About Saint Clements Island, Maryland:
Saint Clements Island (also spelled St. Clement’s Island) is a small, uninhabited island in the Potomac River in Saint Mary’s County, southern Maryland.
It’s best known as the site of Maryland’s first English Catholic colonial landing.
Two ships, The Ark and the Dove, set sail from the Isle of Wight on November 22, 1633.
The Ark was large 400-ton English merchant ship (115–130 feet in length) hired in 1633 by Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, to transport approximately 140 English colonists along with their supplies and equipment to establish the Province of Maryland as an English colony and a refuge for Catholics.the colony was settled in 1634, with its capital at St. Mary’s City until 1695, and it was known for early religious toleration.
It sailed alongside the Dove, a smaller 40-ton pinnace. A pinnance was a single-decked ship often served as tenders to larger vessels, carrying supplies, crew, or up to 12 small guns for patrolling, which would be better suited for navigating the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.
During the journey, the Dove was lost in a storm for several days, but both ships eventually met again in Barbados before arriving at Old Point Comfort, Virginia, on February 24, 1634.
They landed on Saint Clement Island on March 25, 1634. That same day, Father Andrew White erected a cross and offered Holy Mass — an act of defiance punishable by death in England.
The photo on the left is the annual re-enactment of that Mass.
It was the Solemnity of the Annunciation. On the day the Word became flesh, the Faith took root in America. (while earlier Catholic Masses in North America occurred in the Spanish colony of Saint Augustine, Florida in 1565, this was the first Mass in the English colonies). The colonists soon moved to establish Saint Mary’s City on the mainland, making this Maryland’s “birthplace” and the foundation for its early policy of religious freedom. March 25 is a state holiday known as Maryland Day.
Note: A fully functional reproduction, the Maryland Dove, was built in the 1970s and served as a museum ship representing the original trading vessel. The Society of the Ark and the Dove preserves the history of the passengers and crew.
You can take a public sail on the Saint Mary’s River on a beautifully crafted wooden vessel inspired by the original Dove of 1634.
The island was originally much larger (hundreds of acres) but has eroded to about 40-43 acres today. It was also known historically as Blackistone Island or Blakistone Island. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the St. Clement’s Island Historic District (added 1972).
St. Clement’s Island State Park now occupies the island with a prominent 40-foot stone cross (erected in 1934 for the 300th anniversary) commemorating the landing and the first Mass.
A reconstruction of the Blackistone Lighthouse (originally built in the 19th century, destroyed by fire; the replica is climbable seasonally). The island also includes Hiking trails (easy, about 1.2 miles), a sandy beach area, picnic spots, and scenic views of the Potomac River. Interpretive panels on colonial history, the Piscataway people (indigenous inhabitants), and local heritage.
The island is managed as a state park with facilities like a pier for docking, but it’s primarily natural and historic. It’s a quiet, meaningful place for history buffs, especially those interested in early colonial America, religious tolerance, and Chesapeake Bay heritage. Erosion has shaped the island over centuries, so it’s a reminder of both human history and natural change.
Clement’s Island Museum:
Located at 38370 Point Breeze Road, Colton’s Point, MD 20626. The museum covers the island’s history, Potomac River heritage, interactions between English settlers and the Piscataway people, and local waterman culture. It includes exhibits, a relocated one-room schoolhouse (Little Red Schoolhouse), and a gift shop.
Important note for 2026: The main museum building is closed for reconstruction.
A commemorative Mass was held on Maryland Day (March 25, 2026), but the full mainland ceremony is paused until 2027.
Traveling to Saint Clements Island, Maryland:
Saint Clements Island is located in the Potomac River, near the Southern Maryland peninsula, about 98 miles south of Baltimore, and 61 miles south of Washington, D.C.
Island open sunrise to sunset. Water taxi and lighthouse tours are seasonal (typically late March/early April through October; weekend tours May–September). Accessible via a seasonal water taxi from the St. Clement’s Island Museum, it offers a replica lighthouse, picnic spots, and walking paths. The island is largely rustic with no services, requiring visitors to bring their own water and supplies.
The Water taxi departs from St. Clement’s Island Museum: 38370 Point Breeze Road, Colton’s Point, MD 20626. It operates roughly from March 25 to October 31, usually between 10 AM and 2 PM, with 3 PM being the last return trip at a cost of approximately $7–$10 per person as of 2026 (includes boat ride and museum admission).
Phone: +1 301-769-2222 or the park at +1 301-872-5688 for current info.
For the latest details on water taxi schedules, events (like potential Heritage Day or dinner cruises), or museum reopening, visit the official Saint Mary’s County Recreation & Museums site.