Sotterley Plans Day of Unity Celebration
(Photo by Hugh Davies)
Historic Sotterley is partnering with other local historic sites this year to promote stories from Southern Maryland for International Underground Railroad Month. It will offer three events, starting with a kickoff August 24 of the annual Day of Unity and Healing.
The event will focus on the collaboration between descendants, historic sites, and communities to preserve and interpret Sotterley’s history with transparency.
The day’s activities will commence at 9am with a wagon tour of the historic farm (registration required) and open house tours of the Manor House. The opening ceremony will feature keynote addresses from Mary Elliott of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and George Monroe, inaugural executive director of the Montpelier Descendants Committee.
Throughout the day, Sotterley will unveil the new Middle Passage Marker for Historic Sotterley prior to its installation near Route 235 and highlight the Sotterley Descendants Portrait Project by artist Nicole Stewart.
Additionally, staff will dedicate Historic Sotterley’s newly recognized Sacred Space, feature quilts from documentary story quilter Dr. Joan Gaither, offer various displays and demonstrations featuring partners and regional organizations, local authors will be on hand to sign copies of their books, and open house tours and special living history and music performances will take place.
The event is free and open to the public.
From September 13 to 15, Sotterley will continue the celebration with tours focused on the Pursuit of Freedom at Historic Sotterley, exploring the ongoing struggles faced after the Civil War. These tours, lasting approximately 45 to 60 minutes, will cover the ground floor spaces of the historic Manor House and Slave Dwelling.
Tours will be offered Friday and Saturday at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm, and on Sunday at noon, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. Tickets can be purchased at the visitor center at the time of the tour.
Sotterley will conclude September with a special opening reception for a new art gallery curated by Joi Lowe on September 29.
The gallery will feature artworks created by Joi using resources from Historic Sotterley, as well as special contributions from artists Pamela Callen, Mark Boneham, and Damien Wilkinson. The museum gallery aims to reflect Joi’s emotional and spiritual connection to Historic Sotterley’s complex history and to inspire viewers to engage with the past.
The opening reception will begin at 3pm with a tour of Historic Sotterley, concluding in the warehouse where Executive Director Nancy Easterling and Interpretive Programs Coordinator Katherine Humphries will provide opening remarks and acknowledgements as guests view the artwork.
The exhibit will remain on display throughout October.
Historic Sotterley is at 44300 Sotterley Lane in Hollywood, MD.
