On Saturday, February 15, the State Archives is hosting a day of free public events to celebrate the new statues at the Maryland State House. Members of the legislature, Maryland state employees, and members of the public are welcome to attend and enjoy a number of activities, including guest speakers, a musical performance, children’s activities, and a panel discussion. A complete schedule of events can be found here.

Also in Annapolis that day is a public reception for the opening of The Black Vote Mural Project, from 3:00-6:00 pm at the Banneker-Douglass Museum. This exhibit explores the intersection of public art, Black voices, and civil rights with 16 murals that transform the interior galleries of the museum.

Pictured: Maryland State House courtesy of Visit Annapolis

Assistant Secretary of Commerce Tom Riford was on hand to deliver a proclamation marking the start of the fourth annual FeBREWary craft beer month in Maryland. FeBREWary raises awareness of Maryland’s craft brewing scene, and coincides with events held across the state to promote Maryland’s brewers while celebrating our craft beer aficionados. This year’s kickoff was held on January 30 at Denizens Brewing Co. in Silver Spring and also marked the launch of “Suffragette Stout,” a collaboration brew to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in America, and Maryland’s Year of the Woman celebration. For more information and to find FeBREWary events across the state, go to VisitMaryland.org’s FeBREWary site.

Tourism advocates are planning their annual industry days in Annapolis, with Maryland Tourism Day set for February 14. Maryland Tourism Day is sponsored by the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC) and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (MDMO, and provides an opportunity for tourism advocates to meet with their representatives to discuss the importance of tourism to the Maryland economy. To register, and for a full schedule including information sessions, door-to-door visits with legislators, and the presentation of the Tourism Advocate Award, follow this link to the MTC website.

The Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism and the National Park Service have partnered to provide free training for Chesapeake Bay guides, watermen and women, and water-based tour providers, with the first class graduating in Baltimore on February 8. Sixteen participants took part in the inaugural class, and Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director for Maryland Commerce's Office of Tourism & Film, and Wendy O’Sullivan, Superintendent, Chesapeake Bay Office, National Park Service were on hand to congratulate the graduates.

“Chesapeake Bay Storytellers is a great opportunity for people who make their living on the bay,” said Anne Kyle, Product Development Manager, OTD. “Participants benefitted from professional development of their interpretation skills, exposure to prominent Chesapeake Bay experts and materials, and an unparalleled networking opportunity for Chesapeake professionals.” There’s still time to register for upcoming programs at the Calvert Marine Museum held Saturdays beginning this week and running through March, and in Grasonville in March. For more info and to register, follow this link.

Pictured: Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director for Maryland Commerce's Office of Tourism & Film, second row, left; and Wendy O’Sullivan, Superintendent, Chesapeake Bay Office, National Park Service, second row, right, and the graduates of the first Chesapeake Bay Storytellers class.

The U.S. Travel Association’s 2020 Destination Capitol Hill (DCH) event, is being held April 1-2 in Washington, D.C. The event is the U.S. Travel industry’s premier legislative fly-in, bringing travel leaders from across the country to the nation’s capital to educate policymakers about the power of travel. The program combines a legislative day on Capitol Hill with advocacy training, guest speakers and peer-to-peer networking. DCH provides delegates with an opportunity to learn about upcoming legislation that impacts travel, to network with peers and to meet with members of Congress to stress the importance of travel as an economic driver. For more information and to register, follow this link to the U.S. Travel Association’s website.

How can OTD help spread the word about your attraction or event? "Maryland Mondays" is the perfect way to help us help you. Each Monday, OTD launches a new “Maryland Mondays” ticket give-away program across all of our social media channels, consumer newsletter, and weekly “Maryland Minute” radio spots. Combined, these channels reach thousands of potential customers each week. To find out how to get involved by providing tickets to your attraction for an upcoming "Maryland Mondays," email OTD’s Leslie Troy.

For the latest on events and everything going all around Maryland, view the latest edition of Visit Maryland Now! here.

Each week, the Maryland Minute provides highlights and insights on this weekend’s events around the state. Maryland Minute is featured on Entercom radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., WERQ on Baltimore’s WBAL-AM 1090.