FOUR RIVERS ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR MARYLAND DAY CELEBRATION 2013!

Maryland Day (March 25) is a state holiday commemorating the formal founding of the colony of Maryland, when the newly-arrived colonists erected a cross on St. Clement's Island, offered prayers (perhaps by saying Mass), and took "possession of this Countrey for our Saviour and for our soveraigne Lord the King of England." In 1916, the Maryland General Assembly authorized Maryland Day as a legal holiday devoted to Maryland history.

For the sixth year in a row, Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town and South County is partnering with regional heritage organizations and businesses to showcase the area's historical, cultural and natural heritage for visitors and residents of all ages. Events and activities will take place throughout the Maryland Day Celebration weekend of March 22, 23, and 24 for one dollar or less; many of the activities are free! Participants include:

• Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau: 26 West Street and Annapolis City Dock
• Annapolis Film Festival
• Annapolis Green
• Annapolis Maritime Museum: 723 Second Street and Creek View Drive, Eastport
• Annapolis Tours by Watermark®
• Banneker-Douglass Museum: 84 Franklin Street, Annapolis
• Captain Avery Museum: 1418 East West Shady Side Road, Shady Side
• Charles Carroll House: 107 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis
• Chase-Lloyd House: 22 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Philip Merrill Environmental Center, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis
• Chesapeake Children's Museum: 25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis
• City of Annapolis
• Courthouse Museum in the Anne Arundel County Courthouse: Church Circle, Annapolis
• Deale Area Historical Society: Historic Village at Herrington Harbour North, 389 Deale Road, Tracey's Landing
• Galesville Heritage Museum: 988 Main Street, Galesville
• Hammond-Harwood House: 19 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis
• Historic Annapolis Museum: 99 Main Street, Annapolis
• Historic London Town and Gardens: 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater
• Hogshead (Historic Annapolis): 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis
• MainStreets Annapolis Partnership
• Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts: 801 Chase Street, Annapolis
• Maryland State House: 100 State Circle, Annapolis
• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater
• United States Naval Academy Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center: 52 King George Street, Annapolis
• West Annapolis Heritage Partnership: various partners in West Annapolis
• Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center: 1101 Smithville Street, Annapolis
• William Paca House (Historic Annapolis): 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis
• Wimsey Cove Maps & Art

Additional Maryland Day Celebration participating partners and events include the Maryland Welcome Centers, Rams Head Tavern, Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis, and an African American History Walk with Janice Hayes-Williams.

Mark your calendars now and plan to bring the whole family to Annapolis and Southern Anne Arundel County for three days of fun, interactive and educational activities that celebrate the best of Maryland's unique history, natural resources, and culture. New this year: Geocaching! Geocaching is a modern-day scavenger hunt in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches." Many of our participating sites will have hidden geocaches for families to find – use our website and handouts to find them yourself!

Four Rivers, one of Maryland's 12 certified state heritage areas, is a nonprofit organization operating in partnership with the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Anne Arundel County, the City of Annapolis, the Town of Highland Beach, and heritage-related organizations and businesses. Its mission is to stimulate preservation and economic development of the region by supporting and promoting its natural, historic and cultural resources. Our website URL is www.fourriversheritage.org. For more information about the Maryland Day Celebration event, please call the office at 410-222-1805. E-mail contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .