Paddle & Visit an Archeological Museum

The living shorelines at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum protect the site's archeology.

Will Parson / Chesapeake Bay Program

Summary

Paddle the Patuxent River & St. Leonard's Creek by launching from Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Combine your paddle with a trip to the park's Visitor Center, where exhibits describe the site's rich archeological resources. 

Paddling Details

If you’d like to paddle the shores here, check in at Jefferson Patterson Park’s Visitor Center. The staff there will tell you how to drive down to the launch, unload your boat, and return your vehicle to the proper parking lot.

The river shore offers several nearby pocket beaches, set inside of living shoreline projects. The living shorelines were designed to protect the park’s considerable archaeological resources from storms and rising sea level. 

If you feel like paddling further after you visit the easternmost living shoreline, turn left to explore St. Leonard Creek and imagine you’re part of Commodore Joshua Barney’s Patuxent Flotilla. If the weather is too rough to paddle this stretch of open river, walk the 2-mile trail loop along the shore that visits each of the living shoreline projects.

Site History & Museum

Just north of the mouth of St. Leonard Creek, Capt. Smith mapped the village of Quomocac, which lay on a broad, wooded plain next to the river. Today that land is part of the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, owned by the Maryland Historical Trust. The museum houses the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory and offers a great riverside park to the public.

Details

Activity

Paddling

Pets Allowed

Yes

Pets must be on a leash. Pets, other than service animals used by physically challenged persons, are not allowed in the buildings. 

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

10515 Mackall Road
St. Leonard, MD 20685

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

The building is closed on Thanksgiving Day, and December 13 through January 16.

Time of Day

Day

The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. 

Accessibility Information

Contact the park at 410-586-8538 for more information.