Upcoming Events

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Saturday, March 22, 2025

All day
 
 
6am
 
 
7am
 
 
8am
 
SERC Maryland Day Weekend

SERC Maryland Day Weekend

Saturday, March 22, 2025 - Sunday, March 23, 2025 8:00am - 4:30pm
Advance Registration Required
No

Event Details

Celebrate Maryland Day all weekend, at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center! Experience history through the eyes of enslaved and free Marylanders at the 1735 Woodlawn History Center, the oldest building in the Smithsonian still in its original spot. Walk through the first-floor exhibits on your own, or join a free guided tour on Saturday at 3pm, which includes the upstairs (signup required). Our four nature trails will be open for hiking from 8am-4:30pm, where you can explore forests, marshes and shorelines. Don't forget to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy beside the water.

Woodlawn History Center, a three-sectioned historic house with a three-story brick wing on the left, a one-story brick hyphen in the center and a two-story right wing with white siding
Woodlawn History Center (Credit: Charlene Osman)

Woodlawn History Center Hours

Saturday, March 22, 10am-4pm
Sunday, March 23, 1-4pm
More dates you can visit the Woodlawn History Center

Special Events (advance signup required)

Architectural Tour of Woodlawn (all spots filled)
Saturday, March 22, 3-4pm

Environmental Archaeology Dig Day (all spots filled)
Saturday, March 22, 9:30am-3pm

Trail Maps

SERC Campus Map (PDF)

SERC Waterfront Map (PDF)

SERC Woodlawn Map (PDF)

Learn more about SERC's four hiking trails

8:00am - 4:30pm
 
9am
 
Environmental Archaeology Dig Day

Environmental Archaeology Dig Day

Be an archaeologist for a day!

Saturday, March 22, 2025 - 9:00am - 3:00pm
Event Location
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037
Advance Registration Required
Yes

Event Details

A group of people under pop-up tents against a backdrop of fields and forest shovel dirt into buckets and look through it using raised screens.

 

Who can participate? 

This is a family-friendly event and we welcome volunteers age 14+.

  • All volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult.  
  • Volunteers younger than 14 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • All volunteers (including accompanying adults) must be included in the sign up.

What to expect? 

The general activities are fairly straightforward (such as digging, sieving sediment, washing and sorting artifacts), and training and materials will be provided. No prior experience or training required! 

The dig day will be happening rain or shine, but we will keep an eye on the temperature and change activities accordingly. If the weather does not look safe to work in outside, we will take a tour of the Woodlawn History Center and then process artifacts found on campus. Regardless, be sure to dress comfortable, wear layers, and wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty. Closed-toed shoes are required for all activities.

Please stay as long as you want for your slot! There is no pressure to stay the whole time.

Bathrooms: 

  • If we are at the dig site by the Java Ruins, there are two solar-powered porta potties that can be accessed down a relatively steep grassy hill.
  • If we are inside, there are single-, gender-neutral options as well as multi-stall options that are both wheel-chair accessible. 

Important notes

  • Specific directions and additional details will be sent via email two days before the date to those who sign-up.  
  • If you have any questions or access needs, please contact Rachael Mady (MadyR@si.edu), who is the SERC Participatory Science Coordinator. 

9:00am - 3:00pm
 
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