Baltimore, Md. The Maryland Center for History and Culture invites Marylanders to “Step into History” with interactive displays that are traveling across the state. Brand new Step into History displays are now on view at Accokeek Foundation in Piscataway Park in Prince George’s County, and at the Village in Rock Hall, Maryland in Kent County.
These larger-than-life-size frames allow Marylanders to step (literally) into history and engage with the past through historic images from MCHC’s museum and library collections—safely outside.
The forced perspective of the displays encourages participation and imagination and is a natural photo-taking opportunity. Visitors are encouraged to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #StepIntoHistory. A list of exploratory questions inside each frame invites critical thinking and dialogue, and a QR code links to the mdhistory.org website, providing more historical context.
“As the state’s largest museum and library of Maryland history, it is our mission to find creative ways to share and engage people statewide with the unique items in our collection,” said Mark Letzer, President & CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. “Maryland’s parks and community gathering spaces are unique partners in this effort. As people have increasingly turned to Maryland’s outdoor landscape for safe recreational activities, we are pleased to connect their surroundings with stories from the past.”
Here are the stories told by each interactive display:
Step into History at Accokeek Foundation at Piscataway Park
3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD (between the Visitor Center and the fishing pier)
Charles Wilson Peale’s George Washington and His Generals at Yorktown
This romanticized post-battle landscape shows an imagined gathering of generals after the American and French allied victory over the British forces at the Battle of Yorktown in October of 1781. The generals include the Marquis de Lafayette on Washington’s left; Comte de Rochambeau, commander of the allied French troops, third from the right; and Maryland-born Colonel Tench Tilghman, who is seen in profile, holding the Articles of Capitulation from Charles Cornwallis and the British Army. Exploratory questions encourage visitors to think about the kind of person George Washington was and why he is portrayed by the artist in this way. Visitors are also asked to think about whose stories are missing from the traditional American Revolutionary War narrative.
Step into History at the Village in Rock Hall, Maryland
21275 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD
Go see the whale at Tolchester, lithograph by R.H. Eichner & Co.
This poster advertises a unique beachside attraction: an opportunity to go inside a whale’s mouth! According to an article in the May 30, 1899 issue of the Baltimore American newspaper, a 75-ton (species unspecified) whale was captured off the coast of Cape Cod on June 5, 1888. The Egyptian Balm Company in Boston embalmed the beast for a not-so-small sum of $3,000. When the process was complete, the whale was set to be the star attraction during the opening week of a new season at the Tolchester Beach resort on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Unfortunately, no evidence exists to prove that the whale ever actually arrived at Tolchester or was used as advertised in the poster, but the intent and vision of the event planners is preserved. Visitors are encouraged to think about their own beach vacations and think critically about the reality of this advertisement.
The Step into History displays are scheduled to remain on view at Accokeek Foundation and the Village in Rock Hall through November 2021.
For updates on Step into History, follow MCHC on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Step into History displays were previously on view at Patapsco Valley State Park, Watkins Regional Park, North Point State Park, and in the courtyard at MCHC’s Museum and Library in Baltimore.