Charles County Visitor Guide - Flipbook - Page 27
H E R I TAG E & H I S TO RY
TRAILS A N D B Y W A Y S
Travel through history
National Religious Freedom Scenic Byway
Southern Maryland is known as the birthplace of American religious liberty.
St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Chapel Point is a must-visit for anyone interested
in learning more about our role in securing this fundamental human right.
The church is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic parish in the original
13 colonies; the attached manor house is the oldest Jesuit residence in the world
still in use. Admire the stained glass windows and beautiful architectural details
before stepping outside to enjoy what’s considered one of the best views in the
county. As you take in the serene surroundings, consider how legislation created
hundreds of years ago in Maryland served as the foundation for the religious
freedom we experience today.
Maryland Civil War Trail: John Wilkes Booth
Imagine you’re a doctor and someone comes to you for help. At some point, you
learn your patient is on the run after shooting the president, and you become
convicted as a co-conspirator in the crime. This scenario was a reality for Dr.
Samuel A. Mudd, whose well-preserved home is a must-stop along the John
Wilkes Booth Trail.
Tours of the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House are available on Wednesdays, Saturdays,
and Sundays. Learn details about Lincoln’s assassination you never heard in
history class and continue to follow Booth’s footsteps through Charles County,
including stops in Port Tobacco and Bel Alton.
Want to take the tour
from start to finish?
Welcome Center: 301-259-2500
You’ll begin in D.C., work your way through
Southern Maryland, and end in Port Royal, VA,
where Booth was shot and killed after refusing to
turn himself in to the authorities.
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