An official website of the State of Maryland.

Maryland.gov Translate

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Maryland Historical Trust

Preserving & interpreting the legacy of Maryland's past

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) supports historic preservation and revitalization by providing funding and resources to care for historic sites. MHT serves as the State Historic Preservation Office and operates Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.

Explore fundingAnnual report summary
Vintage street scene of Annapolis with State House.

Featured News

Full news & updates list
Drawn plans of lighthouses

Sentinels of the Chesapeake Bay

Lighthouses have guided ships across the Chesapeake for centuries. Inside this StoryMap you can discover the legacy of master builder John Donahoo and learn more about the lives of historic lighthouse keepers. With over 40 lighthouses on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, there are many to explore on this interactive map like the first post-Revolutionary beacons on Bodkin Island or the iconic Seven Foot Knoll that was moved to safer harbor. 

Set Sail Through History: View the StoryMap

What's Happening at MHT

Full news & updates list
A square metal skull-and-crossbones stamp next to a newspaper graphic titled 'The fatal STAMP!' made from the same stamp. Woman in blue gloves examines a small artifact under a lighted magnifying glass in a lab. A charred, dark fragment of paper displaying legible printed text about tobacco and wolves. A researcher wearing blue gloves sorts and catalogs bagged archaeological artifacts at a table. Poster for Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now, a traveling exhibit opening July 1, 2026.

America 250: Freedom of the Press Then & Now

See history conserved by the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. Their traveling exhibit — created in collaboration with Maryland Humanities, MD Two Fifty, and more — features Revolutionary War-era artifacts from the Green Family Printshop, including original printers’ type and burned newspapers. Visit it today at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum's visitor center.

Learn more about the exhibit
Painting of American soldiers in formation with bayonets advancing toward British lines in a field.

America 250: A Revolutionary Journey Through Maryland

Discover Maryland’s Revolutionary War history through an interactive StoryMap by the MD Two Fifty Commission highlighting historic buildings, landscapes, cemeteries, and public spaces connected to the Revolution across the state.

Explore the StoryMap

Learn more about MHT

MHT is the state agency dedicated to preserving and interpreting the legacy of Maryland's past. Through research, conservation, and education, we help Marylanders understand our historical and cultural heritage.

About us