As our organization plans to revisit and revise our Interpretive Themes, we are planning a series of lunchtime seminars on the themes developed for recent Interpretive Plans in our area.

In the first seminar, Darian Beverungen, Cultural Resources Planner in the Planning and Zoning Department in Anne Arundel County, will present the County’s Interpretive Framework as presented in the document, “White Paper: Assessment of Anne Arundel County’s Existing Historic Preservation Program.”

The presentation will be virtual, via Zoom, on Tuesday, October 25, at Noon, and a Q-and-A session will follow the presentation. The link to the session will be sent out one week prior to the session; please send an e-mail to heritage_area@aacounty.org to receive the link. Please mark your calendar!

Please also save the date of Thursday, November 17th at Noon, for the second seminar in the series, by Karen Theimer Brown, President and CEO of Historic Annapolis, on the themes in the Master Interpretive Plan for the Annapolis City Dock Area. Thanks and we look forward to learning a great deal from these seminars!

Do you know a great heritage practitioner? An outstanding heritage-related project? Perhaps a valuable staff member or dedicated volunteer you would like to publicly acknowledge?

The Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area seeks nominations for its Nineteenth Annual Heritage Awards. These awards recognize individuals, organizations, partnerships, programs and products that contribute significantly to the community by interpreting, promoting, preserving, researching and/or supporting our historical legacy.

In 2022, nominations are invited in eleven categories, including Heritage Tourism Product Award, Heritage Volunteer Award, Heritage Partnership Award, Heritage Sponsor of the Year, Heritage Professional of the Year, Heritage Interpreter of the Year, New Outdoors Initiative Award, Legacy Award, and Public/Private Initiative Award, Stewardship Award, and the Heritage Leadership Award, which goes to an individual for significant and long-lasting contributions to local history and heritage. Self-nominations are accepted.

The nominations deadline is THIS FRIDAY, October 7, 2022. A heritage area awards committee will review and evaluate nominations.

If you haven’t been to our website recently, here are some posts you may have missed!

Fall Events This Week: October 3-October 9

National Cryptologic Museum Will Reopen to the Public on October 8

STEM to STEAM — Let’s Encourage This Change

What is the “North County African American Trail”?

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by Watching our “Story Project” Video with Tatiana Klein

Wednesday, October 5

7:30 pm

Organization: Historic Annapolis

Historic Annapolis, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is pleased to present a special presentation celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Join Historic Annapolis for a talk and discussion about the history and contributions of the diverse U.S. Latino community with Ranald Woodaman, Exhibitions Director of the National Museum of the American Latino.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino is at least a decade from opening in Washington, D.C. In the meantime, it operates a gallery located in the National Museum of American History to develop temporary exhibits that introduce Smithsonian audiences to the history, diversity and complexity of the U.S. Latino community. The gallery’s motto is “Latino history is U.S. history” because its objects and stories illuminate the U.S. experience. This online talk by Ranald Woodaman, Exhibitions Director of the National Museum of the American Latino and lead curator of “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States” will break down the exhibition’s main themes and their rationales, as well as introduce new perspectives on U.S. history.

Registration required. Cost: Free, donations welcome. Register for A Latino History of the United States.

Thursday, October 6 – Friday, October 7 – Saturday, October 8

7:30-9:10 pm

Meet at the Market House Park

25 Market Space, Annapolis

Looking for ghost tours in Maryland? On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the month of October, Annapolis Tours by Watermark is partnering with Historic Annapolis to offer Special Historic Hauntings.

Our spirited guide will lead you through the dark alleys, spooky side streets, and lesser-known haunted sites of the old and creaky town of Annapolis. Hear from real diary entries and newspaper articles of what frightened early 18th century folks. Also included is a stop inside historic Hogshead, where you will be immersed in the tales of those living in Annapolis during the Revolutionary War. Listen to stories of spirits that linger in the mist, and explore one of Annapolis’ best-known cemeteries. Special Historic Hauntings takes you back to a time of superstition and legend. And who knows, after a trip inside Hogshead, your own story may be added to the history of Annapolis! 

Cost: Adults, $26; Children (3-11), $15; Infants (2 and under), Free

Saturday, October 8

9:00 am-1:00 pm

City of Annapolis Council Chambers

160 Duke of Gloucester Street

Annapolis

This hearing, being conducted in partnership with Connecting the Dots, “will focus on the tragic lynchings of John Simms (death,1875); George Briscoe (death,1884); Wright Smith (death,1898); Henry Davis (death,1906); and King Johnson (death,1911). Participants may include descendants of the lynching victims, expert witnesses, community members, archivists, and scholars of the community. The MLTRC’s hearing process will allow members of the public, including the descendants of victims, witnesses, and perpetrators, the opportunity to offer testimony about how these murders have impacted their lives and their communities in addition to allowing them the opportunity to make recommendations for achieving racial healing.

If you would like to attend in person Pre-registration is required. Submit your testimony to mltrc@maryland.gov or bring your written testimony if you attend in-person. Register for the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC) Public Hearing for Anne Arundel County.

Saturday, October 8

10:00 am-3:00 pm

Chesapeake Arts Center

194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park

Chesapeake Arts Center’s signature Arts in the Park free festival features live performances, art, more than 40 artist and community vendors, multiple hands-on arts workshops for all ages, food trucks, and fun for the entire family. The festival is held in front of Hammonds Lane Theatre. (If it rains, the festival will be moved into the Hammonds Lane Theatre).

Saturday, October 8

1:00-3:00 pm

Chesapeake Children’s Museum

25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis

Take a “ride” on the Underground Railroad” with a famous “conductor” from Maryland. Dress for outdoor activity. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Please ask about group rates. Cost: $15 per person.

Register for Lead On, Harriet!

Chesapeake Gateways Grant Program Announcement!

Thursday October 6

4:00 – 4:20pm

Join NPS Chesapeake Gateways for an announcement of the release date of the Chesapeake Gateways Grant Program and information on where to access the grant application. 

Through this grant program, NPS Chesapeake Gateways will support diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement across two strategic themes:

• Advancing a Major Inclusive Interpretive Initiative with an Equity Lens, and
• Promoting Resilient Communities & Landscapes Through Tourism, Sustainability, Conservation, & Local Economies.

Estimated Total Available Funding: approximately $1,000,000

Expected Award Amount: An estimated range of $25,000 to $150,000

Learn more about the Chesapeake Gateways Grant Program Announcement. 

Through support from NPS Chesapeake, the Maryland Department of Tourism is conducting consumer research of visitors to the Chesapeake Bay. They are seeking feedback from visitors within Maryland and outside of Maryland and would particularly appreciate feedback from contacts in the Chesapeake Gateways network.

If you have 15 minutes to spare, please take the MD Chesapeake Bay Region Consumer Research survey.

Thank you!

We are hiring! As our workload expands, the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area is looking to fill a temporary part-time position for a Contractual Coordinator, with a great opportunity for advancement for the right person! Our fast-paced, small office seeks an energetic problem-solver who is well-versed in Microsoft Office, WordPress, social media, and more!

An interest in heritage programming, planning, marketing, and grants management is a plus. Must be detail-oriented, flexible, and a “people-person”! Work will be both virtual and in-person in the office as COVID protocols allow. If you are interested, please send an e-mail to heritage_area@aacounty.org to receive more information. Thank you!

Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area | 410-222-1805 | heritage_area@aacounty.org | chesapeakecrossroads.org