Lexington Park: Naval Aviation, Theatre and Remembrance

Naval aviation, theatre history, and remembrance of African American contributions to the development of St. Mary’s County offer three distinct cultural perspectives to guide your trip planning in Lexington Park. The Test and Evaluation Hall combines a historical overview with a named aircraft; at the Three Notch Theatre, the building’s former use as a public library is part of its history. The St. Mary’s County African American Monument commemorates contributions to the development and growth of the county. You can make the cultural focus of your stay reflect your interests.

History of Naval Aviation

The Test and Evaluation Hall at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum traces the history of naval aviation. Its timeline spans the beginnings of naval aviation and the Curtiss A-1 Triad through to the present and beyond. Among the aircraft on display is the Lockheed Martin X-35C Joint Strike Fighter concept demonstrator. In this way, the hall combines a broad historical perspective with a specifically named aircraft. The historical overview invites you to consider the development as a whole, while the X-35C provides a specific point of reference for anyone interested in an individual concept demonstrator aircraft.

The Three Notch Theatre and Its Building History

The Three Notch Theatre is the home of the Newtowne Players. The building was formerly a public library; in 2005, the Newtowne Players took over the building and began converting it into a community theatre. Its former use and the start of this conversion mark different stages: the library is part of the building’s history, while the 2005 takeover marks the start of its conversion into a theatre. The year marks the beginning of this change and places the library use before the building’s theatre function. The Three Notch Theatre is accessible and can provide seating for visitors with limited mobility. If you need such seating, coordinate your needs with the theatre before your visit.

Remembrance and Design at Freedom Park

The St. Mary’s County African American Monument, located on the grounds of Freedom Park in Lexington Park, commemorates the contributions of the African American community to the development and growth of the county. Its design consists of a natural-stone pyramid surrounded by six pedestals bearing bronze plaques. Its message and design can be considered separately: the memorial’s purpose is to honor contributions to the county’s history, while its physical composition centers on the pyramid and the surrounding plaque pedestals. In this way, the monument offers a different focus from aviation history and the conversion of the theatre.

Different Focuses for Your Trip Planning

To choose your cultural focus, you can weigh the differences directly: Would you like to explore the history of naval aviation, are you interested in the conversion of a public library into a community theatre, or would you like to focus on remembrance of the African American community’s contributions to the county? Each of these approaches gives your trip planning a different focus. If one of these topics shapes your stay in Lexington Park, it can also help guide your search for a hotel in Lexington Park.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: California, Piney Point, Leonardtown, Hollywood.

Back to the main travel overview: Saint Mary's County.