Spend an unforgettable day exploring the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay with regional historian Hayden Mathews. The journey begins as Mathews weaves together the geological, environmental, maritime, cultural, and architectural threads that have shaped the region. This legacy comes to life as you explore historic Chestertown, Maryland, and embark on a 2.5-hour sail aboard the Sultana, a replica 1768 topsail schooner.
Chestertown was founded in 1704 as an official Crown Port of Entry, and as such, enjoyed a lucrative maritime trade that fueled the local economy and funded construction of the Georgian brick mansions that still line the streets of the town. While the original Boston-built Sultana patrolled the coastline of colonial North America from 1768 to 1772 enforcing the hated Townsend Acts or “tea taxes,” the replica Sultana was built by the Sultana Educational Foundation in Chestertown to serve as a floating classroom for students and members of the public where they can learn about regional maritime history and have a hands-on experience in learning about Chesapeake Bay ecology as well.
In Chestertown, meet Chris Cerino, a former mayor and vice president of the Sultana Education Foundation, who leads a walking tour of the town’s National Register Historic District, spotlighting buildings of special interest and providing insightful stories about local history. The tour concludes at the headquarters of the foundation, where Cerino orchestrates a multimedia presentation that provides a one-of-a-kind experience of the bay’s cultural and natural histories.
Participants have midday lunch at a restaurant and have afternoon free time following the last tour and sailing.
Know Before You Go
- The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
- Tour participants meet at and leave by bus from the Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C Street, SW (corner of 6th and C Sts.), with a pickup stop at the New Carrollton Metro Route 50/south-side Kiss and Ride kiosk at about 8:10 a.m.
- Note: This tour accommodates up to 50 participants. Once in Chestertown, groups are divided for the cruise and town tour portions.
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, September 19, 2025.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
