St. Clement's Island State Park

St. Clement's Island State Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Location	St. Mary's County, Maryland, USA
Nearest city	Leonardtown, Maryland
Area	40 acres (160,000 m²)
Governing body	Maryland Department of Natural Resources

St. Clement's Island lies in the Potomac River near Colton's Point, Maryland, in the United States. The uninhabited island has been designated St. Clement's Island State Park.

The park preserves the site of the March 25, 1634, landing of Maryland's first colonists, commemorated as Maryland Day. The island served as a convenient and non-threatening temporary base of operations for the 150 settlers, as they negotiated with the Yaocomico Indians for land for a permanent settlement. It was the site of perhaps the first mass celebrated in that part of the world, said by Jesuit Father Andrew White on the day of the landing. St. Clement's Manor, including the Island, was the first manor granted by Lord Baltimore and its lord, Thomas Gerard (Gerrard), played a significant role in 17th century Maryland history. They named the island in honor of Pope Saint Clement I, patron of mariners. The island became owned the Blackistone family in 1669, remained in that family for 162 years, and was named Blackistone Island. It was renamed St. Clement's Island in 1961, when the property was leased to the state of Maryland.

A water ferry leaves from the St. Clement's Island-Potomac River Museum near Colton's Point. A 40- foot stone cross stands on the island, in memory of the first settlers. In 1934, to celebrate Maryland’s 300th birthday, Governor Albert Ritchie, dedicated the cross recognizing this site as the location where religious toleration in America had its foundation. The park is administered by Point Lookout State Park. The St. Clement's Island Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1972.

For many years the island, then known as Blakistone Island, was the site of a lighthouse. Through the efforts of the St. Clement's Hundred, a local community organization created for the preservation of St. Clement's Island, a replica of the Blackistone Lighthouse was constructed and completed in June 2008.

Gallery

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  St. Clement's Island Historic Marker, September 2009
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  St. Clement's Island-Potomac River Museum, Colton's Point, MD, September 2009
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  Commemorative Cross, September 2009
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  View of Commemorative Cross from Blackistone Lighthouse, September 2009
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  Munitions Shed and Lighthouse, St. Clement's Island, September 2009

External links

• St. Clement's Island Historic District, St. Mary's County, Inventory No.: SM-123, including photo in 2002, at Maryland Historical Trust website