The exhibit, developed by the American Anthropological Association and the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, will open at Lexington Park Library on July 21, 2025 and close on August 22, 2025.
World on the Move Events
Exhibit Tours
Learn about migration histories of cultures around the world. The tour at Lexington Park Library includes an overview of the World on the Move exhibit, themed programs, and more! Register to receive a reminder email, walk-ins welcome!
Register for the Sat., July 26, 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. tour
Spices on the Move – Delve into the rich, flavorful world of herbs and spices!
The Migration of Flavor
Wednesday, July 9, 6 – 7 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for The Migration of Flavor
Explore the fascinating world of herbs and spices, celebrated for their cultural significance and ability to enhance dishes. Dr. Deon Littles from the University of Maryland Extension will take you on a flavorful journey to discover new inspirations for your culinary adventures! Her expertise will deepen your understanding of these essential ingredients.
Growing the Flavor
Wednesday, July 16, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for Growing the Flavor
In this second installment of the Spices on the Move Series, learn how to grow fragrant herbs and flavorful spices in your own home garden. Master Gardeners Linda Crandle and Sheila Milburn will teach you the steps to creating a successful, productive culinary herb garden – from starting seeds all the way through harvesting. Leave with the motivation, the know-how, and your own starter plant to kickstart a garden full of flavor at home! Your tastebuds will thank you!
Capturing the Flavor
Wednesday, July 23, 6 – 7 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for Capturing the Flavor
In this final installment of the Spices on the Move Series, learn how to cook with herbs and spices to get the most nutritious, flavorful dishes. This lecture will review herbs and spices’ transformative role in cooking, their numerous health benefits, proper storage methods to maintain freshness, and food safety tips!
People & Perspectives: From Enslaved to “Merikin”
Following Freedom-Seekers from Sotterley to Trinidad
Wednesday, July 16, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Historic Sotterley and online
Register for People & Perspectives
This is a FREE hybrid event at Historic Sotterley with presenter Dr. Tayzhuan Glover. Join in-person at Historic Sotterley OR virtually. Registration is required.
During the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, hundreds of enslaved men, women, and children in the Chesapeake, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana were able to secure their freedom by offering aid to the British. Following the war, many of these freedom-seekers were resettled in Nova Scotia and Trinidad. This presentation will use American and British colonial archives to follow the journey to freedom of the enslaved men, women, and children from Historic Sotterley who were resettled in Trinidad in 1815, where they laid the foundation for Trinidad’s “Merikin” descendant community.
Migration Journeys with St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Migration Journeys is a thought-provoking series that will offer valuable insights into the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of people who have traversed our state and nation, continents and oceans. Through the insights of expert speakers from the St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Department of Anthropology, we explore human movement and its role in shaping history, culture, and society and the factors that influenced these migrations.
Tuesday, July 22, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Register for African Migration and Its Maryland Connections
Learn about the special connections between Maryland, the mid-Atlantic, and The Gambia, and understand the ongoing challenges many Africans face as they seek new opportunities in their struggles for better lives.
Colonial Era Migration to the Chesapeake
Wednesday, July 30, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Register for Colonial Era Migration to the Chesapeake
Discover the migration patterns of varied peoples to Maryland in the 17th and 18th centuries. Learn about the roots of early naturalization policies in the region and their significance in shaping local history.
Internal Migrations within Africa and Beyond
Thursday, July 31, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Register for Internal Migrations within Africa and Beyond
Explore the complex movements of people within Africa and between Africa and the Americas. Understand the causes, experiences, and legacies of these migrations within the African continent and beyond.
Tuesday, August 5, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Register for The Foundings of St. Mary’s County
Journey through the deep prehistory of St. Mary’s County. Uncover the layers of migration and settlement that have shaped this region and understand their lasting impacts local culture and society.
Ancient Migrations: Our Shared Origins
Thursday, August 14, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Register for Ancient Migrations
Delve into the captivating world of ancient migrations and explore the journey of our earliest ancestors, unveiling the movements and milestones from our origins in Africa that shaped who we are today
Music and Memory in the African Diaspora
Thursday, August 28, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Register for Music and Memory in the African Diaspora
Experience how Caribbean music preserves and expresses the stories of the African Diaspora. Explore the power of music as a vessel for memory, connection, and cultural exchange.
History of Ellis Island – The Island of Hope and Tears
Saturday, July 26, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for History of Ellis Island
Join us for a history talk and Q&A with Historian Paul Rose on the topic of Ellis Island. Ellis Island, located in the New York Harbor, was once the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States. Paul Rose is a researcher at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum but is not acting a representative of the institution in this presentation.
The Navy Moves to St. Mary’s County: A History of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station
Monday, August 4, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for The Navy Moves to St. Mary’s County
Join us for a history of Patuxent River Naval Air Station! Chris Bryan, NAS Patuxent River Cultural Resource Program Manager, will discuss the history of Pax River and the influx of Navy personnel that came to St. Mary’s County in the early 1940s to support military aircraft research and development during World War II.
Maryland’s First European Immigrants: The Arrival of the First Permanent English Settlers
Wednesday, August 13, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for Maryland’s First European Immigrants
St. Mary’s County Museum Director Karen Stone will present the story of Maryland’s first wave of immigrants – the English who came to stay in 1634. Learn more about their reasons for leaving England, Lord Baltimore’s earlier experiments, and their relationship with their neighboring colonies and the area’s original inhabitants. The story continues with future migrations of the English as they went west, hoping yet again to build a better future.
“Exodus and Exile”: A History of Modern Mass Migration
Monday, August 18, 6 – 7 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for Exodus and Exile
Join us for a history talk and Q&A with Historian Paul Rose on the topic of mass migration in the modern world. Paul Rose is a researcher at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum but is not acting a representative of the institution in this presentation.
From Southern Maryland to Kentucky: A Stuffed Ham Journey
Tuesdays, July 29 & August 26, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for July 29 From Southern Maryland to Kentucky
Register for August 26 From Southern Maryland to Kentucky
Our speakers will explore the local tradition of stuffed ham and the migration of families from Southern Maryland to Kentucky. This event celebrates the culinary heritage and the bonds between communities brought together by the journey of families who carried their traditions across regions. Enjoy samples of stuffed ham from local restaurants and delve into the stories, recipes, and genealogical connections that have been passed down through generations.
Staying, Leaving, & Adapting: Life Along Changing Coastlines
Thursday, August 21, 6 – 7 p.m. at Lexington Park Library
Register for Staying, Leaving, & Adapting
Did you know that nearly 40% of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometers of a coastline? Coastal communities are facing growing challenges due to changing shorelines, stronger storms, land loss, and shifting ecosystems. These changes affect homes, livelihoods, local traditions, and long-term planning for the future. In this talk, we’ll explore how people in different parts of the world—from the Chesapeake to the Pacific Islands—are responding to these challenges. We’ll look at the difficult choices communities face around rebuilding, relocating, and preserving what matters most.
World on the Move: 250,00 Years of Human Migration was developed by the American Anthropological Association, together with the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and Smithsonian Exhibits. It is administered by the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office.
