Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage Announces 2009 Tour Schedule

02-04-2009

Spring Tours Planned In Queen Anne’s County, St. Mary’s County, Harford County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County & Baltimore County; Pilgrimage Celebrates 72^nd Anniversary with Launch of New Website

Towson, MD, February 4, 2009 -- Homeowners throughout the state of Maryland will once again open their private homes and gardens to the public when the 2009 Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage kicks off in April. Now in its 72^nd year, the Pilgrimage is the original house and garden tour in the state. More than 50 outstanding sites will be featured this tour season.

The 2009 Pilgrimage tours will take place on four consecutive weekends, starting on April 25:

Saturday, April 25 - Queen Anne's County
Saturday, May 2 - St. Mary's County

Sunday, May 3 - Harford County
Saturday, May 9 - Baltimore City: Homeland
Saturday, May 16 - Anne Arundel County: Bay Ridge
Sunday, May 17 - Baltimore County: Western Run and Worthington Valleys

Tours are held from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on each date. See an overview of tours following this release. Complete tour itineraries can be found at www.mhgp.org starting in mid-February.

The Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage (MHGP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of architecturally significant properties in the State of Maryland.  Each year, the staff and volunteers of the MHGP coordinate a multi-county spring tour program that gives visitors an inside look at extraordinary historic and contemporary sites, and at the same time, a fun way to support a worthy cause. The annual spring tours are a central component of the organization’s efforts to cultivate awareness of Maryland’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. 

Although the winter season has just started, the Committees and Garden Clubs organizing these six tours have been “thinking spring” for some time, since Pilgrimage planning begins a year in advance. “We start early to design tours that are unique and memorable from year to year. The 2009 line-up is no exception with itineraries that range from countryside to bayside and everything in-between,” stated Margaret Powell, Executive Director, Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage. “Whether you are looking for fresh ideas for your own home or just curious about what’s ‘behind the gate,’ these tours will offer an enjoyable experience,” added Ms. Powell.

Plus, visitors to the Pilgrimage website will see some dramatic changes when they click onto www.mhgp.org in February. The new site will offer more detailed information about the organization and the tours, and for the first time will give tour-goers an option to purchase tickets on-line.

PILGRIMAGE TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets for each day’s tour are $30.00 if purchased in advance and $35.00 if purchased on the day of the tour. (A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible.) Tickets may be purchased: (1) from the Pilgrimage Towson headquarters; (2) online at www.mhgp.org; (3) from designated sites in each tour community; (4) at all houses on the day of each tour. Each tour-goer will receive a Pilgrimage tour book, which provides detailed information on routes, background on properties, lunch reservations/costs, logistics and overall event facts. For more information and tickets, contact The Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage by phone (410) 821-6933, fax (410) 821-7620, or email mhgp@aol.com.  Visit www.mhgp.org for more information. Tour books may be purchased in advance by sending your name, address and $5.00 to Pilgrimage Headquarters at 1105-A Providence Road, Towson, MD 21286-1790. If you prefer to pick up your tour book in person, they become available at Pilgrimage Headquarters on March 10, 2009, and the cost is $1.00. 

About the Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage

The Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage (MHGP), based in Towson, Maryland, was founded in 1937. The mission of this non-profit organization is to assist in the preservation and restoration of historic structures, gardens and landmarks in the State of Maryland. The annual Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage Tour is the centerpiece of the organization’s fundraising and educational initiatives. For more information on the Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage, please visit www.mhgp.org.

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