La Plata
La Plata's existence is due to the railroad. La Plata's prosperity is due to being the county seat of Charles County. 1995 marked the centennial of the decision to move the county seat from port Tobacco to La Plata. The following is the story of that move as written by Mrs. Kathryn Newcomb, Historian for La Plata.
La Plata was just crossroads in an oak forest until the Stone streets on the west and the Chapman's on the east gave the Pennsylvania Railroad the land it needed for a right of way to build their railroad in 1869. The town, which was destined to become the most important settlement in the county, was really a creature of this railroad because of a scheduled stop called "La Plata Station". The station, still in existence, consisted of a warehouse and passenger waiting room.
In the beginning, the town on the east side of the railroad tracks was built on Chapman land and the Chapman family donated the land to construct the streets in this section. Thus both the station and the town took its name from Chapman's "La Plata Farm" as it was commonly known. The land for the first Christ Church Rectory on Oak Avenue was also a gift of this family. The first post office was established in 1873. In this year also the railroad began its service tot he town and La Plata began to grow.
La Plata had a rather tumultuous beginning whose background goes back to the last quarter of the 19th century. The then county seat of Port Tobacco was the storm center of a bitter political battle concerning the moving of the county seat to La Plata or Chapel Point. La Plata, 3 miles inland to the east, boasting a railroad siding and telegraph station, was growing and began to demand the courthouse. A special election was held in May of 1892 to determine whether the courthouse should remain at Port Tobacco or be moved to La Plata. Port Tobacco easily won but less than three months later the courthouse burned, although not before the records had been carefully removed.
Obviously an incendiary act, no one was ever prosecuted and no one ever admitted to knowledge of the deed. Feelings ran so high it seemed impractical to rebuild the courthouse at Port Tobacco. Anther special election was held in 1895 to determine whether to move the county seat of Charles to La Plata or Chapel Point but because of the railroad, to La Plata went this victory.
Thus, the County Seat was moved to la Plata, and the courthouse was built of red brick in a rather imposing but unattractive Victorian style. In 1954, the Greek Revival facade facing Charles Street was added as the south addition to the original. In 1974, the center section and north addition were completed in authentic Georgian design. The graceful cupola with gold dome and fluttering weather vane pierces the skyline of the town.
Next to the court house facing Charles Street is another historic building, Christ Church of Port Tobacco Parish. The last of the three Christ Churches built on Port Tobacco, it was moved to La Plata in 1904. Its stones were carefully marked with number and carried by oxcart to the new county seat. Here it was rebuilt in a Victorian gothic style with its dog house dormers and their curvilinear trim. It was built in the exact location tot he courthouse that it had occupied in Port Tobacco, with the distance between the buildings being the same. However, only 2 years had elapsed when in 1906 its interior was gutted by fire. It was rebuilt this time, a Gothic bell tower was added at the west end. Christ Church, as part of Port Tobacco, one of the 30 original Church of England parishes created in the Province of Maryland by an Act of the Assembly, 1692, is continually visited by history buffs and those seeking outstanding examples of stained glass.

Maryland Scenic Routes Map

Heritage Driving Tours

Visitor's Guide

FOLKLORE:
Dating back to 1824, Preference Farm along U.S. 301 south of La Plata has been rumored to be home to a number of restless spirits, most notably two young children who died on the property in the 19th century when it was the home to a physician who treated travelers and patients from the surrounding area.
According to Mike Mona, family members and resident of Preference Farm have seen the ghosts of the two young children on the property and nearby at the small graveyard in the back yard.
Other residents of the farm say they have been visited by mischievous spirits and seen Amish settlers on the ground at night huddling around a campfire. Mona said that slaves that once worked on the property back in the 19th century are buried on the property. "I haven't seen anything, but there's a lot of history here," Mona said.
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• Casey Jones Restaurant, 301-932-6226. Fine dining with a unique menu.
• Claudia’s Steakhouse, 301-609-7900
• Gustavos, 301-934-6200
• Johnny Boy Ribs, 301-932-3086
• Twin Kiss, 301-934-4025. Since 1959! The name originated from the half- vanilla, half-chocolate, soft-serve ice cream swirl

• Southern Maryland Woodcarvers, 301-934-1366; offers classes in the art
of woodcarving.

Marshall Hall
On the Potomac River. Marshall Hall has a varied past that begins with Native American villages then becomes a well-established plantation home after European settlement, and later the site of an amusement park.

Nanjemoy
Home of the historic shipwrecks in Mallows Bay, fossil hunting at Purse State Park, fishing from Friendship Landing boat launch, several historic churches and more. Experience nature up close at Nanjemoy Creek and see Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles and natural beauty beyond compare.
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Pope’s Creek
Pope’s Creek has a long and varied history. John Wilkes Booth crossed the Potomac River at Pope’s Creek during his escape after assassinating President Abraham Lincoln. A railroad line and a power plant were once in operation. Back in the days of mail boats and locomotives, when electricity was new to Pope’s Creek and work was just beginning on the Potomac River Bridge, 9-year old Billy Robertson sold his first crabs on this very shore. Today, the crab houses along the shores of Pope’s Creek are still the most popular in the region. Along with fabulous seafood, visitors can find tranquility and stunning sunsets as well. In 1958, Charles County’s Tercentenary Year, the Catholic hierarchy decided to erect Loyola-on-the-Potomac Retreat House as a birthday present to the county.

Enjoy dining at a waterfront crab house in Pope's Creek on the Potomac River.

	• Captain Billy's Crab House, 301-932-4323; over the water dining on the Potomac River
	• Gilligan's Pier, 301-259-4514; beach volleyball and playground for the kids
	• Robertson's Crab House, 301-934-3300

Indicates preferred providers and members of the Charles County Visitors Bureau.

Benedict  .  Bryantown  .  Cobb Island  .  Indian Head  .  La Plata
Marshall Hall  .  Nanjemoy  .  Pope's Creek  .  Port Tobacco  .  Waldorf

 

Charles County Economic Development and Tourism Department,
103 Centennial Street, Suite C,
La Plata, MD 20646
(800) SO.MD.FUN or 301-645-0558

The information is subject to change, please contact each interest for current information.

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