ST. LEONARD, Md. — A vibrant crowd gathered this week at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum to celebrate the long-awaited ribbon cutting of the Patterson House and Gardens — a moment marking the start of a new era for one of Calvert County’s most cherished historic properties.
The estate officially opens its doors to the public on the weekend of May 10 and 11, just in time for Mother’s Day, offering families a beautiful and serene place to stroll, reflect and celebrate. From that weekend forward, the Patterson House and Gardens will be open every Saturday and Sunday through November, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. — and admission is completely free.
The ceremony itself was packed, with attendees from across Maryland gathering to witness the milestone. The event featured a lineup of speakers whose agencies and organizations played pivotal roles in the restoration effort, including:
- Rod Cofield, executive director of Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum
- Elizabeth Hughes, director of the Maryland Historical Trust
- Rebecca L. Flora, secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning
- Atif Chaudhry, secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services
- Earl “Buddy” Hance, president of the Calvert County Board of Commissioners
- James H. Nicosia, president of North Point Builders
Executive Director Rod Cofield expressed both pride and gratitude:
“We are just really excited that we can have this open to the public on a regular basis. We hope that the local and area residents can come to appreciate this as much as it deserves.”
The project has been years — decades — in the making. The journey to restore and prepare the Patterson House and Gardens for public enjoyment has spanned generations of effort, with countless staff, volunteers, donors, supporting organizations and state agencies contributing along the way.
Cofield went on to thank the many who made the moment possible:
“We want to thank the JPPM Advisory Committee, Friends of JPPM, the Maryland Historical Trust, the Department of Planning, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of General Services, the Maryland General Assembly and North Point Builders for their help with this project.”
This weekend marks not just an opening, but an invitation — a call for Marylanders and visitors alike to walk through time, breathe in the beauty of the gardens and make their own memories on these historic grounds.
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