Why is St. Mary’s County known as Maryland’s Original Destination? Because nearly 400 years ago, this is where it all began. In 1634, English men and women traveled with Leonard Calvert to form a colony known as Maryland. They landed on St. Clement’s Island along the Potomac River where Father Andrew White, an English Jesuit, offered the first Catholic Mass in the English-speaking New World in thanks for their safe arrival. The leaders met with the tribal council of the Piscataway People, the regional indigenous nation, to negotiate settlement plans. The rest – is history… Uncover the stories of our past.
Today, the county has embraced these historical roots while becoming a high-tech hub. St. Mary’s is home to technological giants including Naval Air Systems Command, numerous defense contractors, and the Southern Maryland Autonomous Research & Technology facility. It is rich in resources, including higher education institutions, a thriving agriculture sector, over 500 miles of shoreline, and much more! St. Mary's County is home to a variety of signature events including the U.S. Oyster Festival, Potomac Jazz & Seafood Festival, the Drag Racing Alliance World Championship, and the international Student Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition…Discover Maryland's Original Destination.
