.

08/31/2026

Update from the Paleontology Lab!

The paleontology team have been working hard preparing the bones collected from the Dinosaur Park Bone Bed this summer.

The latest specimen is the bone from near the end of the tail of a large sauropod dinosaur. Sauropod's were large long necked herbivores that adapted to either feed high from the tree tops or vacuum up plants from the ground.

This fossil from the lab was collected in 2023 and it can take many months or even years to clean a single bone.

08/30/2026

Join Darnall’s Chance for a new FREE virtual lecture on Thursday, September 10th at 7 PM. Hear author, Dr. Richard Bell, speak about the struggle to define a woman’s place in colonial politics, voting, and public leadership. Gain a new understanding of how women took on crucial roles in the decades leading up to the American Independence.

Sign up to get a reminder and Microsoft Teams link by emailing the museum at [email protected] or by calling 301-952-8010.

In the decade leading up to American independence, white women took on crucial roles in a series of boycotts, petitions, and protests that allowed them to assert themselves as political actors as never before.

08/29/2026

🍎 Educators! Getting ready for the 2026–27 school year?

Marietta Historic Site & Museum has engaging, inquiry based field trip opportunities built on the Maryland DoE Social Studies Standards and Frameworks.

Located in Glenn Dale, MD, Marietta is the historic home of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Gabriel Duvall and the enforced home of enslaved men, women, and children, including the Duckett, Butler, and Jackson families. We’re open for field trips Monday through Friday from 11am – 4pm.

Reach out to our Museum Educator for more information at 301-464-5291 or [email protected].

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please take a moment to fill out our Community Interest and Opinion Survey. Your feedback provides valuable insight as we plan for future parks, facilities, programs, and services.

08/28/2026

Prince George’s County residents played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement, challenging segregation and advocating for equality in their own communities and beyond.

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington, calling attention to civil rights and economic inequalities.

Among them was Geneva Mays of Prince George’s County, who served as a field marshal. She personally heard Mahalia Jackson call out to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Tell them about the dream, Martin.”

Mays continued her service in Prince George’s County, becoming a pioneering civic leader and helping establish the county chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

Today, we honor Geneva Mays and the many Prince Georgians who helped advance the fight for equality and justice.

Learn more about Prince George’s County history:
https://bit.ly/4qon0cZ

08/27/2026

🎉 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Riversdale!

Join us on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 11 am–2 pm for a fun-filled Hispanic Heritage Month Community Day with the Riversdale Kitchen Guild!

Step back in time as our historic cooks prepare seasonal fruits and vegetables over the open hearth using authentic 19th-century cooking techniques. Discover the flavors, traditions, and stories that connect us through hands-on history, cultural experiences, and interactive demonstrations for all ages.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a food lover, or simply looking for a unique way to spend the day, there's something for everyone. Come celebrate community, culture, and history with us—we can't wait to welcome you!

Commemorate America 250 and discover the history in your own backyard at the Riversdale Historic Site & Museum!