Westphalia residents looking for a free outing next weekend can visit Darnall’s Chance Historic Site & Museum in Upper Marlboro for its History Community Day on Saturday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event takes place at 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive and is open to all ages. Organizers list lawn games, American history trivia, opportunities to explore the historic site and visits with local community partners among the activities that may be offered. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch.
Part of a countywide history series
The gathering is part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s History Community Day series, organized around the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. The series brings free programming to historic sites and museums across Prince George’s County, with individual locations offering different activities.
Darnall’s Chance provides a setting for exploring the area’s eighteenth-century history. The museum’s educational materials date the house to 1742, when it was completed for a tobacco merchant. Its interpretation includes the experiences of colonial women and the lives of enslaved people.
The museum’s broader educational programming also examines the Bentley women, whose family challenged enslavement through freedom suits in local courts. That work places the historic house within a larger account of the people who lived and sought freedom in the area.
Planning a visit
The September 19 Community Day is advertised as free. Because organizers describe some activities as possibilities rather than a fixed schedule, visitors interested in a particular offering should check with the museum before attending.
The site listing includes parking, picnic tables and restrooms among its amenities. For event details, accessibility questions or other visitor information, contact Darnall’s Chance at 301-952-8010 or darnallschance@pgparks.com.
Source: M-NCPPC’s published event listing, History Community Day schedule and museum information, reviewed September 13, 2026.