News Media
Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town & South County Press Release
July 31, 2007
Arundel Center
44 Calvert Street •
Annapolis, MD 21401-1930
410-222-1805
Heritage_Area@aacounty.org • www.fourriversheritage.org
Contact: Donna Dudley, Executive Director
Maryland Heritage Areas Program Grant Awards Announced
Annapolis, MD – Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town & South County is pleased to announce that the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority has awarded $252,500 in fiscal year 2008 state heritage areas program funding to support preservation and heritage tourism related projects in the Four Rivers Heritage Area.
The Annapolis Maritime Museum will receive $100,000 in capital grant funding to support the reconstruction of the McNasby Oyster Company building in Eastport. Damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, the reconstructed McNasby’s will be a 7,000 square foot museum with exhibits, classroom, meeting room, and public amenities, showcasing the area’s rich maritime heritage. “We’re grateful for the support of the Four Rivers Heritage Area and the Maryland Heritage Areas program,” said Annapolis Maritime Museum Executive Director Jeff Holland. “This funding will provide a huge leap forward in our effort to transform the historic McNasby Oyster Company building into a world-class waterfront educational facility.”
The City of Annapolis was awarded $42,500 to support the development of an interpretive plan and outdoor exhibits for the Maynard-Burgess House on Duke of Gloucester Street. Dating from the late 18th century, the Maynard- Burgess House is the only known surviving home of a pre-Civil War free black family in the Historic District. Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer expressed her reaction to the grant award. “Bravo! We are delighted to expand the city's strong partnership with the Maryland Heritage Areas program and the Maryland Historical Trust to bring public access to the Maynard Burgess House. The work yard and garden will provide a real place where we can share the rich heritage and contributions of 19th century free African Americans to our city. Our partners at Historic Annapolis Foundation, Banneker-Douglass Museum, Our Local Legacy, and Archeology in Annapolis agree that this is a project of our hearts ...not just bricks and mortar, but story telling in its best sense."
Annapolis will receive an additional $10,000 for the restoration of the historic Southgate Memorial Fountain on Church Circle in the heart of the Historic District. Inoperable for many years, the Fountain will be cleaned, repaired, repointed, painted, and retrofitted with a recirculating water pump in time for the 300th anniversary of Annapolis’ charter in 2008.
The Four Rivers Heritage Area will receive $100,000 in operating and program assistance. This assistance supports activities such as the annual mini-grants program, the annual heritage awards, regional interpreter training, area museum director networking summits, educational workshops, and the development of new heritage tourism and preservation related projects.
“Four Rivers is delighted to bring funding into this area to help preserve and interpret our wonderful regional heritage,” said Four Rivers Executive Director Donna Dudley.
The Four Rivers Heritage Area is part of the Maryland Heritage Areas Program, recipient of Preserve America’s 2006 Presidential Award for heritage tourism. For more information on Four Rivers, please visit www.fourriversheritage.org.
