Preservation Maryland

Of all the events on the Maryland calendar that fall into my family’s must-attend column, the Fort Frederick Market Fair in Big Pool, Maryland, is at the top of the list. I often regale my family with stories about my work here at Preservation Maryland—all the tidbits about important historic places and exciting work around the state. But there’s nothing like seeing that historic magic come to life! The Fort Frederick Market Fair at Fort Frederick State Park is an annual gathering of 18th-century tradespeople, crafters, interpreters, and historians. Unlike many craft events, this fair, now in its second decade, exclusively features items that would be found in colonial America—from Native American trade goods to European-inspired pottery to the redware that was so common on American tables of the period. The rich and varied collection of handmade goods—all juried and created by master craftspeople —not only serves as an open-air museum, but nearly everything on display is for sale

Maryland Day is the anniversary of when the first European settlers landed in Maryland. They disembarked from ships called the Ark and the Dove and landed on St. Clement’s Island in St. Mary’s County on March 25th, 1634. Marylanders began celebrating the anniversary in 1903 when the State Board of Education declared the day an important one in Maryland’s history. In 1916, Maryland Day became a legal state holiday. Today Preservation Maryland is celebrating Maryland Day by featuring our state’s 23 counties and one independent city. Read below for a unique historic place to visit in each county.

Apple, key lime, and pumpkin get all the love. Today, on National Pi(e) Day, why not celebrate with a Maryland classic: White Potato Pie! The origins of the White Potato Pie are murky, with some recipes noting that it was a poor man’s dessert, created by those who could not afford high-class ingredients. Joyce White, a culinary historian and consultant – who is currently leading The Great Maryland Recipe Hunt initiative – suspects this pie has its origins in Maryland’s agricultural history.

Preservation Maryland is thankful to be part of a wonderful community committed to protecting and promoting our shared heritage – not least of which is our culinary traditions. Enjoy our tastiest post of the year as we share an array of classic Maryland Thanksgiving recipes, including recipes from A Taste of History with Joyce White, Old Line Plate, and others.