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In Colonial times, as the Chesapeake Bay and larger rivers became vital shipping channels, the need arose to mark Maryland's dangerous shoals and waterways. Lighthouses sprang up throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, including wood-framed cottages placed upon screw pile foundations that stood offshore in the unforgiving waters. Most of these unique structures did not survive, lost tragically to ice that also occasionally claimed the lives of the keepers who faithfully tended them and rescued mariners in trouble. With the advent of electricity and GPS, many beacons succumbed to vandalism and neglect, leaving a fraction remaining.

The Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, Maryland, was established in 1948 to preserve the surviving 63 acres of the vast empire built by the Ridgely family beginning in the 18th century.

In its heyday, the estate covered 25,000 non contiguous acres and included agricultural fields, orchards, livestock, quarries, mills, and ironworks. Today visitors flock to the magnificent Georgian mansion, farm manager's house, slave quarters, dairy, agricultural buildings, formal gardens, and family cemetery. The story of Hampton National Historic Site extends beyond its buildings and setting to the people who lived and worked on the estate during the 200 plus years of Ridgely ownership, including the indentured servants, the enslaved, and the paid workforce. The legacy of Hampton National Historic Site is illustrated here through rich primary source material that was generated and provided by the Ridgelys, including written documentation, historic images, and physical artifacts.

Sotterley Plantation, a National Historic Landmark on the Patuxent River in St. Mary's County, is one of the oldest museums of its kind in the United States. Sotterley is the only Tidewater plantation in Maryland open to the public, with original and restored buildings on its nearly 100 beautiful acres. Sotterley's first owner purchased the property in 1699, and it was to become one of the largest tobacco plantations in the Chesapeake Tidewater region. The plantation's location on the Patuxent River made it desirable for shipping and trade but also made it vulnerable during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Sotterley Plantation declined with the end of the Civil War and slavery but was revived in the early 20th century. Life and culture at Sotterley Plantation was greatly shaped by both owners and workers. Family-owned for its entire significant history, Sotterley Plantation was opened to the public in 1961. Today, Sotterley Plantation is a destination for visitors looking to be reminded of a bygone era.