Sotterley to Host Visitor Center Grand Opening

Historic Sotterley will hold the grand opening of its new Visitor Experience Center from 10am to 4pm May 2. The new center is located centrally on the site, giving visitors better access to the historic corridor and providing additional space for a series of rotating exhibits on local and national history.

The event also marks the opening of Historic Sotterley’s 2026 guided tour season, which will run through October and allow visitors to get a deeper look into Sotterley’s history. This year’s tour season will include new exhibits, such as the Transportation and Trade on the Tidewater exhibit and a look at critical preservation in progress on the Homestead House.

During the grand opening, visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities and museum activities including:

• “Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now” traveling exhibit from Maryland Humanities
• Themed tours about Historic Sotterley’s history as a museum
• Face painting and bubbles for kids
• Puppeteer show
• Viewing Historic Sotterley’s farm animals

Guests are encouraged to bring picnics to enjoy on the property overlooking the Patuxent River.

Historic Sotterley is at 44300 Sotterley Lane in Hollywood.

Cost: Free, with additional costs for guided tours

About “Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now”

The traveling exhibit is on loan to Historic Sotterley from Maryland Humanities. It explores the evolution of one of our most important American freedoms from its earliest incarnation in the Maryland Colony to its role in contemporary society and is part of an extended project designed to encourage all citizens to think critically about the roles of a free press to self-government in democracy.

The exhibit will be on display in the new visitor center through the end of June.

About Historic Sotterley’s History as a Museum Tours

Explore the evolution of Historic Sotterley from its earliest days as a museum opening to the public for guided tours in the 1960s to the innovative historic site that includes descendant leadership and a demonstrated commitment to preserving the stories of all who once called this site home.

Tour Times: 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2pm
Tour Price: $10 general admission | $9 seniors | $6 children ages 6-17 | free children 5 and younger and all Historic Sotterley members

Tour tickets are first-come, first-served and can be bought at the visitor center during the event.