Open House and Tour at the Woodlawn History Center at SERC

Please join me on Sunday, June 21st--the Summer Solstice--at the Woodlawn History Museum on the campus of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland. I have been a docent at Woodlawn for the last year.

On June 21st, I will be onsite as a docent to welcome you at the Woodlawn History Museum between 1-4pm. Please note that the Museum is open from 1-4pm on the 21st--but the SERC campus and its trails are open from 8am-5:30pm. You can plan your visit to take in the other parts of the SERC campus. Please note: no pets are allowed on the grounds. Admission is free.

The Woodlawn History Museum is housed in the 1735 Woodlawn House, making it the oldest building in the Smithsonian collection.

The Woodlawn House tells the stories of the people who have lived and worked--and continue to work as part of SERC--in the House and surrounding property.

TOURS OF THE WOODLAWN HISTORY MUSEUM: On June 21st, I will be offering a 1:30pm tour. Rhea Rao, another docent, will be onsite to help out. During the tour, we will take a look at the architecture of the building as well as the exhibits.

You are welcome to join the tour at 1:30pm--or you can walk through the house on your own between 1-4pm. The exhibits are well displayed; further information is available through QR codes.

If you are interested in doing a tour at 2:45pm, please let me know. You can send me a message via Meetup.

The 2,654-acre campus spans forests, wetlands, marshes, and 15 miles of protected shoreline. SERC's unique history establishes it as one of the nation's leading environmental research centers.

The campus includes other sites, walking trails, and public access for kayak launching--but no swimming is allowed. For more information on what you can do, see https://serc.si.edu/visit/plan-your-visit.

Here are the trails you can explore:

• Fox Creek Nature Trail (1.3 miles, loop)
  Travel through time and discover how Native Americans, farmers, and scientists have used the land through the centuries. This trail starts at the Reed Education Center and takes a loop through the forest. Follow the blue trail blazes on the trees.
• Discovery - Muddy Creek Trail (1.3 miles round trip, no loop)
  Stroll along the waters of the Rhode River and Muddy Creek and enjoy the quiet beauty of the marshes. To access the Discovery Trail, start at the Reed Education Center and follow the waterfront section of the Fox Creek Nature Trail for about 1/4 mile until you pass a boardwalk. Go left at the fork after the boardwalk. Follow the pink trail blazes on the trees.
• Hog Island Trail (1.3 miles)
  The Hog Island Trail begins about halfway along the discovery Trail, near its southern tip. Cross a marsh boardwalk before ascending to Hog "Island," a semi-isolated hilltop crowned with oak, holly and mountain laurel.
• Contee Watershed Trail (1.6 miles, loop)
  Start at the Contee Mansion Ruins (the two brick chimneys on a hilltop about 1/2 mile past the entrance), and take in a scenic overlook of the Rhode River. From there, the trail dives into the forest and alongside a stream, with additional overlooks of the woods along the way.
• Squirrel Neck Loop (1.0 miles, loop)
  The trailhead starts just beyond the Contee Mansion Ruins, forming a mile-long loop through the forest. The trail runs parallel to the Contee Watershed Trail for about 1/4 mile.
• Woodlawn History Trail (1.0 miles no loop)
  Discover how humans have shaped and reshaped the land that is now the SERC campus, on a walk through history. Start at the Woodlawn History Center near the entrance.

There is a pavilion at the Reed Education Center where you can have a picnic lunch.

Please view the FAQ's for more information on visiting SERC.

SPECIAL NOTE: When you RSVP, you are registering for the 1:30pm tour.
If your plans change, please keep your RSVP current.

I hope to see you on Sunday, June 21st, as we celebrate the longest day of the year at the Woodlawn House Museum at SERC!

If you have any questions, feel free to post them here, or send me an email at savemytourspot@gmail.com.

Thank you!

MaryBeth

Photo Woodlawn History Center (Credit: Michael Barnes/Smithsonian)