Spye Park, on the National Register of Historic Places, is a modestly scaled, 1+1⁄2-story, three-bay frame colonial dwelling built about 1741. The house's present plan and appearance are the result of a series of 19th- and early-20th-century alterations to the original structure. Spye Park was once the home of William Dement, who served in the Mexican-American War. Also on the property, there are numerous farm buildings. Juxtaposed to this colonial home is its new incarnation, Floating Lotus Farmstead. Floating Lotus Farmstead is a small-scale, first-generation farm producing a wide variety of nutrient-dense vegetables and herbs using chemical-free, regenerative "biomimic" practices that are sustainable for the farm and environment. The main focus is on healthy soil. The goal is to continue to grow with their customers to create a more efficient avenue to get the "farm to table" products to their customers. A "farm store" will offer in-season goods. The interior of Spye Park will not be open. Adam & Jocelyne Cottrell Please note: The bridge at Floating Lotus Farmstead is currently out of service due to damage. Pilgrims may still access the stream crossing; however, those driving very low-clearance vehicles should use caution, as crossing conditions may pose a risk of vehicle damage. All stream crossings are undertaken at the participant’s own risk.

HABRE De VENTURE is now officially known as the Thomas Stone National Historic Site. Habre De Venture (or Haberdeventure) is the home of Thomas Stone, one of the 56 signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. The newly renovated Visitor's Center will display Stone's original copy. In 1770, Stone purchased the property and a year later began construction on a home for himself, his wife Margaret, and their two daughters. A son arrived after the home's completion, and the property remained in the Stone family until 1936. It stayed under private ownership until 1977, when the house tragically succumbed to a fire. Thankfully, the structure's original paneling escaped destruction and is housed in the Baltimore Museum of Art. That institution purchased the woodwork in 1935. Today, the restored property is owned by the National Park Service. A careful reproduction of the woodwork enhances the home's great room, and the interior is designed to look as it did during Stone's time. Descendants of Thomas Stone have donated several pieces of furniture and other artifacts to help tell the story of one of the region's most significant early patriots. U.S. National Park Service.

Owners, Michael and Miriam Hillmann, are proud patriots who honorably served in the Marines and the Navy. Michael has long supported the Navajo riders who pay tribute to Gold Star families each year and is also an avid wildlife photographer; some of his work may be on display during this tour. Miriam, meanwhile, is a distinguished recipient of the Presidential Award in recognition of her outstanding community service. Their enchanting home, built in 1999, offers breathtaking views of the Port Tobacco River and features a charming pergola and a delightful tiki bar. Guarded by two majestic stone lions, Yin and Yang, the owners describe them as gargoyles protecting the home from "bad spirits." Inside, the Hillmanns display meaningful items of deep sentimental value, such as a repurposed flag, a stately grandfather clock, and a handcrafted wooden American flag made by a young man whose dream was to join the Marine Corps. Miriam has also shared some of the home's mysteries. At times, around midnight, the delicate sound of what resembles a music box can be heard. Other times, visitors have claimed to see the figure of a well-dressed young man carrying bottles of wine, walking from the living room toward the front door. Those who have witnessed this apparition describe not fear, but curiosity, as the figure quietly fades away. Their home is far more than a dwelling; it is a place filled with symbols of love, service, and gratitude, enriched by cherished memories and the presence of those they hold dear. Miriam & Mike Hillmann

Historic Rich Hill is an 18th-century site in Charles County, Maryland, with national historic connections. It was the birthplace of Dr. Gustavus Richard Brown, one of George Washington's physicians, and that of Margaret Brown, who married Thomas Stone, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It became infamous when it was owned by Colonel Samuel Cox, a Confederate sympathizer during the American Civil War. Following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, Cox hid assassins John Wilkes Booth and his companion, David Herold, in a swamp near Rich Hill after they visited him there. Built by Dr. Gustavus Brown, a physician from Scotland, a dendrochronological study has dated the house to 1729. Rich Hill has many unique architectural features that establish it as one of the most significant surviving examples of regional architecture. Its existing gable roof replaced the original hip-on-gable roof. The five second-level rooms still retain their original doors, hardware, and surrounds, and have ceilings sloped on all four sides, the latter being unique in Southern Maryland. Ongoing restoration efforts have been continued by Charles County and the Friends of Rich Hill for use as a public museum and venue. A PortaPotty is available on site. This is the site of the Special Project. Friends of Rich Hill; Historical Society of Charles County (HSCC).

Pleasant Hill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the land on which Pleasant Hill is located, were originally part of a larger tract known as Green's Inheritance. In 1713, John Spalding purchased 200 acres of Green's Inheritance for Pleasant Hill. His grandson Basil Spalding built the first home, circa 1760. Perhaps Pleasant Hill's most famous occupant was Catherine Spalding, born in 1793. After moving to Kentucky, she co-founded the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, which still exists today as an international religious order that cares for the sick, poor, and orphaned and advocates for social justice in five nations. Multiple improvements over the life of the property have transformed it from a simple farmhouse to a local store, post office, place of worship, and now a unique venue available to the public. Today, an English-style Tea Garden, ornately furnished rooms, a pool and pool house, and an expansive lawn grace the remaining 5 acres overlooking a wooded ravine. Pleasant Hill House is elegant and historic, remaining true to its characteristic Southern Maryland charm. Travis & Tig Wright

John Hanson, First President of the United States under the Continental Congress (1781-1782), was born at "Mulberry Grove". Located on the east side of the Port Tobacco River, Mulberry Grove sits on the 18th-century site of John Hanson's birthplace. In 1934, a lightning strike destroyed the original dwelling. Reconstruction began in 1938 and finished in 1950. The new house incorporates the foundation and cellar of the earlier structure as well as many salvaged materials. About two hundred yards north of the house is a large private cemetery begun in Hanson's time. The property also includes several outbuildings and a breathtaking view of the Port Tobacco River and valley as it approaches its confluence with the Potomac River. Experience an archeological dig in progress on the tour day. The owners have found multiple pieces of pottery and china in an area that may have been a privy site. At the site of a memorial statue, a garden has been designed, and there, additional information will be available on the life of John Hanson. Jay & Mary Lilly

The manor house complex is the oldest continuously occupied Jesuit residence in the world. The mission settlement of Chapel Point was established in 1641 by Father Andrew White, S.J., an English Jesuit missionary. Father White ministered to the Potapoco Native Americans, some of whom he converted to Catholicism. Established in 1662, this is the oldest continuously active Catholic parish in the American Thirteen Colonies. The house is a two-story, seven-bay, brick structure of Georgian architecture, of Flemish bond construction. The mansion is the oldest surviving example of the Georgian style in Maryland and was built in 1741 as the headquarters of the Maryland Mission of the Society of Jesus. On Saturday, May 16, St. Ignatius Church will celebrate the Annual Rosary Pilgrimage at Chapel Point. Mass will begin at 11 a.m., with a procession to the Shrine of Our Lady afterwards, where the Knights of Columbus will lead the Rosary. Father Mark Horak, S.J.