Events and Programs

Upcoming Events

Friday, March 30, 10 am
Hands-on History: The Curator's Apprentice
Children ages 8 to 12 will go behind the scenes to learn what it takes to maintain and interpret an historic house museum.
Registration required by March 16.
Resident $15; Non-Resident $18

Saturday, April 14, 8 pm
Tavern Night
Join us for an evening of rousing entertainment by the Ship's Company Chanteymen and partake of tavern-style food and beverages.
Ages 21 & up
Registration required by March 30.
Resident $22; Non-Resident $27

Sunday, May 13, 12:15 - 3:15 pm
Mother's Day Tours
Bring your mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, or other special lady for a FREE guided tour of the house.
Limited to one free tour per paid admission.

Saturday, June 9, 11 am
Sunday, June 10, noon
Rome at Riversdale
Early 19th century America was greatly influenced by the classical world. Celebrate ancient Rome as you participate in activities and watch battle demonstrations by Legion XX on the lawn and enjoy neoclassical pastimes inside the museum.
$5; $3 students

Sunday, June 17, 12:15 - 3:15 pm
Father's Day Tours
Bring your father, father-in-law, grandfather, or other special gentleman for a FREE guided tour of the house.
Limited to one free tour per paid admission.

WAR OF 1812 BICENTENNIAL EVENTS

Two hundred years ago, the United States declared war on Great Britain. In the next three years, events throughout the county, state, and nation will commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Riversdale begins our celebration with these programs:

Tuesday, April 10, 7:30 pm
Quarterly Lecture: The War of 1812 in Maryland
Historian Dr. Ralph Eshelman presents an illustrated lecture of War of 1812 sites in the state. He will also sign copies of his book.
$5; Student $2.50

Saturday-Sunday, May 5-6
The 1812 Woman
Spend the weekend learning about the life of a woman of the Federal period. Participants will explore cooking, housekeeping, personal appearance, amusements, and other aspects of everyday life.
Registration required by April 20.
Resident $75; Non-Resident $90

Monday-Friday, June 18-22, 10 am
Monday-Friday, June 25-29, 10 am
Hands-on History: Star-Spangled Summer Days
"O say can you see" all the fun to be had at Riversdale? Experience the lives of soldiers and sailors, the Calverts, First Lady Dolley Madison, and others through activities, crafts, and games highlighting The War of 1812.
Week 1: 10 am - 3 pm, ages 8 - 12
Resident $30/day, $135 all 5 days; Non-Resident $36/day, $144 all 5 days
Week 2: 10am - noon, ages 5 - 8
Resident $15/day or $65 all 5 days; Non-Resident $18/day, $78 all 5 days

Seasonal Selections

Using produce from the garden and orchard, Guild members demonstrate foodways in the dependency kitchen. Selections are inspired by the traditional seasonal cycles of a 19th century farm. Drop by to watch them work on select Sundays from 12 noon-3:30 pm. Viewing the demonstrations is FREE. Regular fee for house tours.

April 15
Green, Green

April 29
Celebration of Spring

May 13
Mother's Day Delights

June 24
In a Jam

Education Programs

Riversdale is an important landmark for the local, state, and national community and is the perfect place for students to learn about history in their own backyard! Riversdale offers several programs to cater to a wide range of grades, abilities, and curriculum requirements.

Pinch, No Smiles: Early Nineteenth Century Play at Riversdale

This program is designed to introduce students to Riversdale by using the perspective of a child. George and Rosalie Calvert had nine children, five of whom lived to adulthood. Students on this tour will move from room to room and discover the ways in which an early nineteenth-century child would have played, worked, and lived in each room. In addition, enslaved children also resided at Riversdale. Students will compare and contrast their living, working, and playing conditions with that of the Calvert children. Students will also participate in a hands on workshop where they will learn a traditional English country dance, make a popular period toy, and play the game, Pinch, No Smiles.
Program Length: 90 minutes
Level: Grades 1-4
Cost: $2 per student & chaperone (teachers free)
Voluntary State Curriculum Alignment(s):
3rd Grade, Individuals and Society Change Over Time
Supplements Provided:
Pre-visit materials and activities
Interactive PowerPoint presentation

Out of the shadows: Riversdale's servants in the spotlight

This program is designed to highlight the inner economic workings of an early 19th century Maryland estate and working farm. The central role as mistress of the household as to oversee all domestic tasks. She ran a staff of servants composed of free whites and enslaved African Americans who processed he crops, cooked, cleaned, served meals, took care of the children, and made textiles among other duties. Students will take on the persona of a servant while touring the house and learn how each of the rooms would have been used by the servants. During the workshop component, servants will learn about goods produced at Riversdale as they grind herbs and spices, make a sachet to take home, and learn about wool carding and spinning.
Program Length: 90 minutes
Level: Grades 3-6
Cost: $2 per student & chaperone (teachers free)
Voluntary State Curriculum Alignment(s):
Economics; African American History
Supplements Provided:
Pre-visit materials and activities
Interactive PowerPoint presentation

House tour

Students will take a guided tour of Riversdale. This tour can be tailored to meet a variety of curriculum requirements. Please call Riversdale to specify your particular needs.
Program Length: 45-90 minutes
Level: Grades 1 & up
Cost: $1 per student & chaperone (teachers free)
Voluntary State Curriculum Alignment(s):
Varied
Supplements Provided:
Interactive PowerPoint presentation

Sensing the past

This program is designed for students who have special needs. Groups that can negotiate the stairs take a 20 minute tour of the house. Those with physical disabilities tour only the rooms on ground level; this tour is enhanced by an interactive museum teacher-led PowerPoint presentation of the rest of the rooms. All students participate in a workshop where they use their senses to make history come alive. They will make an herb sachet to take home.
Program Length: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Level: 2nd grade abilities & up
Cost: $2 per student & chaperone (teachers free)

Girl Scout Programs

Riversdale is the perfect place for your troop to earn a Try-It or badge! Programs are scheduled on Saturdays and days when children are off from school. Please call the office with your specific scheduling needs.

Program Length: 2 hours (can be slightly shorter or slightly longer depending on troop size and program)
Cost: $10/scout; $2/chaperone (troop leaders free)
Badges & Patches: Try-Its and Badges must be purchased from council; Riversdale offers custom patches for $2 each.

Write Away - Brownie

An avid letter writer, Rosalie Stier Calvert, the Mistress of Riversdale, provides an example of how important letters are to the study of the past. The extensive collection of letters still in existence between Rosalie Stier Calvert and her family in Belgium provides a remarkable narrative window into the past. Scout will hunt for objects from 200 years ago while touring the house, read excerpts from the letters, play games, and write and seal a letter 19th century-style.
Note: This program is recommended for 3rd graders, or those with strong reading and writing skills.

Listening to the past - Brownie

Riversdale House Museum is the perfect environment for Scouts to complete this Try-It. They will tour the house, read wallpaper, and make and play with early American games and toys.

Architecture Adventures - junior

Riversdale, completed in 1807, is unique to the area in that it includes elements of both traditional American Federal and European architecture. While touring the house, Scouts will gain an understanding of the main components of these types of architecture. Scouts will learn about form and function and solve a puzzle while touring the house. Afterwards, Scouts will redesign a room and create a three-dimensional model.

Toymaker time travelers - junior

Two hundred year ago, many toys and games were quite different than the ones we know today. Riversdale was home to the nine Calvert children, as well as the children of their enslaved workers. While touring the house, Scouts will learn about how these children all lived and played. They will try their hands at 19th century games, make a period toy, and create a board game about Riversdale.

Folk Arts - Junior

Riversdale is home to many types of art, including folk arts. Folk arts can include stories, music, decorative objects, and even recipes passed down from generation to generation. In this program, Scouts will compare and contrast fine art with folk art, make theorem paintings, participate in an English country dance, and learn about quilts.

House tour - patch program for all levels

Explore the c. 1801 Federal-style house and kitchen dependency. As Scouts tour the house, they will learn about art, architecture, and the Calvert family. In particular, the tour will focus on Rosalie Stier Calvert, the empowered Mistress of Riversdale.