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11 Most Endangered
Sotterley Plantation
Year Listed: 1996
Location: Hollywood , Maryland
Current Status: Favorable
Threat: Deterioration, Natural Forces, Neglect
Latest News
The preservation of this 11 Most site was supported by Save America's Treasures, a program that is facing elimination in the proposed federal budget. Join our campaign to save this component of preservation funding, which has restored 1,100 structures and collections and created 16,000 jobs coast to coast.
Significance
Established around 1710, the Sotterley Plantation was created as a self-sufficient plantation, a colonial port of entry and a major player in the colonial economy of southern Maryland. For the past three decades, the tidewater-style plantation has been open to the public, and includes the original slave cabin as well as the rare 18th-century customs warehouse. But like many other historic sites, it suffers from years of inadequate funding and deferred maintenance, which have taken their toll. With major structural repairs needed for the manor house, the slave cabin and the other buildings, and a lack of funds to do all the necessary work, Sotterley has had to limit tours and continued public access to the site is in jeopardy.
Updates
As a result of its listing, Preservation Maryland has committed more than $20,000 to work on the site, including archaeology, an interpretive program addressing the multicultural history of the plantation's residents, and restoration of the slave quarters. Additional grants from the State of Maryland, Save America's Treasures, and the Maryland Historical Trust have helped to preserve and restore the site for future generations.
In February 2000, Sotterley received its National Historic Landmark status and completed the design phase of its comprehensive project. While restoration is well underway, much remains to be done.
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