Exhibitions

Ongoing Exhibits

With an Artistic Eye: Folk Art

With an Artistic Eye assembles widely diverse objects from the Maryland Historical Society’s rich collections that can loosely be termed folk art. The exhibition includes paintings, watercolors, sculptures, pottery, stoneware, textiles, furniture and jewelry created by artists without formal training but with exceptional creative talent.

Work and Play on the Bay

Exploring the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to Maryland for over 350 years. On display will be boat models, paintings, decoys, mastheads and trail boards, with a section where younger visitors can try their hand at oystering. This is the first of a number of changing exhibitions that will form part of “Maryland’s Maritime Heritage: From Fells Point to the World,” a permanent installation at the Maryland Historical Society.

Maryland Veterans of World War II, Our Arsenal of Democracy

Honoring combat veterans from Maryland, who served in every theater of the war, the exhibition displays uniforms, small arms, and equipment authentic to the men who used them, often “personalized” with their own artistic touches. Helmets are inscribed with individual names and units, and in some cases pierced by shrapnel and bullet holes, while weapons carry the dents and dings of active fighting from the Normandy beaches to Iwo Jima. The material in the exhibition comes primarily from the collection of Colonel (MD) George S. Rich.

Core Exhibitions

Maryland's Maritime Heritage: From Fells Point to the World

From the Fells Point shipyards that caulked the Baltimore clippers to Fort McHenry, where the British naval bombardment in the War of 1812 inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Baltimore’s history is entwined with seafaring men and ships. This core exhibition, “Maryland’s Maritime Heritage: From Fells Point to the World, 1760-1850” highlights artifacts which were previously housed in the Fells Point Maritime Museum and examines the early history of Baltimore's port.

Nipper's Toyland: 200 Years of Children's Playthings

This gallery showcases the toys that Maryland children have loved over the past two hundred years. The exhibition features hundreds of toys, as well as portraits and photographs of Maryland children.

Served in Style: Silver Collection of the Maryland Historical Society

Served in Style: Silver Collection of the Maryland Historical Society showcases important MdHS silver from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and provides an overview of the MdHS’ extraordinary collection of more than 2,000 objects. Recent gifts and purchases along with old favorites are used to tell the story of silver ownership and manufacture over three centuries in Maryland. Significant pieces on display include a pap boat marked by George Hunter and engraved on underside "Sarah Ellicott 1757". It was used for feeding pap, a soft mixture of bread, sugars, and water or milk, to infants or invalids. This silver pap boat was used to feed Sarah Ellicott (1755-1779), the second of nine children born to Judith Bleeker Ellicott and Joseph Ellicott, when she was an infant. Joseph Ellicott was the founder of Ellicott’s Upper Mills in 1774. Sarah was the sister of Andrew Ellicott, one of the surveyors of Washington, DC. Other stunning pieces on display include tea sets, candlesticks and a box signed by President Nixon.

Looking for Liberty: An Overview of Maryland History

Looking for Liberty explores more than 350 years of Maryland’s history—its people and events—in an innovative and engaging presentation that looks at Marylanders’ pursuit of liberty from the earliest settlement to the present. The ground-breaking exhibition combines new research, important objects and artifacts from the MdHS and other collections with oral histories, video installations and interactive elements, allowing the visitors to experience Marylanders’ pursuit of liberty in ways that are compelling and represent a true departure from conventional state history exhibits.

Maryland Through the Artist’s Eye

This exhibition provides a stunning visual journey through three centuries of the state’s history as seen through the eyes of artists who recorded the stories of the state’s people, places, and events in singularly personal ways. It features the MdHS’s rich assemblage of paintings by the Peale family, its treasure trove of precious miniatures, and its distinguished collection of portraits and landscapes. More than 60 objects—ranging from Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte’s jewelry, to 19th-century silver by Samuel Kirk and Sons and dress patterns designed by 20th-century Maryland fashion designer Claire McCardell- complement the more than 130 paintings in the exhibition.

Furniture in Maryland Life

Furniture in Maryland Life explores the manufacture, design, and function of furniture made and used in Maryland from 1634 to 2000. Decorative arts treasures, such as silver and porcelain, along with stunning paintings of Maryland interiors will contribute to this fresh look at the furniture industry in Maryland.

Mary Whitridge in a Gale

artist unknown c. 1856, 1990.24.1

Cast iron toy fire truck

1954.143.6


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Exhibitions Collections On-Line Collections Monument Street Garden Research and Donations Painting Collections Online Annual Marion Brewington Essay Prize Exhibit Archive On-Line Exhibitions	Exhibitions Ongoing Exhibits With an Artistic Eye: Folk Art With an Artistic Eye assembles widely diverse objects from the Maryland Historical Society’s rich collections that can loosely be termed folk art. The exhibition includes paintings, watercolors, sculptures, pottery, stoneware, textiles, furniture and jewelry created by artists without formal training but with exceptional creative talent. Work and Play on the Bay Exploring the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to Maryland for over 350 years. On display will be boat models, paintings, decoys, mastheads and trail boards, with a section where younger visitors can try their hand at oystering. This is the first of a number of changing exhibitions that will form part of “Maryland’s Maritime Heritage: From Fells Point to the World,” a permanent installation at the Maryland Historical Society. Maryland Veterans of World War II, Our Arsenal of Democracy Honoring combat veterans from Maryland, who served in every theater of the war, the exhibition displays uniforms, small arms, and equipment authentic to the men who used them, often “personalized” with their own artistic touches. Helmets are inscribed with individual names and units, and in some cases pierced by shrapnel and bullet holes, while weapons carry the dents and dings of active fighting from the Normandy beaches to Iwo Jima. The material in the exhibition comes primarily from the collection of Colonel (MD) George S. Rich. Core Exhibitions Maryland's Maritime Heritage: From Fells Point to the World From the Fells Point shipyards that caulked the Baltimore clippers to Fort McHenry, where the British naval bombardment in the War of 1812 inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Baltimore’s history is entwined with seafaring men and ships. This core exhibition, “Maryland’s Maritime Heritage: From Fells Point to the World, 1760-1850” highlights artifacts which were previously housed in the Fells Point Maritime Museum and examines the early history of Baltimore's port. Nipper's Toyland: 200 Years of Children's Playthings This gallery showcases the toys that Maryland children have loved over the past two hundred years. The exhibition features hundreds of toys, as well as portraits and photographs of Maryland children. Served in Style: Silver Collection of the Maryland Historical Society Served in Style: Silver Collection of the Maryland Historical Society showcases important MdHS silver from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and provides an overview of the MdHS’ extraordinary collection of more than 2,000 objects. Recent gifts and purchases along with old favorites are used to tell the story of silver ownership and manufacture over three centuries in Maryland. Significant pieces on display include a pap boat marked by George Hunter and engraved on underside "Sarah Ellicott 1757". It was used for feeding pap, a soft mixture of bread, sugars, and water or milk, to infants or invalids. This silver pap boat was used to feed Sarah Ellicott (1755-1779), the second of nine children born to Judith Bleeker Ellicott and Joseph Ellicott, when she was an infant. Joseph Ellicott was the founder of Ellicott’s Upper Mills in 1774. Sarah was the sister of Andrew Ellicott, one of the surveyors of Washington, DC. Other stunning pieces on display include tea sets, candlesticks and a box signed by President Nixon. Looking for Liberty: An Overview of Maryland History Looking for Liberty explores more than 350 years of Maryland’s history—its people and events—in an innovative and engaging presentation that looks at Marylanders’ pursuit of liberty from the earliest settlement to the present. The ground-breaking exhibition combines new research, important objects and artifacts from the MdHS and other collections with oral histories, video installations and interactive elements, allowing the visitors to experience Marylanders’ pursuit of liberty in ways that are compelling and represent a true departure from conventional state history exhibits. Maryland Through the Artist’s Eye This exhibition provides a stunning visual journey through three centuries of the state’s history as seen through the eyes of artists who recorded the stories of the state’s people, places, and events in singularly personal ways. It features the MdHS’s rich assemblage of paintings by the Peale family, its treasure trove of precious miniatures, and its distinguished collection of portraits and landscapes. More than 60 objects—ranging from Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte’s jewelry, to 19th-century silver by Samuel Kirk and Sons and dress patterns designed by 20th-century Maryland fashion designer Claire McCardell- complement the more than 130 paintings in the exhibition. Furniture in Maryland Life Furniture in Maryland Life explores the manufacture, design, and function of furniture made and used in Maryland from 1634 to 2000. Decorative arts treasures, such as silver and porcelain, along with stunning paintings of Maryland interiors will contribute to this fresh look at the furniture industry in Maryland. Mary Whitridge in a Gale artist unknown c. 1856, 1990.24.1 Cast iron toy fire truck 1954.143.6

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