Prince George's County Highlights Riversdale, Montpelier and Historic House Museums

Prince George's County is promoting a network of house museums and historic sites that are open to visitors and school groups, with Riversdale House Museum and Montpelier Mansion among the signature destinations. Riversdale House Museum in Riverdale Park is a National Historic Landmark and an elegant Federal-era manor once home to the Calvert family and Rosalie Stier Calvert. Riversdale offers guided walk-through tours, indoor exhibits, grounds access, periodic living-history programs and summer lawn concerts that draw families from across the county.

Montpelier Mansion in Laurel is an 18th-century Georgian plantation house with restored interiors and a surrounding park. Montpelier hosts exhibitions, concerts and tours that interpret the region’s colonial and antebellum history and serve as a classroom resource for schools studying Maryland history. Marietta House Museum and Snow Hill Manor round out the county-run portfolio, showcasing local architectural, agricultural and social history through guided tours and special events.

Prince George’s County parks and museums pages list hours, admission prices and programming; admission is often nominal, which keeps events and school visits affordable for families and classrooms. The Maryland State Archives and the MSA museum listings maintain an index of Prince George’s County museums, including niche and community institutions such as the Laurel Museum and the Prince George’s African American Museum & Cultural Center. Those listings make it easier for educators and visitors to plan multi-site itineraries that combine classroom-ready programming with public events.

The county operation of these sites matters for local economic and educational outcomes. Low-cost admissions and free or low-cost special events lower barriers for Prince George’s County families and Title I schools to access cultural programming. Events such as Riversdale’s summer lawn concerts and Montpelier’s exhibitions concentrate foot traffic in Riverdale Park and Laurel, supporting nearby restaurants and retail on event days and contributing to cultural tourism on Route 1 corridors and adjacent neighborhoods. Local government operation also means maintenance, programming choices and scheduling are subject to county budget priorities and calendar planning.

Practical details matter: check individual site calendars for special tours, school-program slots and seasonal closures before planning a visit. Many house museums host living history days, lectures and family activities that are free or low-cost. For schedules and visitor information, consult the county parks and museums pages and the Maryland State Archives museum listings to confirm hours, admission and program offerings.

For Prince George’s County residents and educators, these house museums are accessible local assets for history, music and school programming. Expect ongoing seasonal events and continuing coordination between museums and schools as the county balances preservation priorities with efforts to expand public access.