Historic St. Mary’s City celebrates its 375th anniversary in 2009. English settlers aboard two small ships – the Ark and the Dove – landed at St. Clement’s Island and made their way to the mainland in 1634, not long after the founding of Jamestown and Plymouth. It was Maryland’s first capital and is now considered to be one of the nation’s best-preserved archaeological sites.

During peak tourist seasons, costumed interpreters at the 17th-century showcase mingle with visitors. The River Concert series at St. Mary’s College is a major attraction during the summer.

Leonardtown, only 300 years old in 2008, plans to transform the Leonardtown Wharf into a public waterfront park with a mix of commercial and residential space, and water-related activities.