Beginning of June 27 and continuing Biweekly on July 11 & 25 and August 8 &22, the St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square is expanding its walking tour selections by inaugurating a new tour, “St Michaels Museum and St. Mary’s Square – The core of St. Michaels History”, on Saturday Afternoons at 2 PM. This tour will last for about 45 minutes and will involve minimal walking. The cost will be $7 per person including admission to the Museum. Walk up are welcome. For further information email [email protected] or call 415 745 0530.
St. Michaels Museum is a complex of three 19th Century buildings that have been moved to St Mary’s Square location from various parts of town. The Sewell House, a 19th Century white waterman’s home, was moved from Mill St near Navy Point in 1965 and is constructed with timbers from a nearby steam powered saw mill that was torn down in 1840. It is furnished with period pieces. The Chaney House, 1850 ca., was owned by three free black brothers. It was moved from Fremont St in 2003. The Teetotum building was a commercial building that had housed many different enterprises. It was moved from Green St in 1968. These buildings house a large collection of artifacts that reflect the history of life, commerce and culture in St. Michaels.
St. Mary’s Square is the seminal heart of St. Michaels that was laid our in 1778 by James Braddock on a rectangular grid. The tour will involve a docent led discussion of the History of St. Michaels Museum and its exhibits, on life in the 19th Century, Frederick Douglass, and the 1813 Battles of St. Michaels. Then will follow a leisurely walk in St. Mary’s Square where the participants will hear about the History of St. Michaels starting with the original plat by James Braddock with St. Mary’s Square as the central “Town Green”. The tour will discuss, the Town Bell, the ceremonial cannons, various buildings currently or previously on St Mary’s Square and how they relate to the Town’s history including the Battles of St. Michaels, the Civil War, Frederick Douglas, and other highlights. Among the highlights will be the Keithley House where Sophia Keithley Auld grew up and later began teaching Frederick Douglass to read while he was the companion for the Auld’s young son; the Cannonball House that was hit by a cannon ball that rolled down the interior staircase and frightened the women holding her child at the bottom; and Sardi’s Chapel which was a Methodist Chapel where Frederick Douglass attended Sunday School. A later version of Saudi’s chapel was built in 1839 and has now become the Masonic Lodge.
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