African American Heritage Society

Updated October 31, 2025

## African American Heritage Society (Heritage House), La Plata, Maryland — What to Know Before You Go

Location: 7485 Crain Hwy, La Plata, MD 20646
GPS: 38.5066041, -76.9857011
Type: Educational/cultural site focused on African American history in Charles County and Southern Maryland
Typical access: By appointment (volunteer-run) Charles County

—

### Why this stop matters

The African American Heritage Society of Charles County operates the African American Heritage House in La Plata—an educational space dedicated to documenting and sharing the lives, culture, and contributions of African Americans in Charles County and the broader Southern Maryland region. The Society’s mission is to foster public awareness and understanding of African American history and its role in regional and national development. Target+

At the Heritage House, you’ll find interpretive displays and artifacts (including materials from the William A. Diggs collection) that connect local stories to the larger American narrative—useful if you’re building a Maryland history itinerary or pairing La Plata with nearby county sites. Maryland

—

## Plan your visit (appointments, contact, updates)

– Open by appointment. The Society is staffed by volunteers. Call ahead to arrange a visit or inquire about special public programs.
Phone: 301-609-9099. Charles County

– Official listings that confirm the address and access:
• Maryland’s state and county tourism directories list the site at 7485 Crain Highway and note appointment-only access. State Archives
• VisitMaryland’s entry for the African-American Heritage House gives the same address and highlights the Diggs collection. Maryland

> ⚠️ Outdated info flag: A regional listing reported a renovation closure in 2013. That notice is historical. Always rely on current county/state pages or call to confirm today’s status, since hours can change with volunteer availability. Maryland Online

—

## What you’ll see

– Local history exhibits. Displays focus on African Americans from Charles County—biographies, community life, and civic contributions—framed within Southern Maryland’s history. Maryland
– Artifacts & collections. Items from the William A. Diggs collection are called out in state tourism materials; they help anchor stories in tangible objects. Maryland
– Contextual storytelling. The Society emphasizes the educational role of the Heritage House as a community resource and regional tourist site, making it relevant to students, researchers, and heritage travelers. Target+

—

## Practical details

### Getting there
The Heritage House sits on US-301 (Crain Highway) in La Plata. Use the GPS coords above for precise navigation and confirm entrance/parking instructions when you book. The site is indexed in Maryland’s museum and historical society directories at this address. State Archives

### Booking & group visits
– Individual and group appointments can be arranged by phone (see number above). Some listings explicitly note appointments for individual and special group visitations. Target+
– Special events may open the site without a booking; county tourism pages announce these when scheduled. Charles County

### Cost
Current official listings focus on contact/appointments rather than fixed admission pricing. Ask about donations or fees when scheduling. (Historic press items mentioning Sunday hours/admission are archived and not reliable for today.) Washington Post

—

## Research notes & reliability

– Confirmed address & identity:
– “African-American Heritage House,” 7485 Crain Hwy, La Plata (VisitMaryland, Town of La Plata directory). Maryland
– “African American Heritage Society of Charles County, Inc.” (regional and county histories; Southern Maryland National Heritage Area). County Historical Society

– Access status today: Appointment-only/volunteer-run on county/state directories; use the Society’s phone to confirm a time. Charles County

– Exhibit anchor: Reference to artifacts from the William A. Diggs collection appears on the VisitMaryland listing; this is the most specific exhibit detail publicly documented in statewide tourism materials. Maryland

– Older third-party pages: Various aggregator pages exist (MapQuest, older regional directories). Treat hours/labels on those pages as secondary; rely first on state/county or the Society directly.

—

## Responsible, inclusive visiting

The Heritage House centers African American history and culture in Southern Maryland. When booking:

– Ask whether photography is permitted and how artifacts should be handled (if at all).
– Inquire about accessibility accommodations when you call—volunteer museums often tailor visits to guest needs case-by-case.
– If you’re researching family or community history, ask about any reference materials or educator resources available onsite or through the Society. (Direct guidance is typically offered during appointments.) Target+

—

## Quick FAQ

Is it open to walk-ins?
Plan on appointments. Some events may be public; check county tourism listings or call. Charles County

What’s on display?
Interpretive exhibits on African American life in Charles County with artifacts, including the William A. Diggs collection. Maryland

Who operates it?
The African American Heritage Society of Charles County, Inc., a 501(c)(3) with an educational mission. Target+

Where exactly is it?
7485 Crain Hwy, La Plata, MD 20646 (US-301). Use GPS 38.5066041, -76.9857011. Maryland

—

### Final checks before you go

– Call 301-609-9099 to book and confirm current access. Charles County
– If you see conflicting hours online, defer to state/county tourism pages and the Society’s phone guidance—those are updated more reliably than third-party directories. Maryland

This guide uses only details verified on Maryland state/county tourism listings and recognized regional heritage resources. If you encounter new information (expanded hours, new exhibits, accessibility updates), please verify directly with the Society and local tourism pages before publishing or sharing. Charles County

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African American Heritage Society (Heritage House), La Plata, Maryland — What to Know Before You Go

Location: 7485 Crain Hwy, La Plata, MD 20646
GPS: 38.5066041, -76.9857011
Type: Educational/cultural site focused on African American history in Charles County and Southern Maryland
Typical access: By appointment (volunteer-run) oai_citation:0‡Explore Charles County

Why this stop matters

The African American Heritage Society of Charles County operates the African American Heritage House in La Plata—an educational space dedicated to documenting and sharing the lives, culture, and contributions of African Americans in Charles County and the broader Southern Maryland region. The Society’s mission is to foster public awareness and understanding of African American history and its role in regional and national development. oai_citation:1‡New Target+

At the Heritage House, you’ll find interpretive displays and artifacts (including materials from the William A. Diggs collection) that connect local stories to the larger American narrative—useful if you’re building a Maryland history itinerary or pairing La Plata with nearby county sites. oai_citation:2‡Visit Maryland

Plan your visit (appointments, contact, updates)

• Open by appointment. The Society is staffed by volunteers. Call ahead to arrange a visit or inquire about special public programs.
  Phone: 301-609-9099. oai_citation:3‡Explore Charles County

• Official listings that confirm the address and access:
  • Maryland’s state and county tourism directories list the site at 7485 Crain Highway and note appointment-only access. oai_citation:4‡Maryland State Archives
  • VisitMaryland’s entry for the African-American Heritage House gives the same address and highlights the Diggs collection. oai_citation:5‡Visit Maryland

⚠️ Outdated info flag: A regional listing reported a renovation closure in 2013. That notice is historical. Always rely on current county/state pages or call to confirm today’s status, since hours can change with volunteer availability. oai_citation:6‡Southern Maryland Online

What you’ll see

• Local history exhibits. Displays focus on African Americans from Charles County—biographies, community life, and civic contributions—framed within Southern Maryland’s history. oai_citation:7‡Visit Maryland
• Artifacts & collections. Items from the William A. Diggs collection are called out in state tourism materials; they help anchor stories in tangible objects. oai_citation:8‡Visit Maryland
• Contextual storytelling. The Society emphasizes the educational role of the Heritage House as a community resource and regional tourist site, making it relevant to students, researchers, and heritage travelers. oai_citation:9‡New Target+

Practical details

Getting there

The Heritage House sits on US-301 (Crain Highway) in La Plata. Use the GPS coords above for precise navigation and confirm entrance/parking instructions when you book. The site is indexed in Maryland’s museum and historical society directories at this address. oai_citation:10‡Maryland State Archives

Booking & group visits

• Individual and group appointments can be arranged by phone (see number above). Some listings explicitly note appointments for individual and special group visitations. oai_citation:11‡New Target+
• Special events may open the site without a booking; county tourism pages announce these when scheduled. oai_citation:12‡Explore Charles County

Cost

Current official listings focus on contact/appointments rather than fixed admission pricing. Ask about donations or fees when scheduling. (Historic press items mentioning Sunday hours/admission are archived and not reliable for today.) oai_citation:13‡The Washington Post

Research notes & reliability

• Confirmed address & identity:
  – “African-American Heritage House,” 7485 Crain Hwy, La Plata (VisitMaryland, Town of La Plata directory). oai_citation:14‡Visit Maryland
  – “African American Heritage Society of Charles County, Inc.” (regional and county histories; Southern Maryland National Heritage Area). oai_citation:15‡Charles County Historical Society

• Access status today: Appointment-only/volunteer-run on county/state directories; use the Society’s phone to confirm a time. oai_citation:16‡Explore Charles County

• Exhibit anchor: Reference to artifacts from the William A. Diggs collection appears on the VisitMaryland listing; this is the most specific exhibit detail publicly documented in statewide tourism materials. oai_citation:17‡Visit Maryland

• Older third-party pages: Various aggregator pages exist (MapQuest, older regional directories). Treat hours/labels on those pages as secondary; rely first on state/county or the Society directly. oai_citation:18‡MapQuest

Responsible, inclusive visiting

The Heritage House centers African American history and culture in Southern Maryland. When booking:

• Ask whether photography is permitted and how artifacts should be handled (if at all).
• Inquire about accessibility accommodations when you call—volunteer museums often tailor visits to guest needs case-by-case.
• If you’re researching family or community history, ask about any reference materials or educator resources available onsite or through the Society. (Direct guidance is typically offered during appointments.) oai_citation:19‡New Target+

Quick FAQ

Is it open to walk-ins?
Plan on appointments. Some events may be public; check county tourism listings or call. oai_citation:20‡Explore Charles County

What’s on display?
Interpretive exhibits on African American life in Charles County with artifacts, including the William A. Diggs collection. oai_citation:21‡Visit Maryland

Who operates it?
The African American Heritage Society of Charles County, Inc., a 501(c)(3) with an educational mission. oai_citation:22‡New Target+

Where exactly is it?
7485 Crain Hwy, La Plata, MD 20646 (US-301). Use GPS 38.5066041, -76.9857011. oai_citation:23‡Visit Maryland

Final checks before you go

• Call 301-609-9099 to book and confirm current access. oai_citation:24‡Explore Charles County
• If you see conflicting hours online, defer to state/county tourism pages and the Society’s phone guidance—those are updated more reliably than third-party directories. oai_citation:25‡Visit Maryland

This guide uses only details verified on Maryland state/county tourism listings and recognized regional heritage resources. If you encounter new information (expanded hours, new exhibits, accessibility updates), please verify directly with the Society and local tourism pages before publishing or sharing. oai_citation:26‡Explore Charles County