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light was built in 1830, Point Lookout served as a position to watch for British ships during both the Revolution and the War of 1812. During the Civil War, there was a Union hospital and prisoner of war camp, where more than 52,000 Confederate troops were held. Today, Point Lookout State Park occupies this tranquil natural setting, offering camping, fishing, swimming and boating. A monument honors the 3,000 Confederate soldiers who died in prison. Fort Lincoln is an earthen fort built by the prisoners, and there’s also a Civil War museum. The park is open year-round, 8 am to sunset. The Civil War museum is open 10 am-6 pm, closed in winter. (Route 5, Scotland, tel. 301-872-5688, www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/pointlookout.html)

St. Mary’s College of Maryland is a state-supported liberal arts college with a beautiful campus on the St. Mary’s River and about 1,700 full and part-time men and women students. It’s adjacent to Historic St. Mary’s City, which augments the college’s programs of colonial history, archaeology, and museum studies, and boasts a rich history of its own. The college was founded in 1840 as a “living monument” to the first settlers of St. Mary’s City who had vigorously practiced religious tolerance. Despite the religious-sounding name, it is non-sectarian. (admissions, tel. 800-492-7181; information, 240-895-2000; www.smcm.edu)

The Boyden Art Gallery on the St. Mary’s College campus is open to the public Monday-Saturday, 11 am-3 pm, featuring a permanent collection and changing exhibits. Located on the second floor of Montgomery Hall. Free (tel. 240-895-4246). Each year the college hosts a free outdoor concert series, and for the past 30 years, the Governor’s Cup Yacht Race, the Chesapeake Bay’s longest overnight race, in early August. It starts in Annapolis harbor and finishes the next day on the shores of St. Mary’s River with and all-day party. Free. (tel. 240-895-3058)

Scotland Negro Schoolhouse is on land donated by a Quaker family for a public school for blacks in 1878. The building you see was a white elementary school that was moved from Carriage Lane Road in 1879. (Route 5, Scotland, tel. 301-872-5655)

Dining

See also Brome-Howard Inn Lodging, below.

Ridge, a few miles south of St. Mary’s City on Route 5, has restaurants, a marina and a yacht club. Spinnakers Restaurant at Point Lookout Marina serves gourmet, innovative fare in a casual setting. There’s fresh seafood, of course, plus farm-raised game in the fall, with a waterfront setting, open mid-February-December. Much of the art and photographs displayed are for sale (Wynne Road, tel. 301-872-4340, www.spinnakersrestaurant.com). Courtney’s Restaurant & Seafood serves just that, along with steak and sandwiches (Wynne Road, tel. 301-872-4403). Scheible’s Crab Pot Restaurant (see Scheible’s Motel, below) has waterfront dining and carry-out, open May-November (tel. 301-872-0028).

Lodging

The closest place to stay near Historic St. Mary’s City is The Brome-Howard Inn, an 1840 farmhouse surrounded by woods with a beach (they lend guests bicycles to explore). Here, a guest enjoys candlelit dinners, fireplaces and views. There are five large bedrooms, two dining rooms, a parlor and library, all furnished with family heirlooms. Open for dining Thursday-Sunday, outdoors in season. (Rosecroft Road, Route 5, tel. 301-866-0656, www.bromehowardinn.com, $$)

In Ridge, Bard’s Field of Trinity Manor Bed & Breakfast is a 1798 waterfront home with a large porch, two fireplaces, three guest rooms, and access to boating, fishing and bird-watching (Pratt Road., tel. 301-872-5989, www.travelguides.com/inns/full/MD/23861.html, $). Longpoint Cottage, also on the water, has two bedrooms, a wood-burning stove and a private beach and pier (Wynne Road, tel. 301-872-0057, www.bird­wave.com, $$)

Pet-friendly: Scheible’s Motel is a modest and inexpensive motel used primarily by those crabbing or fishing from their 500-foot dock, or going out on a fishing charter. The motel has eight rooms and accepts small pets only, no extra charge Scheible