Bladensburg Tour Info

2014 Annual Conference    SAA/NAGARA/COSA

Repository Tour Information Form

(Reserved tour times are August 12 and 13,   9:00am – 5:00 PM)

Date: August 13, 2014

Time: 9:00 – 1:00

Minimum Number of Participants: 6

Maximum Number of Participants: 12

Pre-registration Required? (Y/N): Y

Contact Information:  Doug McElrath, University of Maryland, Special Collections and University Archives.  dmcelrat@umd.edu  301-405-9210

Description of Tour:  The Battle of Bladensburg and Bladensburg in the Era of the War of 1812.  A tour of the historic town of Bladensburg and the exhibit “Beyond the Battle: Bladensburg Rediscovered” at the University of Maryland.

Located just over the Maryland border from the District of Columbia, Bladensburg was the site of the battle that preceded the capture of Washington by a British army in 1814.  August 2014 marks the bicentennial of these climactic events, in a conflict sometimes called the Second War for American Independence.  Three weeks after the burning of Washington, the British attacked but failed to capture Baltimore – a battle commemorated in the “Star Spangled Banner.”  The battle of Bladensburg and its aftermath are closely tied to events leading to the composition of the U.S. national anthem.

The tour starts at the Battle of Bladensburg Visitors Center and its exhibit.  After that,  a short walking tour of the historic town, including a visit inside the Hilleary-Magruder House, built in 1746.  Next, participant will go a short distance to the campus of the University of Maryland for a guided tour of the exhibit “Beyond the Battle: Bladensburg Rediscovered” in Hornbake Library, the home of special collections.  This exhibit focuses on the forgotten history of a place with rich historical contexts.  Optional tours of the University of Maryland’s Special Collections and University Archives will be available after lunch.

The tour will be led by Doug McElrath, University of Maryland.  Doug has been involved in the planning for the bicentennial of the battle and is the curator of the “Beyond the Battle” exhibit.

Addresses:

Battle of Bladensburg Visitors Center: Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD 20710.

Hilleary-Magruder House: 4703 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD 20710

University of Maryland: Hornbake Library, Bldg. 147, College Park, MD 20742

Is Parking Available? (Y/N): Y

Transit Accessible? (Y/N): N – See Below.

Closest Metro and/or Metrobus:

Any Additional Entrance Requirements:

Please let the tour organizer know ahead of time if you wish to stay for the optional tour of Special Collections & University Archives in the afternoon.  For those staying, lunch on your own will be available at the University’s student union.  This group will be driven back to the conference hotel around 3:00 p.m.

Additional Information:

The University of Maryland will provide transportation via vans that will pick-up and return participants to the conference hotel: Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Road NW Washington, DC 20008.  The vans will leave the hotel at 9:00 a.m.  Those who wish to drive on their own should plan to join the tour group at the Battle of Bladensburg Visitors Center at approximately 9:45.