Preservation Stewardship Program

The Cultural Resources program has a long tradition of engaging with volunteers, students, and citizen scientists to help us in our goal to preserve the County’s rich heritage. From hands-on archaeology digs, to assisting staff with archival research on historic buildings, to documenting historic cemeteries, the team invites the public to engage with “Historic Places That Matter” across the County. We believe that citizens who participate in interactive and hands-on historic preservation and archaeology programs are the best advocates for preservation. We invite you to become stewards of our County’s historic sites by participating in programs designed to teach about significant historic places, and to demonstrate best practices in archaeology and historic preservation work.

Join us for upcoming events, or sign up for our newsletter and mailing list if you want to learn more.

• Preservation Month - May 2023

  The General Store: Heart of a Community (Zoom Lecture)  

  Thursday, May 18th, 12:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. - Free and Open to the Public

  Online Event (Link)

  General stores were the heart of many communities across the county and were essential to rural life. In this online presentation, come explore stores of the past and learn about the restoration plans for the historic Corwell's Store in Severna Park, MD.
  
  Presenters:

  • Darian Beverungen, Senior Planner, Cultural Resources Section, Anne Arundel County, MD.
  • Richard Striner, Historian

   

  Click here for the Zoom link.

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  Fieldwork Opportunities   

  Ongoing

  All are welcome; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. For more information, email Drew Webster at [email protected]. 

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  Stay tuned for more upcoming events soon, or sign up for our newsletter and mailing list if you want to learn more about our volunteer opportunities or events and how you can help protect the places that matter across the County.

• Archaeology

  FIELDWORK: Want to learn what it's like to be an archaeologist? Volunteers and interns are invited to join Cultural Resources personnel on a variety of archaeology digs across Anne Arundel County. The County has over 1,700 archaeological sites, so locations vary depending upon the current research program and the seasons. Tasks may include digging, screening for artifacts, and documenting the excavations. Check out our field manual here. No Experience Needed. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

  LABWORK: The Anne Arundel Archaeology Laboratory, located on the campus of Historic London Town & Gardens in Edgewater, Maryland, accepts volunteers and interns to help process artifacts, including washing, labeling, sorting, and cataloging. Check out our lab manual here. No Experience Needed. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Currently, the lab is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.

  --- Volunteers must sign up here in advance for a morning or afternoon shift. ---

  The lab follows current CDC and county health guidelines regarding capacity, social distancing, and mask use. 

  RESEARCH: Volunteers are also needed to assist with archival research both online and at the Maryland State Archives. Before beginning excavations at an archaeology site, one must research land records, census data, wills. probate inventories, and historic maps, all of which helps formulate research questions and better understand the historic context of these resources. In addition, archaeological and historical literature must be consulted as part of the research process.

  The Joan Cass Beck Collection, a special collection of the Anne Arundel Public Library System, contains hundreds of books, journals, and audio/visual materials that are housed at the Anne Arundel Archaeology Lab and at the Historical Preservation Research Library in the county's Division of Planning and Zoning. The library is open to the public for onsite research by appointment only and the books cannot be checked out. Call (410) 222-1318 for more information.

  Email Drew Webster at [email protected] for information on current and upcoming opportunities and to sign up for the Preservation Stewardship Program.

• Historic Cemeteries 

  Anne Arundel County's Cultural Resources Division is working hard to document and protect the historic cemeteries of our County along with members of the Preservation Stewardship Program. We need your help in protecting our historic cemeteries! Click here to learn more about our historic cemeteries. Help us with documenting these important places by using the digital cemetery documentation (online tool) or a downloadable documentation form. 

  Help us out by taking a short survey to give us your observations about cemetery conservation issues in Anne Arundel County. 

  Email Drew Webster at [email protected] for information on current and upcoming opportunities and to sign up for the Preservation Stewardship Program.

• Historic Preservation
  The County is home to hundreds of historic structures that need documentation. Volunteers are needed to assist with archival research to study the history of these properties. Land records, census data, wills and probate inventories and historic maps help us better understand the historic context of these resources. Email Drew Webster at [email protected] for information on current and upcoming opportunities and to sign up for the Preservation Stewardship Program.
• Internships

  Anne Arundel County's team of professional archaeologists, preservationists, and historians, welcome advanced high school and college interns to join us. Under the teams’ professional guidance, students can learn the ropes and find out if a career in archaeology is right for them. Often, credit can be arranged in cooperation with your academic institution. We also welcome researchers, graduate students, and experienced undergraduates who wish to use county collections for a thesis or other project. Click here for the 2023 flyer and here for an info brief. Visit our internship page to learn more about current opportunities. 

  Email Drew Webster at [email protected] for more information or to apply.