Thomas Stone National Historic Site

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia laid before his fellow delegates in the Continental Congress a resolve “...that these united colonies are and of right ought to be independent states.” This paved the way for Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of the Independence and for Thomas Stone to help draft the Articles of Confederation.   As part of the America 250th celebration, Thomas Stone National Historic Site will interpret the Lee resolution on independence on Sunday, June 7, 2026.  

• 10:30 am & 1:00 pm: Guided tours of the Thomas Stone House. (Please arrive ten minutes before tour times to walk from the Visitor Center to the Thomas Stone House.)
• 2:30 pm: A presentation on the Lee resolution in the Visitor Center.

Southern Maryland National Heritage Area will be hosting Southern Maryland 250: Liberty and Legacy right here at the park next week on June 22, and we’re delighted to provide the historic setting for this regional gathering. The day will feature:

• A keynote address by Senator Chris Van Hollen

• The dedication of a Maryland Liberty Tree

• Exhibitor Lane with local heritage, cultural, and conservation partners

• Live musical performances

Thomas Stone National Historic Site is honored to offer a place where the community can reflect on Southern Maryland’s shared past and consider its future during America’s 250th anniversary. We look forward to welcoming you to the grounds where Thomas Stone—a signer of the Declaration of Independence—once lived and shaped his own legacy.

Park gates open at 9 a.m. Program begins at 10 a.m.

On the morning of America’s 250th birthday, Thomas Stone National Historic Site invites you to begin the day with a special ceremony and wreath‑laying to honor the enduring legacy of a signer of the Declaration of Independence.   Following the ceremony, guests are invited to step beyond the barriers and into his 18th‑century world. After years of dedicated restoration work, the historic Thomas Stone House has been transformed from a museum‑style viewing space into an immersive home filled with carefully selected, period‑accurate furnishings. For the first time in decades, visitors can walk through the rooms of the first floor and connect with the past in a powerful and personal way, seeing authentic details up close and gaining a deeper understanding of daily life during the Revolutionary era. Each room tells a story, brought to life through historically informed furniture, décor, and interpretive insights that reveal how Thomas Stone and his household shaped, and were shaped by, the events of their time.   This July 4th, whether you’re a history enthusiast, a national parks traveler, or a family seeking a meaningful experience during America’s 250th, you are a guest in a home that helped shape a nation.

At 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 2, 2026, the National Park Service and the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission invite you to celebrate Thomas Stone signing the Declaration of Independence exactly 250 years earlier to the day.   In his presentation called “One Month Later” Park Ranger David Lassman will not only explain how and when the Declaration was signed, but also how his fellow Marylanders reacted the historic act that created the United States of America.   On Sunday, August 2, 2026, Thomas Stone National Historic Site is located at 6655 Rose Hill Road in Port Tobacco, Maryland and it will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with guided tours of the Thomas Stone House at 10:30 am and 12:00 noon.