#1. Donaldson Brown Riverfront Event Center

200 Mt. Ararat Farm Road, Port Deposit 21904

Donaldson Brown Riverfront Event Center, constructed between 1936 and 1939, the Donaldson Brown Riverfront mansion beckons visitors on a journey through time within its expansive 23-acre estate. The estate is perched 200 feet above the majestic Susquehanna River in Cecil County. This architectural masterpiece offers panoramic riverfront vistas, commanding historic aesthetics, and the meticulous attention to detail. The mansion features over 40 rooms with stunning hardwood floors and soaring 14-foot ceilings. The mansion exudes a unique blend of charm and sophistication by showcasing the graceful arched doorways, ornate ceiling medallions, hand-painted wallpaper, intricate crown moldings, a dazzling crystal chandelier, and a collection of original furnishings that is all impeccably preserved.  The mansion's historic ambiance is further enriched by original portraits and captivating staff stories gleaned from the family memoirs of Mr. F. Donaldson Brown's extraordinary journey. His journey includes the marriage to Greta du Pont Barksdale, a DuPont heir and their associations with celebrities that included Howard Hughes, Katherine Hepburn, and Alfred Sloan. Mr. Frank Donaldson Brown also solidified his place in history as the youngest Virginia Tech graduate and the visionary founder of the DuPont Return-on-Investment (ROI) formula in 1914.

#2. Perryville Railroad Museum

650 Broad Street, Perryville 21903

The Perryville Railroad Museum, located in the 1905 Perryville MARC Train Station, opened its doors to the public on December 7, 1996. Featured is a model railroad representing the tracks, past and present, in the Perryville area including Amtrak’s Mainline and NS Port Road Branch including Perryville Yard, which was all built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The museum is a non-profit organization

operated by volunteers of the Perryville Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Owner: Amtrak.

#3. Rodgers Tavern Museum

259 Broad Street, Perryville 21903.

Rodgers Tavern is a two-story Georgian-style stone building on the banks of the Susquehanna River. Built in the 1740s for the Thomas Family, it, and the adjacent Susquehanna Lower Ferry, were important links in an overland transportation system spanning the eastern seaboard, supplying transportation, food, rest, and a sense of community until the 1880s. Original 18th century paneling and decorative moldings are in the front parlor. A 1771 fire back cast locally at the Principio Ironwork is in the main room. Saved because of its association with famous guests, the Rodgers Tavern Museum now endeavors to tell the stories of all who live, worked, and visited this vital link on an important roadway in American history. Located on the National Park Service Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. Owners: Town of Perryville.

#4. Perry Point Veterans Museum at the Grist Mill

 361 Boiler House Road, Building 361, Perry Point 21902.

The VA Maryland Health Care System operates a Veterans Museum located in the  circa 1750 Grist Mill on the campus of the Perry Point VA Medical Center. Visitors to the Perry Point Veterans Museum at the Grist Mill will have an opportunity to explore the rich history of the peninsula that was once used as the hunting grounds by the Susquehannock Indians, served as a large estate for early settlers, was occupied by the Union Government during the Civil War, provided support to the U.S. military during World War I, and was later dedicated to delivering health care to Maryland’s Veterans. The Grist Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the oldest known structures in the entire VA system. Owners: The VA Maryland Health Care System.

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#5. 107 / Tory House

343 Market Street, Charlestown 21914.

Circa 1810, the original deed for the property describes a building, built in the Dutch fashion, which was destroyed. Around 1810 the foundations were reused for the present two-story, three-bay, Federal frame structure. Its side hall/double parlor plan was built from the remains of the earlier house. Parts of the older house are visible in the cellar, where the tavern kitchen has been restored. A circa 1870 two-story wing stretches to the south. Long thought to have been an 18th century tavern run by British sympathizers and confiscated during the revolution, this house became known as the “Tory House.” It has been restored through the efforts of the Colonial Charlestown, Inc. 

#6. The Water Tower

343 Market Street, Charlestown 21914.

Circa 1743. Even though it borders on the North East River, Charlestown has always had trouble obtaining adequate drinking water as the town sits on 150' deep layers of clay. As early as 1743, one year after the establishment of the Town, the Town Commissioners approved the construction of five communal wells for the use by the inhabitants. Built as a water tower for the McKeown House also known as the Klondike House, this two-and-a-half-story, twelve square foot, framed structure contains a large cypress wood tank in its second story. The ship lapped pegged construction indicates once again that many of Charlestown’s earlier carpenters were also ship builders. The water tower was moved in 1978-1979 by “Colonial Charlestown,” Inc. to its present location at 343 Market Street after it had fallen into disrepair at it's prior location.

#7. Red Lyon Tavern 

328 Market Street, Charlestown 21914.

Circa 1755. Located on Lot 82 of the original plat of Charlestown, the Red Lyon Tavern housed Steven Porter’s Tavern, and John Black’s Store, simultaneously. At its core is a room measuring 23' x 19' and constructed of poplar, log planks, hewn square with the ends, neatly fitted with intricate dovetailing. An archaeological dig in the hearth area revealed seven occupational layers. The fourth level is the most intriguing, for it reveals a brick floor in the room. Preserving, soap making, and winter housekeeping took place in this room, which later served as a stockroom for goods sold in Black’s Store. The Red Lyon is one of the several town structures in which the Royal American Regiment was billeted during the winter of 1756-1757.

#8 Indian Queen

322 Market Street, Charlestown 21914.

Circa 1742. In 1742 when Charlestown was chartered the town founders drew chances for lots in the newly laid out community. Zebulon Hollingsworth, “Innkeeper,” won the lot where the

Indian Queen is now standing. This beautiful home has a centrally located chimney dividing this house in four areas, which allows a fireplace in each room both upstairs and down. The

Indian Queen is one of the several places on the eastern seaboard to hold the distinction: “George Washington slept here.”

#9. Post Office / Town Hall 

241 Market Street, Charlestown 21914.

Circa 1878. This two-room school building housed grades 1 to 7, was erected in 1878 and used as such until 1961 when the Board of Education deeded it back to the Town of Charlestown. Many old-timers of the area remember stoking the potbelly stove to keep warm during cold winter days. The building currently houses the Town Hall and Post Office.

#10. St. Johns Methodist Church / Cemetery

226 Market Street, Charlestown 21914.

Circa 1856. During the pre-revolutionary  period Methodist services in Charlestown were held in the home of Francis Scott Key’s, father. The services were infrequent, long, and indoor space was minimal; however, people were eager for a chance for fellowship. For the daylong gatherings, a small frame building housed the church until 1856 when the two-story brick building was built. It is distinguished by stained glass windows and a traditional floor plan in which the worship area is on the second floor.

#11. Eagle Point Gun Club

Charlestown 21914.

Circa 1792. The property is shown in the 1813 sketch of Charlestown by Benjamin Latrobe. The house is located on a low bluff that overlooks the North East River. The original house built by William Graham in 1792 had four rooms to which three wings were later added, one being a Philadelphia trolley car. In the 1900s the home became a rod and gun club for prosperous sportsman. Later the house was the site for lavish parties by the Burkes who built a bungalow next door for their granddaughter. Legend contends that two elderly soldiers haunt the residence.